Culture-led Regeneration in Singapore

(public housing)
The disappearing bird-singing culture

Zhang Peng
Starting point
Bird singing hangout space, Block430
Interesting Phenomenon
People who listen to birds singing are mostly older men
Interesting Phenomenon
Simple venue, but many people gather here
Interesting Phenomenon
Same species bird, Mata Puteh (Oriental White-eye)( 绣眼鸟 ). Similar cages, but different detailing
Interview
Current existing interviews content:

1. They are same kind of birds, but their songs are different

2. Birds are from Malaysia

3. Hwa Mei (Chinese Thrush)( 画眉 ) are very popular but now they cannot be imported due to customs
policy

4. The price of the bird cage is more than 10,000 $

5. The reason why there is only one kind of bird on the void deck is that different birds will quarrel

6. The price of these birds is determined by how well they sing. The bad ones cost only $50, while the good
ones cost tens of thousands of dollars

7. None of the people interviewed live here, they come from around or even further away, and one person
will bring 3-4 birds (one of the interviewees stated that he has more than ten birds)

8. They bought birds at Serangoon North

Research: History Study
The fascinating hobby seemed to have kicked off in Malaysia and Singapore in the late fifties.
Research: History Study
In the sixties, there were many bird shops at Rochore Road. Several local bird singing interest groups were
formed, with the Kelab Burong Singapore (Singapore Bird Club) being one of the most prominent ones.

the bird series of Singapore dollar which were launched back in 1976
Research: History Study
When the Jurong Bird Park opened in 1971, it also held bird singing contests to boost its visitorship.

a total of 287 participants competed in its first contest

Research: History Study
When the government ramped up new public housings at Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Tampines and Clementi in the
seventies and eighties, the hobby and contests in bird singing started to move into the heartlands.

Three types of bird singing corners: open field, park, void deck
Research: History Study
In the mid-eighties, reached the peak of bird culture.

during the Sundays, the number of bird lovers outside the coffeeshop could be as high as 300
Research: History Study
Such was the high popularity of the Tiong Bahru bird singing corner that it was promoted by STPB as a tourist
attraction, and was regularly featured in foreign newspapers and magazines.

Renowned American flautist Herbie Mann paid a visit to the Tiong Bahru bird singing corner in 1984
Research: The Decline of Bird-Singing Culture

Quick change of Singapore on every part cause there are fewer and fewer locations to hang the birds
Research: The Decline of Bird-Singing Culture

Bird flu 20 years ago led to the forced closure of many bird corners
Research: The Decline of Bird-Singing Culture

Due to noise and covid issues, the birds corner on the void deck of Block 434 was removed on Aug 3, 2020
Research: The Decline of Bird-Singing Culture

Birdmen are mostly older folks—millennial birdmen are few and far between. The youngest are in their forties.
Research: The Decline of Bird-Singing Culture

Nowadays, through Google search, there are only three open bird corners in Singapore
Significance
1. Promote communication between different races
2. Good for the mental health of the elderly
3. Gain a sense of community identity while also bringing life to the community
4. The continuation of unique culture ， which can attracts locals and foreigners
Next Steps
1. Site visit and interview with other venues

2. Interview the needs & expectations of the birdmen

3. Design points of bird singing area

4. Design of universal aviculture site based on HDB site

THANKS