Once upon a time, it is not uncommon to hear people warning us not to use the back alleys of our concrete jungle, due to the reputation that they have for being dark, dirty and unsafe. These days, you hear that less and less. That’s most likely due to our community’s collective effort in improving the conditions of these alleys. What triggered the change, and how has the evolution been like, from the perspective of a heritage conservation expert? We explore.

Image Source: MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP