URA’s Urban Lab presents research-driven innovative solutions for a healthier city

1   The health and well-being of Singaporeans have always been one of the key priorities of URA’s long-term planning approach. Our urban environment is designed to encourage active and healthy lifestyles, promote mental well-being, and foster social connections. This vision is the focal point of the “Well-being in the city: Innovating healthy living” exhibition, officially launched today by Mr Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for National Development & Digital Development and Information, at The URA Centre.  

2   The 12^th edition of the Urban Lab exhibition series showcases research insights on how we can enhance both physical and psychological health and improve well-being through urban planning and design, and how some of these insights can be translated into innovative solutions for Singapore. Presented by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), it is part of the Draft Master Plan 2025 (DMP2025) public engagement efforts, under the theme of “Shaping a Happy Healthy City”. Aligned with national programmes like Healthier SG and Age Well SG, the exhibition seeks to explore how urban planning and design can better support healthy living and active ageing by encouraging more active lifestyles, promoting mental wellness and strengthening community bonding among residents. See Annex A [PDF, 152 KB] for more details of the DMP2025.

3   At the exhibition launch, Mr Tan Kiat How also announced the award of a new research project under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2025 Cities of Tomorrow R&D programme to Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), that involves studying how green spaces can be further optimised to cater to both community and ecological uses.

Efforts to create a more liveable and healthier city – from integrating health and well-being to evidence-based innovations

4   Since Singapore’s early nation-building years, we have taken steps to integrate health and well-being into the hardware of our city when we moved Singaporeans from slums to HDB flats by ensuring proper access to clean water and proper sanitation system in our HDB estates. Our pioneers were also committed to greening our city and bringing community spaces and sports facilities into our neighbourhoods. Today, we continue to build on this legacy, implementing an extensive network of park connectors linking our people to parks, sports and exercise facilities and community hubs. 

5   Government agencies are also increasingly tapping on evidence-based innovations to better promote physical, social and mental health, and extend the “health span” of Singaporeans – the years that they spend in good health. This exhibition showcases a myriad of initiatives that demonstrate how research can enhance urban design in our built environment to encourage and nudge people’s behaviour towards adopting a healthy lifestyle and to make the most of the health and wellness opportunities provided through our infrastructure and amenities.

6   Through interactive exhibits, visitors can explore how environmental design influences exercise motivation and physical activity. For example, research from the Future Cities Laboratory Global demonstrates how environmental factors such as the presence and density of greenery shapes user preferences for walking routes. In particular, greener, uncrowded spaces are associated with more positive emotions and higher motivation to exercise as compared to crowded urban spaces. These findings help to inform important considerations when planning and designing our urban environment to encourage more active lifestyles.

7   In addition, the exhibition highlights how well-designed public spaces can facilitate social interaction and foster inter-generational connections, while promoting inclusive and vibrant communities to minimise social isolation and enhance social well-being, especially for our seniors. For instance, the Pelatok Art Farm in Changi-Simei, a community-led project arising from a collaborative research initiative between SUTD, Changi General Hospital, and SAA Architects, showcases how residents created a welcoming space for the community using upcycled materials. The project highlights how spaces designed by the community can become vibrant social hubs that foster social interactions.

8   To demonstrate how nature-based multi-sensory environments can enhance cognitive function and support mental well-being, the exhibition features an immersive forest bathing simulation where visitors can pause to appreciate their surroundings and immerse themselves in the experience of therapeutic effects of nature. As Singapore transforms into a City in Nature, more green spaces will be implemented, offering increased opportunities for people to connect and engage with nature.

New research aimed at enhancing multi-functional ecological corridors

9   In December 2024, SUTD was awarded a research project under the Cities of Tomorrow’s Urban Environment Analytics and Complexity Science research pillar. Commissioned by URA and the National Parks Board (NParks), the “Urban Ecological Corridors: Multifunctional Corridors for People and Ecology” project will examine the different needs, preferences and activity patterns of people, as well as biodiversity across different green spaces, such as park connectors, cycling paths, and Nature Ways. Findings from the study will provide insights into evidence-based design solutions for multifunctional ecological corridors that better serve the needs of people and biodiversity, and support community uses within these green spaces.
 
10  More information on the research and design interventions to enhance physical, social and mental health can be found within the exhibition summary in Annex B [PDF, 187 KB] and details about the research project on urban ecological corridors can be found in Annex C [PDF, 148 KB]. 

11  “To ensure Singapore remains a healthy thriving city and foster healthier lifestyles among residents, we need to embrace more evidence-based urban planning and design. Our goal is to seamlessly integrate health and wellness into everyday life, and not just in medical settings. This exhibition showcases the possibilities that can emerge when all stakeholders - government agencies, researchers, industry partners and communities - work together. We hope it will inspire everyone to contribute to the creation of vibrant, healthy and sustainable urban environments for all,” said Mr Chiu Wen Tung, Group Director (Research & Development) at URA.

12  “Well-being in the city: Innovating healthy living” will be exhibited at The URA Centre until 31 May 2025. Admission is free. Members of the public are invited to visit the exhibition and its fringe events. More information on the exhibition can be found at go.gov.sg/HealthyCities.