Interaction between people of different generations PEEs

P: Parents have trouble bringing their kids out for shopping.

E: Source B shows a mother trying to carry her child struggles to get out of her mother’s grasp.

E: This means that parents usually have trouble bringing their kids out for shopping. This becomes fairly worse at Orchard, due to the fact that it is usually crowded with shoppers. This shows that Orchard seems to be inconvenient place for parents to shop if they want to buy clothes for their kids.  The malls at Orchard are mostly crowded with youngsters on a shopping spree. Thus, the parents might have a even a greater problem of both controlling their kids and dodging the youngsters. This will make them more frustrated and start scolding their child, making their relationship worse, which is not good.We can prevent this if shopping mall have small play areas or nurseries where parents can leave their children there in the safe hands of the assistants while they peacefully shop for the things they want which are most probably clothes. This not only decreases the chances of parents getting angry with their kids. but it also  makes Singapore’s economy better as more parents will come to shop if there were such services.
 

P: Parents do not spend enough time to bond with their children in this era.

E: Source B shows a family consisting of a Father, son and daughter seated at a table in Burger King in Plaza Singapura. The Father is reading some papers and taking notes while his daughter looked enviously at another girl’s birthday party in Burger King and the son just looked around Burger King aimlessly.

E: This means that parents do not bond much with their children nowadays. Though they are seated at the same table, they are not even talking to each other. The Father is busy with his office work and neglects his children, although he has brought them out to eat. His daughter is probably envious of the girl having a birthday party as all the attention is on her and she is having a great time with her friends, while she has to sit alone not playing or even talking to her father.  Unlike other boys, this boy seems quiet. It is probably because he is scared that his father would scold him if he talked or caused any disturbance. This is not a good sign for kids as when they are young they will learn these things from their parents and do the same to their own children in the future. This is not good because if this type of relationship continues when parents reach their ripe age, no one will want to take care of them and the number of elderly being abandoned will definitely increase. Though buying food at Burger King increases Singapore’s economy, it is not good for people’s health in the long run, though it is useful if we need a quick bite. The government has taken measures to increase the bond between children and their parents, however, they need to come up with better schemes as the situation is worsening drastically.

Interaction between people of different nationalities PEEs

  

 P: People tend to bond and meet their friends at or near shopping malls.

E: Source A shows two young men, one from Singapore and another from a different country, who are seated outside Cathay Cineleisure having a puff, during the lunch hours

E: This means that these two young men would have probably planned to meet up at Cathay to  have food. After which they decided to have a puff and went out. This not only helps Singapore in terms of people living as a united nation despite the differences of their nationalities , but it also helps the economy as the people buy their food and their needs such as cigarettes, from the shopping malls like Cathay.This also shows us that shopping malls are a convenient place for people to meet and spend time together because of the facilities they have for entertainment and also because shopping malls are more prominent than other places. It can be said that it was a smart plan to build a shopping mall there as teenagers from places such as NYC or from the Scape Park and working adults in Orchard can come over and have a drink or eat food.This also allows them to meet people of similar interest and they might just become friends, improving interaction and bonds between people of different nationalities.

P: Teenagers usually hang around Orchard with their friends to spend their time together.

E: Source B shows two teenagers of different nationalities talking to each other while waiting for their friend who was of an impromptu interview that took place at Orchard near Cathay Cineleisure.

E: This means that these teenagers might have been on their way to somewhere else after having lunch at Cathay Cineleisure. This improves firstly, the economy of Singapore because the teenagers buy their food at Cathay. Secondly, the bonds between people of different nationalities improves. It also enables the teenagers to have a good break after the activities they were engaged in. This shopping mall serves as a place of fun as they interact more with their fellow mates. Thus, this shopping mall both directly and indirectly helps Singapore. Directly, by helping Singapore’s economy and indirectly, by serving as a place where Singapore’s future leaders will learn better about one another so that they can work together towards an even brighter future for Singapore.

Mixed Landuse PEEs

P: Most hotels are an example of mixed land use.

E: Source A shows the interior of Rendezvous Hotel Singapore. It shows escalators and people sitting at a café and also some rooms.

E: This means that Rendezvous Hotel Singapore has a complementary uses in a balanced mix. Mixed Land Use’s definition is involves a range of complementary uses that are located together in a balanced mix. Meaning that a use compliments another so that another use is created like shops create employment.  As it can be seen from this picture, people are seated at a café. A café is a shop and there is not only one shop but many others including Seki, Baja Fresh and some others. This also implies that there is employment as workers are needed if shops are to function. As you can see from the rooms that this is a place of residential for a short time since it is a hotel and not a house. The escalators show development in this hotel as escalators were developed only in this century. It can be concluded that all hotels have shops as hotels usually have a dining area for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also have gyms and swimming pools which are considered recreation. In conclusion, it can be concluded that most hotels are examples of mixed land use as they have development, shops, employment, residential and recreation areas.

P: Most hotels at Orchard are examples of mixed land use.

E: Source B shows Orchard Parade Hotel that has Starbucks, Black Angus and Modesto’s shops at its ground level.

E: Mixed Land Use’s definition is, involves a range of complementary uses that are located together in a balanced mix. Meaning that a use compliments another so that another use is created like shops create employment.  This means that Orchard Parade Hotel is an example of mixed land use as it has shops, rooms where people can stay in, which means residential for a short time since it is a hotel, and because of the hotel and the shops, employment of people is needed so that workers can run the business. Since Orchard is a shopping district, hotels at orchard usually have shops in them making  them an example of mixed land use as shops is part of the uses that compliments another use. Thus, it can be concluded that most hotels at Orchard are examples of mixed land use because of the shops they offer and the services they offer.

High Density Landuse PEEs

P: Though Orchard mostly has examples of mixed land use, there is also high density land use.

E: Source A shows condominiums where people stay in.

E: This means that source A portrays high density land use as the definition of high density land use is an area with 1,000 or more residents per square mile. As shown from the picture, it is evident that more than 1000 residents are living in the condominiums. Thus, it can be shown that Orchard not only displays mixed land use but also high density land use at the ends of Orchard Road. These residents not only have shops nearby for them to shop from but also eateries where they can purchase their food twenty four seven because of the bustling surroundings of Orchard.

P: There is high density land use at Dhoby Ghaut.

 

E: Source B shows a condominium and a HDB flat, at Dhoby Ghaut, displaying high density land use.

E: This means that source B portrays high density land use as the definition of high density land use is an area with 1,000 or more residents per square mile. As it can be seen from the picture, it is evident that more than 1000 residents are living in the condominium and HDB flat. Thus, it can be shown that Dhoby Ghaut, not only displays mixed land use, Plaza Singapura, but also high density land use. These residents not only have shops nearby for them to shop from but also eateries all available at Plaza Singapura.

Compare Contrast of Locations

Name of the Locations	Similarities between the locations	Differences between the locations
Orchard Point Centre Point Cuppage Terrace	For all three of these places the land was used for retail, somewhere in their history. Furthermore, for these three places the land was used for markets and shops for groceries. Now, all of these places hold many retail businesses, attracting many people to them.	They offer different types of retail. Orchard Point and Centre Point offers shops where people mostly shop for clothes while Cuppage Terrace offers bars and restaurants. However, both for the entertainment and pleasure of people.
GoodWood Park Hotel Cuppage Terrace	For both of these locations the land was used for the same purpose. To build a building with retail that could bring the people living near or on the land their business. They were used to benefit the retail businessmen in the area. Now, they both still bring in business to the owners of companies and at the same time, they both attract the same type of people who seek comfort, relaxation and even delicious food and beverages.	Furthermore, when they were still shops the target people of the buildings on the lands were different. For Goodwood Park Hotel it was the Malaya businessmen while for Cuppage Terrace it was the residents who live near or in the prenakan district near Cuppage Terrace. Now, the buildings built on the lands serve different purposes. Goodwood Park Hotel is a well-known hotel while Cuppage Terrace holds bars and restaurants.
Takashimaya Macdonald house	Currently, both the buildings are used to bring in business.	The land these buildings are built on were used for different purposes in the past. Takashimaya was used as a burial ground. However, MacDonald House was used as an office building.
YMCA Macdonald House Orchard Road Presbyterian Church	In the past these places had relations with enemies. They were either used or destroyed by the enemies or seized away.	Currently, the buildings serve different purposes, one as an association for young Christian men, another as a bank and spa while the last one is a church. Making them attract totally different types of people, with different interests.
YMCA Orchard Road Presbyterian Church Macdonald House Goodwood Park Hotel	All of these places have remained the same or were re-built to serve the same purpose for more than ten years. Now, the land used for these places have not changed in arrangement over the years.	All of these places serve different purposes, in the past and now. YMCA was used by the Salvation Army Services Welfare team from India in the past and now is an association for young Christian men. Orchard Road Presbyterian Church was a mission chapel in the past and now is a Presbyterian Church. MacDonald House was a office in the past and now is a building that holds a bank, a spa and Mccann Worldgroup. Goodwood Park Hotel was a Teutonia Club for the Germans in the past and is now a hotel

YMCA Research

Name of location: YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association)

Exact Location: 1 Orchard Road  

                            Singapore 238824

History of Location:

In 1900, many officials and missionaries sent the English National Council an appeal to set up the YMCA in Singapore. G.W.Lovell, a businessman, wrote a letter to the National Council in 1901 to set up the YMCA in Singapore as well. This was because he wanted the British youth in Singapore to get to not be tempted to be engaged in gambling and other vices. Robert Pringle, who was one of the important people who started the YMCA in Bombay,India and Colombo,Sri Lanka, was later sent to Singapore. With his knowledge, the YMCA was founded at No.1 & 2 Armenian Street in 1902.

YMCA reached out to the youth in Singapore and also promoted volunteerism and community work through camps and various programmes to help those who were less fortunate in Singapore.

In 1904, YMCA was relocated to another building in Armenian Street,known as the Zetland House which was the former American Embassy. After several years passed, further expansion was needed for the building. The government had granted the YMCA a 999-year lease for an Orchard Road site in the Dhoby Ghaut area and two years later, the YMCA officially moved to the Orchard Road premises.

From 1942 – 1945, during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, the YMCA building was seized and turned into the place where there was interrogation and torture headquarters of the Japanese Kempeitai (Secret Military Police). The Japanese tortured the people using electric shock, water torture and other cruel methods. In this period of time, the YMCA building brought fear to people due to wartime activities.

After the war, the British wanted to demolish the YMCA building and open it as a memorial to those who suffered under the Japanese. However, it was used as a Forces Centre for a Salvation Army Services Welfare team from India. After much discussion, YMCA reclaimed the building and later resumed operations at the Orchard Road building in 1946. In 1979, the nine-storey YMCA building was constructed. On the 24^th of November 1984, the YMCA building at 1 Orchard Road was reopened and is the acting headquarters of YMCA.

Today, YMCA has established itself as a charity and through various activities, volunteers reach out to the less fortunate and needy in Singapore. YMCA also organizes international exchange programmes which allow students to make a difference to the lives of the less fortunate overseas.

Why was it chosen

The YMCA building in SIngapore, needed further expansion as they were being recognised in the society more. The previous location where the building was did not have enough land space to do so. Furthermore, it would be easier for people to navigate their way here since it was Orchard and they can use the many sign boards that tell tourists the place they are at. Furthermore, since there were a lot of Christians in Singapore and all should be helped. They have chosen Orchard as it is a central location for people from north, south, east and west, making it easy for the people to travel.

 Credits:

http://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/beautiful-buildings-and-a-tale-of-buried-treasure-under-a-bridge-memories-of-stamford-road/

Takashimaya Research

Takashimaya :

In the 1950s, Ngee Ann City sits used to be a burial ground that was owned and maintained by Ngee Ann Kongsi. It was a part of the land known as Tai Shan Ting, which was between Orchard Road, Paterson Road and Grange Road. The burial site was removed to make way for Ngee Ann Building, which was then demolished to make way for Ngee Ann City.

In 1967, redevelopment of the Ngee Ann Building was first considered. Ngee Ann Development and the Orchard Square Development Corporation planned the building of Ngee Ann City in the late 1980s. The architect, Raymond Woo, who designed the complex, drew inspiration from the Great Wall of China. It was to reflect the dignity, solidity and strength of the Ngee Ann Kongsi. The designing and overseeing the project took 5 years.

In the late 1980s, Ngee Ann City was conceptualised as the focal point on Orchard Road shopping belt by the leaders of the Kongsi jointly with Orchard Square Development Corporation (OSDC).

Now, it is a tourist attraction and offers seven levels of shopping. It also carries many famous brands such as Gucci, and many other Japanese products . The available spaces at the semi-circular Civic Plaza are now used for events.

Why was that area used as a shopping area?

Orchard Road was designed to be a shopping district. Due to beliefs and superstitions, people might not shop at Orchard Road if the burial ground remained and this would just make the whole idea of making it a shopping district a failure. Thus, like all shopping districts will have many shopping malls, this burial ground was removed and transformed into a shopping mall to be situated at Orchard Road, a shopping district.