We continued conserving buildings with strong architectural and historical merits, to serve as links to our past and to retain our identity. One significant milestone in this ongoing journey was the conservation of Golden Mile Complex last year. The first large-scale strata-titled modern building to be conserved in Singapore, the building is a symbol of the architectural and engineering ingenuity of Singapore’s pioneer generation of building professionals, and their bold vision for inclusive high-rise living during our nation building days.
The 16-storey Golden Mile Complex located along Beach Road
Together with HDB and the National Heritage Board, URA conducted a pilot large-scale detailed heritage study on the site of the Old Police Academy, as part of redevelopment plans to build 5,000 new homes in the Mount Pleasant area. Based on the findings of the study and feedback from stakeholder groups, agencies proposed conserving four buildings within the 33ha future housing estate, in addition to two buildings outside the new estate. These six buildings are assessed to be the most representative of the Police’s historical, social, and architectural heritage in the area. The recommendations of the study will guide agencies in refining plans for the Mount Pleasant area, to ensure that future developments are integrated sensitively into its environment while preserving the heritage and historical significance of the area.
Two of the six buildings earmarked for conservation in the Mount Pleasant area
Following a review, the Architectural Heritage Awards scheme will now recognise more areas of expertise and stakeholder groups, with expanded emphasis on intangible conservation outcomes such as creating long-term value for the community. The inclusion of a new Architectural Heritage Legacy Award, open to past winners with at least 10 years of good building management post-award, aims to encourage sustained efforts in the upkeep and management of heritage buildings.
Jurong Town Hall, 2018 winner for Award for Restoration
Temasek Shophouse, 2019 winner for Award for Restoration
In collaboration with the local chapter of the International Council of Monuments and Sites, we have developed a series of conservation technical handbooks to promote better restoration projects, enhance industry standards and increase the appreciation for our built heritage. The series of eight handbooks, each focusing on different elements of conserved buildings, has been completed and published on our website.
We held vibrant celebrations and rejuvenated public spaces in a safe manner.
Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2022 brought back two popular features – 'Shine a Light', a colourful light display that illuminated the Marina Bay skyline throughout December 2021, and 'Share the Moment', a visual storytelling showcase projected on the façades of key Marina Bay landmarks. Together with fireworks set off from the heartlands, these displays paid tribute to the partnerships forged to help the country overcome the pandemic and reflected hope and optimism as Singapore ushered in the new year in a safe and meaningful way.
The circular formation of Shine a Light’s 60 light beams represented strength in diversity
Share the Moment featured projection shows on the façades of Marina Bay landmarks including the ArtScience Museum
We launched a second pop-up installation along Marina Bay to provide the public with a friendly reminder to adhere to safe distancing and mask-wearing measures. Located at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza from July to October 2021, the installation consisted of a series of life-size silhouette figures placed at intervals along the railings, and formed an attractive and vibrant backdrop against the Marina Bay skyline.
The colourful design of the pop-up installation added to the vibrancy of the Marina Bay precinct
Visitors interacting with the masked silhouettes placed along the waterfront
Together with the Singapore Tourism Board, URA supported community stakeholders to install a 240-metre long graffiti mural on LTA’s construction hoardings in Kampong Gelam. Titled 'Hall of Fame', the collective effort of 17 local artists transformed the hoardings into the largest open-air graffiti gallery in Singapore.
Launched in April 2021, this street art project was initiated by the One Kampong Gelam association and contributed to a more visually-pleasing streetscape in the precinct. Through such pop-up projects, the URA-HDB Lively Places Programme supports and funds community-led efforts to enliven our public spaces, turning them into vibrant and people-centric spaces.
The mural contributed to a more delightful streetscape amidst construction works in Kampong Gelam
We executed a myriad of initiatives that honoured and showcased design excellence on both the local and international level, many of which positioned Singapore as a global leader in architecture and urban design.
Attracting over a million visitors, the Singapore Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai brought to life Singapore’s City in Nature vision in the desert environment of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 2021 to March 2022. Themed ‘Nature. Nurture. Future.’, the Pavilion’s lush multi-dimensional landscaping and green ecosystem that integrated nature, architecture, and technology, won the Gold Award for Architecture and Landscape for small self-built pavilions.
The Pavilion’s showcase of a selection of homegrown retail and F&B brands, as well as a line-up of cultural performances and film screenings, gave visitors an experience of Singapore’s culture.
Besides serving as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration to overcome global urban challenges and shape cities of the future, the Pavilion also deepened Singapore’s bilateral ties with the UAE and other global partners.
The Singapore Pavilion offered an immersive experience of Singapore’s efforts towards becoming a City in Nature, through the smart integration of design, technology and nature © Expo 2020 Dubai
URA awarded the sixth edition of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize. Vienna, the capital of Austria, was celebrated as the winning Prize Laureate for having built, innovated, and enhanced its infrastructure to thrive in the 21st century whilst honouring its existing historical and cultural fabric. Three other cities were recognised as Special Mentions – Antwerp, Boston, and Lisbon.
This marked the 10th anniversary of the biennial award that recognises outstanding achievements and contributions to the creation of liveable, vibrant, and sustainable urban communities around the world.
Danube River © Christian Fürthner
Vienna’s Historic City Centre © lizenzfrei
Jointly organised by URA and the DesignSingapore Council, the President*s Design Award (P*DA) was presented by President Halimah Yacob to 11 Designer and Design of the Year recipients for innovative design solutions that addressed issues like ageing, sustainability and climate change.
Ar. Khoo Peng Beng and Ar. Belinda Huang won a Designer of the Year award and four Design of the Year awards went to the following architecture projects – Cloister House, Kampung Admiralty, Jewel Changi Airport and Sparkletots Large Preschool at Punggol.
From July 2021 to May 2022, the works of all 11 award recipients were exhibited at 10 locations across the island as part of an outreach effort to promote design excellence.
President Halimah Yacob, Second Minister for National Development Indranee Rajah and Chairman Peter Ho with some of the award recipients at the Istana
P*DA 2020 exhibition at Jewel Changi Airport