We are pleased to launch an interactive web exhibit for the Study on Perceptions of Singapore’s Built Heritage and Landmarks. In collaboration with the IPS Social Lab team from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, the web exhibit complements the study by highlighting its key findings and visualising the respondents’ perceptions of 53 heritage sites across Singapore.

The Study on the Perceptions of Singapore’s Built Heritage and Landmarks seeks to understand public opinion towards built heritage in Singapore using an opinion poll of 53 heritage sites. Given that scholarly and policy-centred discussions of heritage value and conservation are usually centred on the perspectives of experts, this study focuses on how average Singaporeans perceive the meaning, purpose and value of built heritage, and how these perceptions influence the sense of national identity. Such research will inform heritage outreach and programmes, as well as heritage impact assessment.

From July to August 2018, 1,515 respondents were interviewed on their attitudes towards the 53 heritage sites, as well as their views on heritage and national identity in general. For each of the sites, respondents indicated whether they were aware of the sites, and if so, how they rated the sites in terms of four domains: knowledge, memories, physical appeal and importance. These domains were derived from a previous phase of the study, where focus group discussions were conducted to understand what characteristics people considered in their evaluations of heritage sites.

Our Digital Scholarship Team made use of the respondents’ ranking and responses across the four domains to create an interactive map and web exhibit using the Digital Scholarship Portal. You can click on any of the heritage sites on the maps to learn more about the landmark as well as the breakdown of how different age groups perceived the respective heritage site.

Click here to explore the web exhibit.

Click here to read out more about the study.

Interested in collaborating with our librarians to create your own digital exhibit using NUS Libraries’ Digital Scholarship Portal? Reach out to us at this email.