_Revamped *SCAPE to open in November with focus on youth-led programmes
Revamped *SCAPE to open in November with focus on youth-led programmes
Head of Retail Ethan Hsu shares his thoughts on how the revamped youth space *SCAPE has potential to become a successful hub that plays important social, cultural and economic roles
Presenter
Mr. Hsu, there is a lot of hope riding on [the revamp at *SCAPE]. My colleague [mentioned] 30% more space catering for young people to sit, to talk to each other, to connect more. Will it work this time around, this revamp?
Ethan Hsu
I think a lot of the past iterations have focused on developing youth centric programs, and now I think there's been more focus on bringing together different parts of this plan together, because I think we did take a break during [the pandemic]. The plan was stalled, you know, during that period. I think now it's time to bring it back together again.
I think the government has engaged the views of the youth to try to co-design this place, making programming together. I think a lot of people have been waiting to see how this new, refreshed change will look like. Whether or not it this change is sufficient to bring about a sustained transformation of *SCAPE, I think much of it will remain in its implementation, right?
Presenter
Okay, to be fair, my question was a bad one, because I said, will it work? I think you are more focused on sustained transformation. That's actually a benchmark, right? Will it actually achieve or hit that benchmark of a sustained transformation for *SCAPE to serve as a centre for youth?
Ethan Hsu
I think for *SCAPE to really have that sustained transformation that I've spoke about, a lot of it depends on whether the government is able to activate the youth to actually participate in the programs.
Presenter
What would participation look like?
Ethan Hsu
In the past, I think some of the past iterations have not succeeded, because we kind of look to participation as just attending events, going to the place in order to contribute to the footfall, for example. But if you look at other countries where youth centric precincts have been successful, places like Hongdae in Seoul and Harajuku in Japan, participation, actually, a lot of the activity is community driven. It’s driven by the community, not just designed for them.
I think a lot of the feedback we've seen in the past was that the efforts felt a little bit top down driven, very contrived. It requires a two-way kind of a channel flow from driven from the community to make the events work, and also designed by them, for them, and with them. I think that is the idea of creating a sustained kind of like a transformation for *SCAPE. If we are able to get the community together to buy into this collective programming and collective design of *SCAPE as a youth led venue, rather than just a place, so that the change is actually created within, by them, for them.
Presenter
I know it's probably the right thing to say that we involve someone in the creation, but most of us, myself included, we're very easily led. So you tell me that's probably the way to be, and that's what I constantly hear, we’re more likely to do that. You ask the youth, what do you want? They want to connect? They can get on social media. They don't have to go to a space. This space has to offer something much more than that. For example, we were hearing about entrepreneurship, wellness. So go there and pick up a cause, is that what we mean by them growing with this space?
Ethan Hsu
I think when we look at the idea of designing something for the youth, we tend to make the mistake of treating the youth as a single, homogeneous group, whereas in reality, the youth culture is actually very fragmented. You know, they range from creatives to gamers to entrepreneurs to social activists, for example.
And without an adaptive framework that reflects this diversity, it's very hard to say that whether this movement is going to be sustainable, because youth culture is constantly evolving. And so, without inviting them to become co collaborators with you, to design the space or what the space is being used for, it's hard to say whether it will be sustainable, because it will keep changing. I think that's the that's the beauty or the mystery of youth, you know, the youth subcultures that we have in Singapore.
Presenter
Alright. And it matters, because this is part of, we heard earlier, a five-year blueprint on supporting the young people in this country that will be released in 2026.
Why does it matter that we support the young?
Ethan Hsu
The youth are the next generation. If a country does not invest in creating such youth centric precincts, there can be many missed opportunities, because, for example, in other countries where youth hubs are successful, they play multiple important roles. Socially, culturally, economically.
Presenter
You had mentioned these precincts in Japan and South Korea as an example.
Ethan Hsu
Yes, that’s right.
Presenter
What functions have they served?
Ethan Hsu
Culturally, these spaces are like natural breeding grounds for the youth to express themselves, to showcase their identities, to share and shape their identities with the community. And this also naturally gives rise to new trends in fashion, music, design and technology. And it's not just that it influences the local culture. It also important because it’s a powerful tool for a country to export its soft power and its cultural appeal.
Economically, these precincts can actually support entire ecosystems of small business, entrepreneurs, designers, co-creators. And Harajuku, for example, is not just for shopping, It is a global hub that draws tourism and provides a significant commercial value for Japan. Socially, when these precincts are vibrant and activated by our youth, they become more engaged. And you have better civic engagement with the youth. You reduce social alienation, and you build this more inclusive urban environment that's useful to future proof cities.
Presenter
I’m going to cut in here because I want one more insight, we just have a minute here. So, as you say, just having people there, shopping, footfall, that's not enough. You measure it by actual sustained transformation. That's why retail space just doesn't quite cut it. So, more seats, more space, not enough. We're looking at implementation, effective implementation, of programs. Is that your final word on this?
Ethan Hsu
I do think that for *SCAPE to succeed, for the Somerset Belt to succeed within the Master Plan, to realize its intention for precinct for the youth, there has to be entire ecosystem that’s nurtured to really allow the youth to come in, participate in the program designing, and also to participate in attending these programs, and also for public-private partnership collaboration initiatives to take place, because it's an entire ecosystem.
They provide the initiatives, the facilities, the infrastructure [such as] incubation-like facilities with the educational institutions that they can collaborate with to really give the youth a place where they can experiment and grow in a safe space.
Presenter
Alright, a very tough ask. Mr. Ethan Hsu, the Head of Retail at Knight Frank Singapore.