Common space

A common ground or common space is an area where people to come together and interact with one another, enhancing a sense of community among people living in the area. For example, hawker centers around Jurong Regional Central are popular gathering spots, where people from different language, race and religion come together to eat. The easy going and relaxing atmosphere at the hawker center also allow people to relax and become more outgoing and friendly, enhancing interaction among the people.

JCube may seem more commercialise and mainstream, but it does not mean that JCube doesn’t have any common ground for citizens to interact. For example, the new Olympic sized ice skating rink. I believe that the ice skating rink can be considered a common ground as citizens from all race, language and religion can come together in one rink to skate and enjoy. The people can better interact with one another since they are all engaged in a common activity. Not only that, the price for the admission fee into the rink is reasonable and affordable, allowing families of all income to experience the joy of ice skating, thus burying the income disparity fault line. JCube's top floor consists of a landscaped garden for visitors, which can hold activities and exhibitions. This is another example of common space in the mall. People from all over Singapore, not just limited to the Jurong area, can come together, attracted due to their similar interest. With a common topic and common interest, conversations can be quickly struck up, enhancing the people’s sense of community and building up their sense of identity.