Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Home Affairs and National Development Desmond Lee launched the inaugural Urban Planning Festival today. This school outreach programme is designed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) for students from secondary schools, junior colleges and polytechnics to cultivate their interest in Singapore’s planning efforts and the role of urban planning.
The Urban Planning Festival comprises a collection of experiential and inquiry-based learning journeys for youths. Through activities such as talks, workshops and live art jamming, the festival will provide more opportunities for the younger generation to broaden their perspectives of our urban environment and built heritage, as well as to be involved in planning for our future living environment.
Mr Ng Lang, Chief Executive Officer of URA, said, “Good urban planning is an integral part of the Singapore story, and is intimately linked to our daily lives and aspirations. The Urban Planning Festival provides an opportunity for our youths to develop a deeper appreciation of this important subject. I hope it will inspire them to actively contribute to the collective effort to make Singapore an endearing home and distinctive city.”
The festival is an extension of URA’s ongoing efforts to develop students’ interest in city planning and urban design for a sustainable Singapore.
At the launch, Mr Desmond Lee also unveiled an exhibition showcasing student projects from URA’s Challenge for the Urban and Built Environment (CUBE) workshop and competition in 2015, as well as commended the participating fifteen teams from local pre-university institutions.
Since 2009, URA has been organising the CUBE annually for junior college and polytechnic students. In its seventh edition, it aims to create awareness of Singapore’s built environment, and the dynamics of land use and urban planning. Over the span of four days, participants are guided to conceive macro ideas and complement these with detailed execution plans to create workable design schemes.
With Paya Lebar Central as the design canvas for the 2015 edition, students from ten junior colleges and five polytechnics brainstormed and conceptualised plans to create a vibrant commercial hub with a distinct local identity, and at the same time, introduce attractive public spaces, enhance pedestrian walkability and seamless connectivity. The CUBE exhibition will showcase the final presentations by these students.
URA also harnesses youth creativity, talent and energy through its heritage programmes. The latest is a new collaboration with the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA). The project, Documenting Serangoon Road, engages young photographers to capture the charm of the historic district over the course of a year. In exploring themes such as community and architecture, these youths have the opportunity to experience and learn about Serangoon Road, as well as convey their unique perspectives through photography.
Another initiative is the documentation of Singapore’s built heritage. For the past two years, students from the Nanyang Technological University’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information produced short films of the winners of URA’s Architectural Heritage Awards. These film projects document the past and present lives of our conserved buildings and uncover the meticulous work that goes into restoration projects.
Student engagement is integral to URA’s community outreach. For over a decade, URA works closely with primary and secondary schools, as well as pre-university institutions, to nurture youth interest in our built heritage and encourage our younger generation to be active citizens in planning and shaping our city.
Annually, over 20,000 students visit the Singapore City Gallery at the URA Centre to learn about Singapore’s planning challenges, constraints, and key strategies in balancing competing needs and managing trade-offs for long-term sustainability. Through working on real life case studies, students gain valuable experience as well as hone their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Please see Annex A [PDF, 144 kb] for the list of activities held during the Urban Planning Festival, and Annex B [PDF, 374kb] for more information on the CUBE programme and winners.