News Releases

30 JUNE 2003

1. Well-designed public spaces are essential both for the enjoyment and promotion of city life, and also help Singapore to become a more attractive and distinctive city.



2. URA has unveiled a 'Public Spaces & Urban Waterfront Master Plan' to encourage and guide the development of quality, people-friendly public spaces within the City Centre. The Master Plan identifies and proposes key locations where public spaces can be developed or improved. This is part of URA's vision to make the City Centre a more enjoyable, attractive and distinctive place for all to enjoy.


Creating Well-designed & Attractive Public Spaces for all


3. Introducing a variety of well-designed public spaces makes the city more attractive and distinctive and improves the urban environment where we live, work and play. Hence, the Public Space & Urban Waterfront Master Plan aims to:
   
   1. provide more places and spaces for various activities for everyone;
   2. ensure comfortable and adequate facilities for users in harmony with the physical and natural environment;
   3. serve to better connect key activity nodes;
   4. encourage collaboration between the government, professionals, stakeholders and the public.
      
4. Bearing in mind unique strengths and natural attributes in the City Centre, URA has identified five focus areas where public spaces can be enhanced. There are plans to:


1. Enhance existing key activity areas and districts such as Orchard Road, Singapore River, CBD and Bugis with a variety of public spaces;
2. Create a series of interim parks and park connector in high-density residential areas along Orchard Boulevard, Grange Road, Irwell Bank and Kim Seng Road. Together with Pearl's Hill City Park and Duxton Plain, this will form a Park Necklace;
3. Extend the sense of greenery and enhance pedestrian connectivity with interim parks at the foothill of Fort Canning Park;
4. Introduce interim waterfront parks at Marina South and Marina East;
5. Bring life to the waterfront with a continuous pedestrian promenade around Marina Bay.
   
5. URA is also exhibiting ideas for two specific places where attractive and delightful urban spaces catering to different users can be created: the City Room beneath Benjamin Sheares Bridge and Maritime Hub & Marina Barrage.
   
6. At the City Room beneath Benjamin Sheares Bridge, there are opportunities to create unique public spaces at various levels beneath Benjamin Sheares Bridge and an attractive pedestrian link from the future Millenia MRT station to the Marina Promenade. The lofty space at the waterfront is also suitable for various uses such as retail and entertainment like nightclubs and food & beverage outlets.
   
7. For the Maritime Hub, located at the waterfront of Straits View, public spaces are proposed on the linked landscaped rooftops which will open up the waterfront and the panoramic views without interrupting port activities at Hub below. For the Marina Barrage, the proposed design of the structures will seamlessly integrate into the natural landscape.


Share your Winning Idea with URA


8. URA will conduct a Design Ideas Competition to encourage greater participation from the public in coming up with ideas for well-designed and attractive public spaces within the City. URA is inviting architects, landscape architects, artists, sculptors, engineers and students to submit design ideas to enhance 10 public spaces within the City Centre.
   
9. Ideas generated from this competition will serve as an inspiration and catalyst for the eventual design and development of these spaces. Interested participants can download the brief, submission requirements and terms & conditions of the competition from www.ura.gov.sg. Entries should be submitted to URA by 26 September 2003. An announcement of the winning designs would be made in November 2003. Please see Annex 1 for details on the 10 identified locations and their design aspirations.


URA welcomes feedback on the Plan


10. The 'Public Space & Urban Waterfront Master Plan' is presented at The URA Centre in "Our City Centre: A great place to Live, Work and Play!" exhibition, held from 26 June to 16 July 2003. The exhibition presents URA's ideas and strategies to enhance the City Centre. Opening hours are: Mon - Fri, 8.30 am - 7 pm; Sat, 8.30 am - 4.30 pm; closed on Sundays and public holidays. The exhibition is also available online on URA's website at www.ura.gov.sg.
    
11. URA welcomes the public to give their feedback on the plans, by filling up the feedback form available at the exhibition or online via the URA website.

BUGIS

1. Parcel at Selegie Road - Seize the opportunity to introduce short-term uses that can add on to the vibrancy of the area.


CONTEXT
The site is a triangular piece of land along Selegie Road, a major arterial road within the Bugis area. There are no immediate plans to redevelop the site for its permanent use. It is adjacent to the Selegie Arts Centre, which is a conserved building, and home to the Singapore Photographic Society, as well as a popular cafe on the first storey. It is also adjacent to a row of shophouses along Prinsep Road, which house several F&B establishments and pubs. The district has a concentration of existing and future arts schools, and is in close proximity to the new Singapore Management University Campus.



This area is very popular as an F&B activity node with the youths and young adults who frequent the cafe and pubs, as well as the gaming arcades across the road at Paradiz Centre and Peace Centre. The mood in the area is youthful, vibrant and lively, particular in the evenings and on weekends.

DESIGN ASPIRATION
There is an opportunity to introduce interim uses on short-term lease, which can add on to the vibrancy of the area. The proposal should suggest appropriate uses, which can respond to the needs of the student population as well as enhance the area as a 24-hour activity node.


2. Parcel at Bencoolen Street - Create a focal point which caters to the different needs of the local community and students.


CONTEXT
The site is located at Bencoolen Street, a major thoroughfare in the Bugis area. The site enjoys high visibility. It is in close proximity to the popular Albert Mall, and is directly across from the future Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) campus, which will open in 2004.

There are no immediate plans to redevelop the site for its permanent use. The site has two distinct characters - one half of the site has a more intimate setting framed by a cluster of trees, and the other half is an open green. There are already several activities, which take place on this site periodically. For example, the temple at Waterloo Street would set up tents for key religious celebrations for its devotees on this site.

The area would see an influx of students when the new NAFA campus opens in 2004.

DESIGN ASPIRATION
This green space has the opportunity to become a focal point in the area, for both the local community as well as the arts and youth community. The proposal should suggest design ideas on how the site can be enhanced to allow for a colourful intermingling of local events as well as arts appreciation events, to reflect the eclectic mix of the area and the diverse interests of the district population.



DOWNTOWN @ MARINA BAY

3. City Room beneath Benjamin Sheares Bridge - Create a delightful pedestrian experience from the future Millenia MRT station to Marina Promenade, injecting new attractions by the Bay.


CONTEXT
The site is located beneath Benjamin Sheares Bridge, and in proximity to the future Millenia MRT station (part of Circle Line), which is under construction. The site spans across two roads i.e. Raffles Boulevard and Raffles Avenue. The nearby developments are Suntec City and Millenia Walk.

Benjamin Sheares Bridge offers shade and space (about 25m in height measured from the ground to the underside of the bridge), leading to the waterfront at Marina Bay. Marina Promenade is well-frequented by families and park goers.

DESIGN ASPIRATION
The space is envisaged to be an attractive outdoor "living room" in our city. There is potential to introduce new attractions by the Bay. There is also opportunity to create a delightful pedestrian link beneath Benjamin Sheares Bridge from the future Millenia MRT station to Marina Promenade, facilitating pedestrian connectivity across existing roads i.e. Raffles Boulevard and Raffles Avenue.

The proposal should suggest appropriate programming to enhance pedestrian experience. The lofty space at the waterfront also offers opportunities for various uses.


4. Bayfront Promontory & Bridge - Propose new activities on both sides of Marina Bay to complement the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. Complete the loop around the Bay with a low-level vehicular and pedestrian bridge.
CONTEXT
The 1.09 ha Bayfront promontory site and the 2.28 ha Marina Centre waterfront site front onto Marina Bay and Marina Channel with commanding views across to Collyer Quay and the new Merlion Park.

As there are currently no immediate plans to develop the two sites for their permanent uses, the proposal should offer suggestions on how the sites and the adjacent waterfront promenades could be used and activated in the interim.

The two sites are proposed to be connected by a new low-level vehicular and pedestrian bridge across Marina Channel which will connect the Bayfront and Marina Centre areas and complete the continuous pedestrian and vehicular route around the Bay.

DESIGN ASPIRATION
The interim use and activities on the two sites should be a catalyst to bring people to the waterfront area. The proposal should demonstrate how the spaces and the adjacent promenade could add to the spatial quality and public's enjoyment of the waterfront, taking into consideration the existing planting as well as Singapore's tropical climate.

The proposal should recognise and address both the existing site levels (including the existing seawall coping at 103.0m PL) as well as future integration with the longer-term building platform level (104.0m PL) and the stabilised water level within Marina Bay (which will be around 100m PL).

The proposal should also include ideas on how the two sites can be linked by the new low-level bridge. This new bridge should cater to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The proposal should include how views of Marina Bay and the city skyline could be capitalised. The proposal should be sensitive to the adjacent Benjamin Sheares Bridge, when seen from the promenade around Marina Bay and should not exceed the height of the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, in order not obstruct or mar the existing view of the city skyline. The bridge should also allow for continuous pedestrian access along the waterfront promenade on either side.


5. Waterfront Promenade at Bayfront BRIDGE - Create an attractive tropical waterfront promenade. Propose appropriate uses for the developments on shorter-term leases, with the aim to quickly establish an attraction by the Bay.


CONTEXT
The 25 m wide waterfront promenade at Bayfront will form an extension of the existing promenades at Marina Centre and Collyer Quay, fronting One Fullerton. Together they will create a 3.35 km continuous loop around Marina Bay linking together all the waterfront amenities and activities.

As part of the plan to introduce activities early into the Bayfront area, some sites are being considered for development on shorter-term leases. These sites could be developed for low-rise, 2 to 3 storey buildings which will offer amenities and bring buzz to the area early - e.g. F&B, entertainment and recreational uses.

DESIGN ASPIRATION
The proposal should offer suggestions on the design of the waterfront promenade and possible use of the spaces along the promenade, including possible structures and activity-generating uses.

The uses and activities should be a catalyst to bring people to the waterfront area. The proposal should demonstrate how the design, spaces and uses could add to the spatial quality and public's enjoyment of the waterfront, taking into consideration the existing planting as well as Singapore's tropical climate.

The proposal should suggest how the adjacent two-lane, one-way waterfront drive could be designed and detailed to allow it to be closed off to create a larger pedestrian area fronting onto the Bay for special events when required.

The proposal should recognise and address both the existing site levels (including the existing seawall coping at 103.0m PL) as well as future integration with the longer-term building platform level (104.0m PL) and the stabilised water level within Marina Bay (which be around 100m PL).

The proposal should also include ideas on how the adjacent sites being considered for shorter-term leases could be developed and integrated with the waterfront promenade.


6. Central Promontory - Activate the site, which is earmarked for a future landmark civic and community institution with appropriate interim uses.


CONTEXT
The 0.82 ha Central promontory site fronts onto Marina Bay with commanding views across to Collyer Quay, the new Merlion Park and Marina Centre.

As there are currently no immediate plans to develop the site for its permanent use, the proposal should offer suggestions on how the site and the adjacent waterfront promenade could be used and activated in the interim.

DESIGN ASPIRATION
The proposal should offer suggestions on the design of the waterfront promenade and possible use of the spaces along the promenade, including possible structures and activity-generating uses.

The interim use and activities on the site should be a catalyst to bring people to the waterfront area. The proposal should demonstrate how the space and the adjacent promenade could add to the spatial quality and public's enjoyment of the waterfront, taking into consideration the existing planting as well as Singapore's tropical climate.

The proposal should recognise and address both the existing site levels (including the existing seawall coping at 103.0m PL) as well as future integration with the longer-term building platform level (104.0m PL) and the stabilised water level within Marina Bay (which be around 100m PL).



PEARL'S HILL

7. PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER EU TONG SEN ST/ NEW BRIDGE RD - Connect Pearl's Hill City Park to Duxton Plain Park by creating a new pedestrian bridge across Eu Tong Sen Street / New Bridge Road.


CONTEXT
Pearl's Hill City Park is currently under-utilised partly due to poor visibility and the lack of good pedestrian linkages from Eu Tong Sen St / New Bridge Road. The Duxton Plain Park terminates at the traffic junction of Eu Tong Sen Street and Kreta Ayer Road.

Due to the active commercial belt at Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road, there is often heavy congestion of pedestrians at the traffic junction. The proposed pedestrian bridge presents the opportunity to improve pedestrian connectivity for this area.

Under the plans for City Living at Pearl's Hill, Pearl's Hill City Park would be developed into a smaller and quieter Hilltop Park and a more active Mid-Level Park. By decking over part of the CTE tunnel and bridging across Eu Tong Sen Street/New Bridge Road, park users can walk or jog from Duxton Plain Park to Singapore River through Pearl's Hill and York Hill.

DESIGN ASPIRATION
The pedestrian bridge should provide seamless connection from Duxton Plain Park to Pearl's Hill City Park. The design of the bridge should be light and visually pleasing, providing pedestrians with a continuous experience between the two parks. The proposal should also suggest possible ideas that could further enhance the existing Duxton Plain Park. The proposal should also give suggestions on how Duxton Plain Park could be connected through the existing Tanjong Pagar public housing and the future development to Tanjong Pagar MRT station.


8. GREEN DECK OVER CTE - Turn existing air space above the CTE tunnel into an attractive landscaped garden to improve connectivity and enhance the unique residential precincts at Pearl's Hill and York Hill.


CONTEXT
Today, Pearl's Hill and York Hill are separated by the CTE tunnel, as well as Chin Swee Road on both sides of the tunnel. This has resulted in poor connectivity between them, where crossing between the hills can only take place via an overhead bridge.

As part of the plans for City Living at Pearl's Hill, a landscaped deck is proposed over part of the CTE tunnel to connect the two hills.

DESIGN ASPIRATION
The proposal should suggest how part of the CTE tunnel and Chin Swee Road could be decked over with a landscaped deck, which would provide seamless connectivity between the two hills. The design should allow the landscaped deck to be implemented in phases.

As the deck would be visible from the adjacent high-rise residential developments, the deck should present a visual delight and enhance the unique residential precincts at Pearl's Hill and York Hill. The proposal should suggest appropriate programming, amenities and landscaping design for the deck.

Beneath the deck, there is also the opportunity to create an interesting driving experience for commuters in the tunnel, through attractive design of the underside of the deck when seen from vehicles travelling along the CTE tunnel.



OTHERS

9. HONG LIM PARK - Enhance the image and significance of Hong Lim Park as a unique tropical urban park and a great place for community events, meetings, gatherings, play and rest.


CONTEXT
Hong Lim Park is located at the gateway to the Central Business District and is close to Singapore River and the Chinatown Historic District. It is an island site bounded by busy roads - North Canal Road, South Bridge Road, Upper Pickering Street and New Bridge Road. At present, part of the site is occupied by Telok Ayer Hong Lim Green Community Centre, as well as a 'Modern'-style multi-purpose stage built in the 1950s. There is also a neighbourhood police post, which is housed in the former Kreta Ayer Post Office building, as well as an entrance to the future Clarke Quay MRT Station at the northern corner of the site. The site has several large mature trees as well as a green open space.

Hong Lim Park is a site of historical and national significance. It is Singapore's first privately-owned public garden and is named after Cheang Hong Lim, a wealthy Chinese businessman, who bought the land in 1876.

During the Japanese Occupation, it was the venue for storytelling. In the 1950s and 1960s. It was used as a cricket ground by members of the Singapore Chinese Recreation Club and the Singapore Cricket Club. In the 1960s and 1970s, Chinese operas were performed on the stage. The park also served as the venue of many of the first political rallies. Right up to the late 1970s, the Green was the only major recreation space in Chinatown. It is still used for various community events through the year. It is also home to Singapore's first Speakers' corner, established in 2000.

DESIGN ASPIRATION
Given the importance of the park, the proposal should suggest how the park could be further enhanced through landscaping strategies and the introduction of appropriate activities and facilities.

As the park is surrounded by major roads, the proposal should also suggest how it could be made more accessible, in particular how the park could be connected to the future development on the vacant State land across Pickering Street.


10. Clemenceau Connection - Enhance pedestrian experience through urban landscaping solutions and pockets of activities.


CONTEXT
The site comprises a vacant State land parcel adjacent to the House of Tan Yeok Nee, an open space at the foothill of Fort Canning Park and an open space in front of Sri Thandayuthapani Temple along Clemenceau Avenue.

There are several significant buildings such as the Teochew Building, the Church of the Sacred Heart and Sri Thandayuthapani Temple along Clemenceau Avenue.

Fort Canning Park is rich in history and culture, with panoramic views of the city, and a popular venue for open-air arts and cultural events. The nearest MRT stations are at Dhoby Ghaut and Clarke Quay.

DESIGN ASPIRATION
There is opportunity to strengthen connectivity between Orchard Road and Singapore River through Clemenceau Avenue.

The proposal should suggest urban landscaping strategies including appropriate short-term uses for the vacant State land adjacent to the House of Tan Yeok Nee and the open space in front of the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple.

The proposal should capitalise on the sense of greenery of Fort Canning Park and suggest ways to draw pedestrians up to Fort Canning Park from Clemenceau Avenue and River Valley Road. The -proposal should also suggest how River Valley swimming pool could be adapted for reuse, which can enhance the hill through appropriate new uses.