Certain quintessential elements make up the typical Singapore neighbourhood, giving it flavour and making it home. There is the hawker centre and the rise of the suburban mall. But flying under the radar is the humble community centre (CC), a social magnet drawing Singaporeans from all walks of life.
Nearly 70 years since the first CC made its debut, CCs continue to play a pivotal role as the beating heart of our neighbourhoods. But like everything else in Singapore, this much-loved institution did not happen by chance.
CCs have existed during colonial times. However, it was not until the 1960s that they began gaining prominence. As a newly independent country whose population was still divided by race, religion and clans, the government of the time saw CCs as a space to foster social cohesion.
It was no surprise that CCs became the heart and soul of a community. With many kampongs and neighbourhoods lacking amenities, the CC was a one-stop hub with something for everyone. There were cooking workshops, ball game areas, TV screenings, and even livestock vaccination services.
The magic of the CC is that everyone is welcome. More importantly, there are no hefty financial barriers to entry. This commitment, providing an accessible ‘third place’ for Singaporeans to relax and socialise is a defining trait of CCs.
Throughout the 70s and 80s, the development of new housing estates gave rise to a second generation of CCs. Larger and more modern than their predecessors, the new CCs stayed relevant by expanding their facilities and programs.
There were music lessons, dance classes and computing workshops. All of which were offered at minimal cost, allowing ordinary Singaporeans to explore various interests and pick up new skills.
Reinventing a new generation of CCs
However, by the ’90s, CCs were at a crossroads. With Singaporeans growing more affluent, CCs could no longer rely on basic activities to entice residents. Instead, CCs would need to reinvent themselves and shed their image as a hangout of bored housewives and retirees. It was the only way forward to not turn obsolete.
To attract a more diverse crowd, CCs rebranded themselves as Community Clubs and expanded their catalogue of courses.
At the same time, with the first generation of CCs getting long in the tooth, plans to upgrade CCs across the nation were put in place. Besides new air-conditioned function rooms and sports halls, CCs are now home to shops and eateries. It was the start of a new generation of CCs resembling lifestyle hubs that would become an attraction in their own right.
In 2017, Singapore’s first integrated community hub opened to great fanfare. The size of seven football fields, Our Tampines Hub (OTH) was a CC unlike any other. It contained a swimming complex, public library, cinema, supermarket, and many more shops and eateries rivalling downtown malls.
But just like the CCs of yesteryear, OTH was designed to meet the needs of residents, drawing them to a shared space with a wide range of amenities. More importantly, OTH would become a blueprint for similar integrated hubs being developing in other parts of Singapore. These new CCs would reflect Singaporeans’ varied interests and changing demographics.
The 7-story high HeartBeat@Bedok opened in 2018, housing a polyclinic and senior daycare to address the needs of its ageing residents. Further north, the One Punggol CC is home to Singapore’s biggest public library and a 700-seat hawker centre, which took a food blogger four months to try out every single stall.
In the years ahead, Singaporeans can look forward to bigger and better CCs in their neighbourhoods.
Located opposite Eunos MRT, Kampong Kembangan CC will incorporate BTO flats and a neighbourhood park. Chong Pang City, due to be completed in 2027, comes with a wet market, hawker centre and rooftop swimming pools.
Meanwhile, a new Joo Chiat CC, three times the size of the current Siglap South CC, will include a 240-seat theatre for performing arts.
Finally, there is Toa Payoh Integrated Development. The mega complex will include a 10,000-seat stadium, 22 badminton courts, seven swimming pools, a library, and a polyclinic.
In many ways, the evolution of CCs reflected Singapore’s growth. From a single building in 1951, our CCs (108 and counting) have gone through a series of changes to become and remain a buzzing hive of activity. None of this would be possible if we as a people did not recognise the intangible benefits of having a ‘third space’ in our communities.
Speaking at the opening of Buangkok CC, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said, “Community Clubs…help hold us together as one people. They provide a common space for people, from all walks of life, young and old, to interact with each other…to deepen our strength of community and belonging – our kampong spirit.”
CCs are spaces designed to be accessible and welcoming to all. They are vital to our neighbourhoods, contributing to its vibrancy and character and turning neighbours into friends. As we continue building liveable communities, there is no doubt that CCs will remain an essential part of the Singapore story.
Photo Source: National Archives of Singapore/ Lee Hsien Loong/ Sembawang/ Fahmi Aliman/ Tan Kiat How/ Lawrence Wong/ Our Tampines Hub/ The Galaxy CC Observatory via Facebook
