THE WATERFRONT

LIVE – WORK ‐ PLAY

Our place...

... is Singapore or Singapura, from the Sanskrit words “simha” (lion) and “pura” (city). Singapore, “The Lion City”, has come a long way from its origins as a fishing village when Sir first landed on the island. Since independence in 1965, Singapore has been transformed into a bustling high‐rise, high density and sustainable cosmopolitan city that offers a world‐class living environment. Singapore is a ubiquitous collage of cultures, where people of different ethnicities and beliefs coexist.

Singapore consistently ranks as the world’s easiest place to do business (viz. World Bank’s Doing Business 2012 Report) and one of the top 20 most liveable cities in the world (viz. Monocle’s Most Liveable Cities Index 2011). She is also ranked the world’s third most competitive city and most competitive in Asia by the Economic Intelligent Unit and the best country in Asia to work in by World Economic Forum under The Global Competitiveness Report 2011‐2012.

Key facts...

Singapore:  is an island with a total land area of 712.4 sq km in the heart of Southeast Asia, located between Malaysia and Indonesia  has a population of 5.18 million (of which the resident population is 3.77 million)  is expected to accommodate 6.5 million by 2055  generates approximately S$326,832.4 million / annum in Gross Domestic Product  is a strategic point of access to the markets in the region and is a central sea port along major shipping routes.  is home to world‐leading companies in a number of industry sectors: o business & financial services o high‐value manufacturing (particularly electronics, chemicals, processed food & beverages,) o Oil drilling equipment & petroleum refining o rubber processing & products o ship repair & offshore platform construction o life sciences o entrepot trade

Singapore’s vision is to be a great city to live, work and play. Singapore hopes to be an endearing home for our people and a city of distinction that provides the best physical and living environment for building a vibrant city, with a robust economy and cohesive community.

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Our waterfronts…

….. are precious resource which are unique in their potential to provide diversified opportunities for economic development, public enjoyment and civic identity. The history and nature of maritime cities are reflected by the image and character of their urban waterfronts. Singapore’s efforts to clean‐up the urban waterways unlocked the potential for waterfront developments centred along and around Marina Bay and . The on‐going process of making improvements, while conserving traditional buildings and promoting water sports and recreational activities, is encompassed within the broader framework of realising the long‐term plans for the area.

In Singapore, the objectives in the development of these key districts are the opportunities for economic development and recreational and cultural activities. These require an understanding of the roles that these waterfronts play in urban development, their characteristics as well as their unique attributes that will help to develop the development strategies for these areas. Each of these waterfronts is developed with a distinct theme and character in relation to the strengths and potentials for the various forms of development, by adopting the following key principles:  Beautifying and improving the accessibility of the coastline and inland waterbodies;  Capitalising on its waterways and seafront as natural assets to create a greater variety of living and working environments;  Increasing the coastline with creative reclamation; and  Weaving the urban waterways together with an extensive open space network.

Cities often develop at the confluence or mouth of a river and Singapore is no exception. We started off with Singapore River and over the years, land reclamation was progressively carried out near the coastline for the expansion of the city, creating a large waterbody (of around 173 ha) known as the Greater Marina Bay which includes the and Singapore River. In 2007, the Singapore Government built a dam, known as the , across the acting as a tidal barrier to keep out sea water and control flooding. The Barrage will turn Marina Bay into a freshwater reservoir increasing the water catchment areas in Singapore and local water supply by 10 per cent. Marina Reservoir comprises the three waterbodies, Marina Bay, Marina Channel and Basin, which includes the Tanjong Rhu waterfront area.

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Singapore River

Key Facts…

Singapore River:  covers 86 hectares of land and 10 hectares of water; and  has a 6 kilometre long waterfront promenade on both banks of the river that connects its three key districts together.

Singapore River, stretching for 3 kilometres, meanders through the city centre of Siingapore. Over the years, the traditional trading activities and bumboats, tongkongs and sampans plying the river, have been replaced with the present day hustle and bustle of modern commercial offices and banks. Some remaining old shophouses and warehouses have been retained and restored as part of the conservation efforts to preserve Singapore River’s links to the past. The story of Singapore River shows how the economic role of the River has shifted away from a reliance on trade to include a diverse array of commercial sectors, such as service and tourism. Its transformation represents the development of Singapore as a whole, from a small fishing village to a vibrant metropolis and global city.

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Historically, the river started off as a port for shipping and trading activities. Over time, it became heavily polluted by the shipping activities and the larger hinterland of cottage industries and chicken and duck farms that discharged their waste directly into the river. As a result, the street hawkers and squatter settlements that had mushroomed along its banks treated the river as a dumping ground for their waste. Before any plans for redevelopment could take place, the river had to be cleaned up. The task was an enormous one that took about 10 years to complete, from 1977 to 1985. This required concerted and coordinated efforts of the public and private sector agencies. Tonnes of garbage were dredged from the river, shipping businesses moved out and river walls reconstructed and strengthened. Bridges were upgraded to improve access to the River.

Planning

The planning vision for Singapore River was an attractive waterway providing waterfront housing, entertainment and dining facilities to Singaporeans and tourists alike. After the big clean‐up, a master plan was drawn up by URA to create a new identity and character for the area by retaining old buildings of architectural merit and historical importance, developing new buildings at a compatible scale, and introducing river‐oriented activities. Today, Singapore River is a vibrant activity corridor which capitalises on its riverfront location and its unique historical character.

Development Strategies

Singapore River was planned as an area with a vibrant mix of residential, hotel and commercial uses. The part closest to the Central Business District is designated for commercial use whilst further upstream, sites are zoned for hotel and commercial/residential uses. The former industries were phased out by allowing higher‐ value alternative land uses. Focal points and unique activity nodes were established to create attractive environments for different zones. Appropriate building scale, building form and character were also established through a set of urban design guidelines. These guidelines are to create a unique identity for the area and keeping a sense of history through selective conservation.

Singapore River is characterised into three zones linked by a 15m wide continuous riverside promenade hugging the river’s serpentine curves:‐

is characterised by its restored shophouses juxtaposed against the gleaming skyscrapers of the Central Business District, creating a unique signature image for Singapore that is internationally recognised as one of Singapore’s most popular al fresco waterfront dining venues.

 The old riverine and quayside buildings at , which are architecturally different from those at Boat Quay, have been restored and adapted into a one‐stop trendy entertainment, retail and F&B destination, that also has a distinct waterside village atmosphere with tongkangs moored alongside the river, serving as floating restaurants.

 Occupying the uppermost reaches of Singapore River, is a quiet backwater that previously housed industries like boat repair yards, rice mills and sawmills. Offering a more laidback atmosphere, the area has been transformed into a waterfront housing area, dotted with medium scale hotels, fine dining restaurants and several arts and cultural facilities.

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Infrastructure

To demonstrate the Government’s commitment to rehabilitating and developing the area, the Government constructed the river promenade along the entire length of the historic Boat Quay area. Cross‐river traffic was enhanced through the implementation of three new pedestrian bridges in the Robertson Quay area. Thesse new bridges were envisioned as ‘jewels’ that were modern in design, to contrast with the restored historic godowns and complemented the new infill developments. Two historic bridges were also restored. Additional landing points were also provided to enhance the use of the water taxis and pleasure craft plying the river. Night lighting enhancements were also recently carried out by installing lighting systems to the bridges, allowing for programmable lighting to suit the various events and festivities held along Singapore, enhancing the sense of the water element, accentuating the tree‐lineed promenade and providing an inviting ambience along the waterfront promenade.

Complementing the infrastructural works new events and festivities were introduced that anchored each quay and the precinct as a whole. These included the Singapore River Festival, the Singapore River Regatta, etc.

Tanjong Rhu

Key facts…

Tanjong Rhu:  covers 36.4 hectares of land, of which 5.6 hectares was reclaimed;  is one of the two main development areas within the which is planned for leisure and water‐related activities; and  has a 295 metres long waterfront promenade fronting the Kallang Basin area, which is linked to the other waterbodies via the Marina Channel.

The Tanjong Rhu redevelopment area is sandwiched between the southern banks of Kallang Basin and the . It covers around 36.4 hectares of prime waaterfront land of which 5.6 hectares was reclaimed

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when the previous irregular and untidy profile of the shoreline was evened out to give way to more waterfront developments and the creation of a continuous waterfront promenade fully accessible to the public.

With the potential of developing large tracts of land for recreational and residential uses, the shipyards, engineering workshops and warehouses were phased out to make way for a good class, waterfront residential enclave.

Development Strategies

The development of the area was a clear demonstration of public and private sector collaboration. Whilst all non‐compatible uses had to be phased out, owners of private plots that were capable of independent redevelopment were allowed to redevelop their land in accordance to the master plan within a specified period and regularised boundary. Boundaries of land parcels were adjusted and owners given an opportunity to redevelop with more regular and improved site configurations. The Government welcomed private sector participation. Smaller plots which were not capable of independent development were acquired and amalgamated into larger parcels for development.

Reclamation was carried out to improve the irregular and untidy profile of the shoreline which now boasts a harmonious combination of curved and straight edges. This also allowed for improved parcellation of land for redevelopment. In addition, with the reclamation, a waterfront promenade, constructed by the Government, allowed for easy public access to the water’s edge. The regularisation of the shoreline along this stretch also paved the way for the development of a marina in future.

Urban design guidelines were drawn up to guide the development of the land parcels. Buildings closest to the waterfront were kept low‐to‐medium rise to ensure that they did not obstruct views to the waterfront and allow for lower scale developments that were more compatible in scale for activities to take place along the promenade. To create a ‘street edge’, buildings were encouraged to be built up to the boundary fronting the waterfront promenade. Setbacks were introduced along the other boundaries to safeguard view corridors and windows between developments towards the waterfront.

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Infrastructure

With the introduction of new residential uses within the area, there was a need to improve and upgrade all the services and infrastructure. This included the planning and implementation of an electrical substation to serve the new developments within the area, new roads and drains as well as a tree‐lined waterfront promenade. This involved close coordination and collaboration between the various public sector agencies to ensure that services were provided to the residential developments in a timely manner. This resulted in a well‐conceived infrastructure services network and a well‐planned environment.

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A high‐class and well‐sought after residential enclave today, the waterfront along Tanjong Rhu is enjoyed by people who go there for leisurely runs or to watch the exciting regattas and water sports / activities within the Kallang Basin area.

Marina Bay

Key facts…….

Marina Bay:  Sits on 360 hectares of land reclaimed from the sea in the 1970s to accommodate the growth of Singapore’s existing Central Business District (CBD), out of which 80 hectares has been set aside for the seamless extension of the CBD.  Has attracted S$7.5 billion in public investments in infrastructure and S$20.2 billion in private investments within the last 5 years from both local and international investors.  The Singapore government is expected to pump in more than S$2 billion worth of investment in additional infrastructure in the next 10 to 15 years to support the development of the area.  The existing office space available in Marina Bay today is equivalent to the total amount of office space at . (Estimated 1.1 miilion sqm)  In the longer term, Marina Bay will provide around 5 million sqm of development GFA, of which 3.45 million sqm is estimated to be for office use.

Marina Bay is Singapore’s most exciting and ambitious urban transformation project that will support its continuing growth as a major business and financial hub in Asia. When fully developed, this new financial district will generate quality office space in a prime downtown location that can rival those in the leading financial centres of Tokyo, New York and London.

Planning

As part of a forward‐looking planning approach adopted by the Singapore government, 360 hectares of reclaimed land reclaimed more than 30 years ago to seamlessly extend from Singapore’s Central Business District (CBD) in anticipation of the potential growth of the city. This gave Singapore a unique competitive advantage to tap on the synergy with the existing CBD.

In planning Marina Bay, the precinct was envisioned to be a vibrant 24/7 “live‐work‐play” and environmentally‐ friendly district, with a good mix of commercial, entertainment, hotel and residential developments. Marina Bay will not only provide prime office space for global business and financial institutions, it will also have condominiums, hotels, shops, restaurants and nightspots.

Development of the area started in 2000 when the first sale site at One Raffles Quay was launched. By 2010, several major projects were substantially completed, such as the , Fullerton Heritage and the first phase of the Marina Bay Financial Centre. The area is now established as a major business and financial precinct to complement Raffles Place and is already home to several major local and overseas financial institutions. This will continue to grow in the coming years with the completion of the Marina Bay Financial Centre Office Tower 3, Marina Bay Suites and Asia Square Towers 1 and 2, as well as the four land parcels to be developed by M+S Pte Ltd.

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Development Strategies

To facilitate the development of Marina Bay as a 24/7 “live‐work‐play” precinct, URA’s “white‐site” land use zoning was formally introduced for land in Marina Bay to allow developers greater autonomy and flexibility in deciding the most appropriate mix of uses for their land parcels. A white site allows a number of uses, such as residential, commercial and hotel, in any proportion. The mix can be changed during any time during the lease tenure of the land which gives developers the flexibility to respond to changing market forces and trends.

Land in Marina Bay was also planned to provide flexibility in development options. Each parcel would support a reasonably sized commercial or residential development. Moreover, as the parcels were regularly shaped, several parcels could be combined for mega‐developments when needed, or subdivided into smaller parcels to achieve finer‐grain developments, and thus, a more interesting city. This flexibility proved very useful when larger parcels were needed later for the development of the Marina Bay Financial Centre and the Marina Bay Sands.

As URA’s vision of Marina Bay is that of a prime downtown location with well‐designed buildings and amenities, urban design and architectural design were both taken into consideration for the developments in Marina Bay. This is done through two mechanisms – conditions stated in the sale contract for each site on detailed urban design requirements and encouraging the development to have good architectural design in general; and a specific condition for the development plan for every sale site at Marina Bay to be reviewed by a Design Advisory Panel.

Much effort has been put into the urban design of Marina Bay to ensure that it becomes a place that is distinctive, dynamic and delightful. This includes:  A dynamic ‘stepped‐up’ skyline profile with low‐rise, “human‐scale” buildings at the waterfront and skyscrapers in the background;  An integrated network of covered pedestrian walkways at grade, below ground and above ground, that ensures comfortable and convenient pedestrian connectivity between buildings and to public amenities like the waterfront, MRT stations and parks;  A generous provision of well‐landscaped open spaces which will act as green lungs and serve as event venues and community gathering spaces;  Extensive greenery, including devoting 100 ha of land for the , and mandatory provision of landscaped replacement areas at the 1st storey and on upper levels of buildings in the form of gardens, sky terraces and roof gardens as well as vertical greenery;  Key streets and the waterfront promenade are planned to be lined with activity‐generating uses like shops and F&B establishments to ensure that the public realm remains vibrant all the time;  Public art is introduced to create delightful experiences and enliven the public spaces at the Bay; and  Buildings are required to provide external lighting to create a memorable skyline and to allow people to appreciate the beauty of the city at night.

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Illustrative Site Plan

An artist’s impression of Marina Bayy

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Infrastructure

As Marina Bay comprises mainly reclaimed land, for development to take place, infrastructure had to be planned and put in place ahead of time. The Singapore government has, to date, pumped in about S$7.5 billion worth of state‐of‐the‐art infrastructure to ensure the smooth functioning of the precinct.

One such example is the Common Services Tunnel (CST), the first to be implemented in Southeast Asia. The CST is a comprehensive underground tunnel network that houses telecommunication and utilities for distribution to all developments in Marina Bay. The CST network also houses the District Cooling System (DCS), which pipes chilled water to all developments in Marina Bay for air‐conditioning and thus removes the need for buildings to have individual cooling towers. Underground space is thus maximized and traffic disruption is minimized without the need for roads and service verges to be dug up for repairs and upgrading of service lines. Future changes in demand for utilities and services can also be catered to more easily by installing more cables within the CST.

Marina Bay will be served by a comprehensive transport network, with new underground rapid transit stations that will be built to provide greater accessibility and connectivity to the rest of the island. The enhanced connectivity both within Marina Bay and to the rest of Singapore is aimed at encouraging greater use of public transport in Marina Bay, reducing dependence on cars, and reducing energy consumption from the use of private cars. Developments in Marina Bay will be seamlessly linked to the MRT stations via an extensive network of underground pedestrian links. A comprehensive network of covered walkways at street level and elevated walkways aims to make walking from building to building convenient and comfortable. To further encourage carbon emission‐free travel, cycling will also be encouraged with the provision of a network of dedicated cycling paths.

Attractive & Sustainable District

Beyond giving Singapore a brand‐new stunning city skyline, Marina Bay has also been designed with sustainability in mind. Besides the use of innovative systems, environmentally‐sustainable technologies in the development of the area, developments are also required to include environmentally‐friendly features in their design to achieve a minimum Green Mark Platinum or Goldplus standard, the two highest levels of the environmental rating standard used in Singapore.

A vibrant Bay for the People

Envisioned as a thriving and energetic place, Marina Bay is shaping up very well as an endearing community space for Singapore residents. Marina Bay is home to a number of attractions, including The Esplanade – Singapore’s premier performing arts centre where a myriad of international and local performances are staged; the Park; and – world’s tallest observation wheel. The opening of Marina Bay Sands and Fullerton Heritage in 2010 added to the wide variety of entertainment and dining options offering spectacular views of the Bay.

The waterfront has also been transformed with the opening of the waterfront promenade and The Helix pedestrian bridge, which complete the 3.5km long continuous loop around the Bay. This promenade now links visitors to a wide array of leisure and cultural destinations, such as shops, F&B outlets, the Esplanade and the new ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands. Several major large‐scale events were staged on the Bay which attracted wide participation from the community. These included the opening and closing ceremonies of the inaugural 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games, the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, and “i Light Marina Bay”, Asia’s first sustainable light art festival. Marina Bay also plays host to the annual National Day Parade

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celebrations and the signature Marina Bay Singapore New Year's Eve Countdown. Such events and activities add year‐round excitement and buzz to Marina Bay.

The evolution of the urban waterways in Singapore River, Marina Bay, Marina Channel and Kallang Basin continues into the next stage of sustainable development as these are transformed into a freshwater reservoir bringing with it new opportunities for recreational activities in the Bay, Basin and the River. Annual events and activities like river regattas, boating and sailing as well as kayaking activities, are organized to activate the waterfront. A Water Activities Master Plan was also drawn up to guide and accommodate manual and motorized vessels within the reservoir, with the necessary infrastructure such as landing points, marinas, to be put in place to facilitate both water taxi services and leisure boating activities.

Our waterfronts are governed and managed by……

…… the Singapore Government as the waterfront promenade is designated as publicly accessible areas for the benefit of the community. Where there are private developments fronting directly onto the promenades, some of these are maintained and managed by the private developers by taking up a temporary licence for use of these areas. For special areas like the waterfront promenades around Marina Bay and along Singapore River, the Urban Redevelopment Authority takes a more proactive role in the management and maintenance of these areas. This includes master planning of the land and water activities, coordinate planning and implementation of the infrastructure, land sales, events and activities programme and marketing and place management of these areas.

Our waterfront vision is..…

………. for it to be a place for people from all walks of life to explore, exchange and entertain.

Our waterfront mission is……

“to make Singapore a great city to live, work and play in.” by planning and facilitating the physical development of Singapore, in partnership with the community, to create a vibrant, sustainable and cosmopolitan city of distinction.

Our challenge is….. ….. to provide a planning blueprint that optimizes our land resource to meet our current needs, safeguards land for future development, and maintains a good quality of life for our people.

In the future….

…….. we intend to undertake a masterplan for the progressive development of a new waterfront city at . Right now, the area is home to cranes and rows of stacked containers waiting to be loaded into ships calling at one of the world’s busiest ports. Come 2027, when the lease for the port operations run out, the area will be transformed into a waterfront city that caters to the expansion of the business district, integrated with attractive waterfront housing, hotels, lifestyle and tourism facilities.

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