Singapore’s dense urban environment and diverse population make the cultivation of social cohesion and resilience both critical and complex. This project examines the lived experiences and social-spatial dynamics of homeowner and rental residents in mixed-income HDB precincts, with the aim of identifying factors that strengthen community ties and foster a greater sense of belonging.

Adopting a mixed-methods approach—including social network analysis, qualitative GIS, and in-depth interviews—this study investigates how everyday interactions are shaped by both social factors (e.g., perceptions, shared norms, trust, and stigma) and spatial conditions (e.g., layout, proximity, and access to common spaces). Together, these dimensions reveal the key enablers and barriers influencing how neighbourly ties emerge, endure, or remain fragmented across tenure lines.

The findings aim to inform the development of more inclusive and socially resilient communities by guiding housing design improvements, helping agencies in refining outreach and engagement strategies to better meet residents’ needs, and supporting the co-development of pilot interventions to strengthen organic and sustained neighbourly ties.

For more information on the research project, please email suhaila_shah@sutd.edu.sg or projectBOND@sutd.edu.sg.

(Top image credit: Photo by Nguyen Thu Hoai on Unsplash)