Annex A - Urban Redevelopment Authority
Transcript of Annex A - Urban Redevelopment Authority
Annex A
My Ideas for Public Spaces invited the public to share creative ideas for underused or
overlooked pockets of public spaces in Singapore.
WINNERS
1. Bukit Timah Green Ribbon Neighbourhood
Antonius Richard Rusli Service lanes in landed housing estates, Bukit Timah
The Bukit Timah Green Ribbon Neighbourhood transforms existing service laneways into
active, landscaped spaces for the neighbourhood. The transformation of the laneways
creates a flexible pedestrian grid with spaces for community gardens, play elements and
urban farming.
Jury Citation:
The transformative nature of the proposal for an entire neighbourhood is of particular
note. The proposal, made up of various systems, has the potential to be scalable and
flexible in its implementation.
2. Citi-TV
Hsu Hsia Pin, Eunice Koo, Lian Ren, Monica Stephanie Santosadjaja Pedestrian Underpasses, Marsiling and Clarke Quay
Citi-TV proposes a simple intervention to activate underpasses and improve pedestrian
safety using digital technology. ‘Live’ footage of pedestrian traffic at one underpass is
projected on the wall of another underpass (and vice versa). The projections activate the
space and the pedestrians become the subject of surveillance and the one surveying,
creating a sense of safety and security.
Jury Citation:
The proposal is applauded for its approach in encouraging public participation with the
use of technology that serves as a surveillance tool as well, instead of the often heavy-
handed approach of bringing in intervention by the authorities. The proposal’s strengths
lie in its ability to activate and improve the quality and safety of spaces all at the same
time.
3. Farm X
Muhammad Hizkil Bin Imran Corridors and void deck spaces, Beach Road Gardens (HDB Estate)
‘Farm X’ proposes a transformation of Beach Road Gardens estate with a masterplan
proposal combining next generation retirement living and urban farming. The plan
transforms the communal areas of the estate into an urban farm with corridor herb
gardens, agricultural centre, meadow park and areas for traditional community farming.
Jury Citation:
The strength of this proposal lies in the manner in which it develops the common garden
concept into one that is holistic and potentially viable for high-rise living. The proposal is
commended for the creative use of high-rise spaces and activating corridors with a self-
sustaining vertical urban farming system.
4. One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure
Syafiqah Aziz Common areas in HDB Estates
This proposal aims to give life to an overlooked space in the HDB void deck by
engaging residents to sort, recycle and reuse their unwanted items as a community.
Through simple means of providing shelving and clear instructions to organise and sort
unwanted items, the space becomes neat and inviting, and provides a platform for
residents to find ‘treasure’ among the ‘trash’, transforming the perception of these
unwanted items and this forgotten space.
Jury Citation:
The proposal is commended for its fun approach in rethinking service spaces as public
space, and its potential to reshape public attitudes towards recycling and waste
management.
5. Rethinking the Derelict Landscape
Liu Yue Hua Underneath the elevated MRT, Queenstown
‘Rethinking the Derelict Landscape’ is a proposal to transform an underutilised stretch of
landscape beneath elevated MRT viaducts into an ecological corridor for birds. The
design proposes a pedestrian and cycling path surrounded by lush landscaping to
create living habitats for local bird species.
Jury Citation:
The scale of the proposal and its attempt to establish an ecosystem and promote
biodiversity at a masterplanning level is commendable. The idea to transform and make
use of existing infrastructure to improve walkability is particularly strong, and has
potential for future development as a broad strategy for the Park Connector Network.
6. Stepping Into The Woods, The Hidden Bath
Lee Wei Sen, Ng Siew Mum Sembawang Hot Spring
‘Stepping into the woods, the hidden bath’ is a simple idea to enhance and bring out the
rich historical values of the Sembawang Hot Spring. Various sizes of moveable wooden
barrels are proposed to allow visitors to use the space freely and enjoy the natural
environment with the filled barrels reflecting the clear, blue sky.
Jury Citation:
The simplicity of the idea and its ability to evoke memories of past experiences,
particularly of visiting hot springs with the family is praiseworthy. Overall, it is an
imaginative and artistic take on space with a strong connection to nature.
7. Tanjong Pagar Backyard Koh Ting and John Tay Open space at Tras Link, Tanjong Pagar
The Tanjong Pagar Backyard aims to create a social space in the centre of the
commercial district that allows workers and the public to spill out and reconnect with the
urban environment and one another. The design proposes a series of hexagonal
modules which interlock to form a pathway and series of social spaces to create a
gradually undulating terrain.
Jury Citation:
The proposal is commended for its potential to redefine the identity of the entire
neighbourhood. The designer’s very sensitive response to the existing context,
maintaining certain areas of hardscape, acknowledging their importance to the
neighbourhood, and subtly using larger trees to create pedestrian connectivity is
particularly praiseworthy.
8. The Urban Commune Loo Hui Jing Common areas in HDB Estates
Urban Commune proposes three programmes to support residents to adopt under-
utilised communal spaces within HDB estates and transform them into active community
spaces. The ideas include a programme where residents can lease the plot in front of
their strata unit, rent a rack in a community garden plot or erect a pavilion, all for free.
Jury Citation:
The ground-up nature of this initiative and its potential to create public spaces that are
effective and sustainable, akin to the Community In Bloom programme, sets it apart
from other proposals.
______________________________________________________________________
MERIT
1. Alfresco Urban Oasis
Benjamin Xue Pockets of green space beside pedestrian walkways
Alfresco Urban Oasis is a proposal to re-think the planted areas adjoining pedestrian
walkways as micro parks for people to meet and chat or simply enjoy a moment of
afternoon sun.
Jury Citation:
The strength of the proposal lies in its simplicity and adaptability as it is not tied to a
specific location, but instead to a common spatial condition and is thus easily scalable
and implementable in various situations. The proposal encourages the use of space
under trees that is often underused and underappreciated, blurring the boundary
between hard and soft landscape.
2. Bukit Timah Explorer
Yi Yun Hi Underneath the Anak Bukit Flyover
Bukit Timah Explorer is a bike-sharing system for people to seamlessly explore and
discover Bukit Timah by bike. The proposal includes a series of new bicycle-only lanes to
connect places of interest, park connectors and the Rail Corridor with pit stops at five key
locations for bike rental and return.
Jury Citation:
A beautiful and simple idea that is highly implementable. The proposal exhibits intimate
knowledge of context and environment, and it was observed that the site selection was
well-suited for the idea.
3. Fun @ Stairways
Chin Qian Lyn Marang Trail, Mt Faber
Fun @ Stairways proposes a giant slide down the Marang Trail at Mt Faber to encourage
people to explore the area and climb up the stairway knowing that they can then enjoy a
fun slide down.
Jury Citation:
The proposal is commended for the ingenious idea that promotes an appreciation for
nature. It provides an opportunity for children to connect with and experience nature in a
fun-filled and educational manner.
4. PCF Sparkletots Preschool
Ryan Wong Jun Shin Open field, Choa Chu Kang
The submission by PCF Sparkletots Preschool proposes a simple idea to adopt the open
space beside their school and turn it into a sports field for the children to enjoy.
Jury Citation:
This opportunistic proposal for the improvement of an existing space is unpretentious but
at the same time highly implementable. It provides an interesting insight into how
children think about their immediate environment and how they wish to interact with it.
5. Public Sculpture Space Along The Coast
Bai Tian Yuan East Coast Park
The submission proposes transforming the shoreline along the East Coast Park into an
art space with a series of installations both in the water and on the beach.
Jury Citation:
Activating the coastline and defining shallow waters as an extension of public space is a
compelling idea, as it plays on Singapore’s identity as an island city. The proposal also
acknowledges and seeks to promote the value of public art as an important element of
public spaces.
6. Recreational Runway
Henri Khoo Underneath the Jurong East MRT Station
Recreational Runway is a proposal to transform the open space beneath Jurong East
MRT Station into an active multi-sports facility. Unlike conventional sports facilities where
line markings are permanent, the project proposes a simple playing surface with no line
markings and users can opt to rent traditional equipment or select from a series of pre-
set laser projections to create line markings on the ground surface.
Jury Citation:
An imaginative and non-conventional proposal that is noteworthy through its innovative
idea to make use of light to define and activate unused space beneath existing
infrastructure.
7. Sheares Linkway
Eugene Lin Sheares Bridge
In response to lower traffic volumes observed following the downgrading of the ECP to
an arterial road, Sheares Linkway proposes to reduce the number of vehicular lanes
along Sheares Avenue to create a new central island to serve as a pedestrian and
cycling linkway connecting Marina Bay to Tanjong Rhu.
Jury Citation:
The entry is applauded for the bold idea of an elevated green corridor akin to the
‘Highline’ in New York. The green corridor would make a fabulous green expressway
from the Marina Bay Sands and Tanjong Rhu for both cyclists and joggers.
8. 1km Gym and Gallery
Zoe Lin Underneath MRT Viaduct, Ang Mo Kio
The 1km Gym and Gallery proposes to activate a stretch of under-utilised space at Ang
Mo Kio by integrating the ‘static’ nature of a gallery and the ‘dynamic’ nature of an
outdoor fitness gym to create a total well-being experience for the residents of Ang Mo
Kio.
Jury Citation:
The idea is a simple and creative one, identifying a simple detail in a neglected space
and adapting it for community participation and thereby, beautifying and activating the
space through art.
SPECIAL MENTION
1. Forgotten Spaces
Afsheen Various locations
The submission proposes three ideas to activate public spaces, a community art gallery at
the Amber Road underpass on East Coast Road where children’s art can be displayed,
flower gardens between buildings, and community gardening.
Jury Citation:
The proposal is recognised for the efforts put together by a family and the inspiration that
‘Life's greatest work is done within the walls of our own home’.