Sunday, November 6

It's undeniable that Singapore is an air-conditioned nation. Shopping centres, offices, homes, cars, buses, trains, restaurants, arcades, cinemas... anything that is not outdoors, it will be air-conditioned.

It is amazing that this explosion in the amount of air-conditioned spaces has begun not very long ago, probably only in the last 15 years or so. Then, only shopping arcades, cinemas and restaurants provided the cool respite from the hellish and scouchingly hot weather of tropical Singapore. But as Singaporeans became more affluent, what was seen as a novelty for the rich had slowly found their way into the bedrooms of many, and in some residences the entire space is kept in a constant icy environment.

The fact that the MRT was designed with air-conditioning in mind had probably kick-started our intrinistic need of escaping from the blazing heat (and also anything that produces heat). Once it had become part of the daily life of Singaporeans since 1987, we clamour for more of it. Even though the first buses with air-conditioning came in in the 1984, it wasn't till 1989 before public transport took on air-conditioning in a major way. There is now no return. The first air-conditioned bus interchange opened in 2002 at Toa Payoh, and progressively more interchanges will be converted into similar cool spaces.

Next to come is air-conditioned underpasses, overpasses, linkways and pedestrian malls. The honour of the first air-conditioned pedestrian linkway most probably goes to Change Alley Shopping Arcade, which has stood over Collyer Quay since 1966. Another popular underpass is those linking Orchard MRT Station to Wisma Atria and C.K. Tang, though the latter wasn't fitted with air-conditioning till recently. Innovative planning has meant that underground shopping malls that doubles up as an air-conditioned underpass, like Citylink Mall and the future Esplanade MRT Station, will bring about new consumer experiences and convenience, while ensuring financial viability and better use of limited spaces in Singapore.

This picture is taken at the former Kampong Glam Community Club, now a digital media house.

To be continued, next time.

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