The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)'s Architecture & Urban Design Excellence (A·UDE) programme aims to:
Educate the public to be aware of design quality and demand for good design in the built environment;
Encourage a more vibrant professional design community;
Elevate the quality of design in our built environment; and
Enhance the standing and profile of Singapore's built environment as a distinctive global city.
WHAT IS URBAN DESIGN
Good architecture and urban design contribute to making cities both functional and attractive to residents and visitors. While architecture is about the design of buildings, urban design is about the relationships between the buildings, the roads and spaces that they front, and the people who make use of them. The outstanding building projects are those that are not only visually stimulating, but are also sensitive and respectful of their surrounding developments and environment. A well-designed city takes into consideration this important relationship between buildings and the beauty of the city as a whole.
In short, Urban Design is about:
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Context of the surroundings, the socio-cultural and physical climate, which determines the building form, scale and timing of developments; |
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Connectivity, which should be comfortable and convenient for both people and vehicles; and |
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Contribution to the streetscape, greenery, the public spaces and the community. |
WHY IS URBAN DESIGN IMPORTANT
Urban design is important because it helps to create and enhance the experience of the city. With increasing globalisation, urban design can be the distinctive factor that sets apart a city from others in the competition to retain and attract people to live, work and visit. A well-designed city provides a vibrant and comfortable city-life within a quality city-scape. This is achieved through good quality buildings, well-designed public spaces, beautiful landscaping, a variety of recreational facilities, great world-class infrastructure, integrated transportation modes, and a pedestrian-friendly environment that promotes safety and security.
The testament of a good design will ultimately be the direct spin-offs it generates in terms of economic, social-cultural and environmental benefits. This will include bringing in new businesses, attracting and retaining talents, increasing tourist arrivals, creating jobs, enhancing civic pride and improving the overall quality of life for the city residents.
HOW WE PROMOTE ARCHITECTURE & URBAN DESIGN EXCELLENCE
We organise exhibitions, talks, seminars, workshops and design competitions, to raise awareness and appreciation of good architecture & urban design amongst the general public and the professional community. On this webpage, you will find links to information on our promotional initiatives as well as links to other organisations that are helping to promote good design and contribute to a well-designed urban environment.
Have an enjoyable time exploring the AUDE website and we hope to see you at some of our events soon!
Overview