Hidden in a little district in Kampong
Glam, Haji
Lane is a narrow
inconspicuous lane, lined with first-generation shophouses only several metres
wide. To save space, the shophouses last time had really narrow fronts and was
more-deeply built inwards. In the 1960s and 1970s, shophouses along Haji Lane served as
boarding houses for poor Malay families, as well as accommodation for pilgrims
travelling through Singapore
(to Mecca for
the Hajj).
Down the street of individualistic fashion
boutiques, a whiplash of coloured walls and street graffiti, Haji Lane definitely stands out from the
neighbouring Arab Street.
One would have thought they belonged in different districts; both are actually in
the same Arab-Muslim area in Singapore.
This is due to the recent-years’ transformation of it into
a quirky stretch of small boutiques run by trendy independent fashion labels.
Popular amongst the youth, Haji
Lane is a haven for teenagers and young adults.
However, in the midst of urbanisation, it
is evidently shown that much of Haji Lane’s old history and identity has
been forgotten by its current customers. Most of the youths are generally
unaware of the place’s historical significance and value to the Malay
community. To them, Haji Lane
is merely a place where they shop and hang out with their friends. The only
reminder that we have of its past are the shophouses which still retain their
original form, but that alone isn’t enough to preserve and protect Haji Lane’s
Malay roots and identity.
Undoubtedly, history and
culture are important. History gives us our culture; by knowing how things came
about and how they used to be - we gain knowledge about our identity and
heritage. Conservation then involves the emotional attachment and collective
memory of Haji Lane
and what it meant to the Malay community in the past. Its historical
significance cannot be disregarded, even in the phase of modernisation; its
identity should not be compromised. So here’s the question: to what extent
should the identity of a place be preserved, and how does one balance
conservation and progress?
In order to preserve the cultural
significance of Haji Lane,
greater awareness of its history and value should be spread to the youth, so
that Haji Lane
would mean more to them than just a shopping district. The heritage and history
it encompasses then adds value to its identity and purpose. In order to achieve
this, I propose to use Haji Lane
as a sort of “memory lane”. Simple-looking signboards can be hung along the
lane, with each signboard simply telling people more about what Haji Lane used to
be. For example, one signboard could say "The government used to tax
shophouse owners here by the number of windows they had", or “This is
where Malay families used to live". Such measures would be of minimal
disturbance to both shoppers and shopowners but would help them to better
understand how Haji Lane
has become what it is today. Such information would still be pertinent to
youths as they do have certain emotional attachment to Haji Lane.
It is also important to ensure that the
original form of the shophouses is retained. Right now, most of the shopowners
choose to refurbish as little as possible, allowing the area to look as it
would many years ago. The shophouses look rather shabby and dull on the
outside, while the interior is extremely modern and comfortable. This creates
an atmosphere in Haji Lane
that there is still somewhat a remembrance of the past which contributes to the
street’s quirky and trendy character. The presence of shophouses in their
original form also serves as a reminder for the Malay community; more
importantly, it can give future generations, who have never experienced or
known what it was like, something they can hold on to, as a reminder of their
culture and history.
At the same time, progress and conservation
need not be conflicting. The emerging urban, trendy subculture is not something
that should be concealed, as it has, in a way, developed into an alternate
identity for Haji Lane;
it has already grown to be part of Haji
Lane’s identity for many youths. The cultural identity in Haji Lane has evolved with the influx of
expats in Haji Lane.
Such is effect of globalisation and it is an inevitable change.
Haji Lane’s identity as a trendy, indie
shopping district is significant to many youths and should be allowed to
develop on its own as well. The introduction and development of new cultures
and identities is not a negative thing, instead, it adds richness to the
identity of a place and these evolved identities make it possible for progress
to happen while still holding onto one’s roots. The urban, chill-out sort of
culture that is beginning to develop in Haji Lane is, in my opinion, a good
thing to have, as it brings people together in sharing a common emotional
attachment to a place, which is important, and could possibly develop into a
new local youth culture in Singapore. In that way, what is happening now in Haji Lane should
not be so much as a replacement of its original culture and identity, but as a
development from its past, where a place can develop and improve while still
remembering and valuing its history and origins.
Allowing the place to develop would also
naturally bring revenue to the shopowners. Stopping urbanisation would prevent
growth of such businesses. If there are fewer patrons, there would be a
decreased vibrancy of the area, which would affect the growing urban culture
there. While conservation is important, practical aspects also need to be taken
into consideration, for example, that businesses there do need to generate
income. For example, the selling of shisha has helped to improve business. A
man who runs a carpet shop in the area mentioned that after the selling of
shisha was introduced, his business did improve, which shows the benefits of
urbanisation to businesses there as it helps attract more people to the area.
