Low-cost digital tools to preserve cultural heritage ‘blind spots’: the case of Kubor Kassim in Singapore

Abstract

ABSTRACT Kubor Kassim is a century-old, serene Muslim cemetery in Singapore. Although many of its surviving 3,000 graves are unidentified, the graveyard contains elaborate tombs from internees of notable background, including community leaders and respected Muslim sheikhs ;(religious leaders and scholars). Kubor Kassim also houses a surau ;(prayer house) where religious classes are conducted, and offers its own miniature ecosystem of flora and fauna, including banyan trees and hornbills. Asia’s rapid urbanisation subjects cultural heritage to tensions that threaten its preservation and poses dilemmas for decision-makers. The choice between expansion and protection is rarely straightforward, and controversies intertwine development, urban planning, sustainability, memory-shaping, and identity-building. For most of its short history as a nation, Singapore has had to make challenging decisions regarding the use of its territory. Space is a highly sought and tightly controlled commodity in such a land-scarce, fully urbanised and densely-populated country. Kubor Kassim is one of the latest examples of these tensions. Surrounded by private residential properties, in an area affected by population pressures and earmarked for future residential development, the cemetery is at risk of disappearance. Given Kubor Kassim’s uncertain future and being mindful that a heritage site’s tangibility cannot be replaced, this paper posits digitalisation as a preservation alternative. Using tools such as digital documentation and archiving, virtual mapping capturing with 360-degree technology, interactive maps, podcasts, and UAV (drone) photography and filming, this investigation explores encounters with the cemetery that can also act as its’ memory insurance policy’ in case of destruction or disappearance. The research includes comprehensive documentation, field works to record the site, interviews, and surveys. The paper urges reflection on the importance of cultural heritage in Asian cities, often threatened by the very process of urban growth and development. It also demonstrates that the design of parallel digital worlds can provide respectful and sustainable ways of preserving the priceless memories associated with cultural heritage.