ANNEX

J LINK: BOOSTING CONNECTIVITY AND VIBRANCY IN LAKE DISTRICT, AND CELEBRATING JURONG’S HISTORY AND HERITAGE

Over the years, URA has taken on Environmental Improvement Projects to create a pleasant streetscape for pedestrians while enhancing the identity of various localities. Past projects include Southern Ridges, Promenade, Woodlands Waterfront, Village, , and more recently, Queen Street.

The latest project is the 0.7 hectare, 270-metre long J Link pedestrian mall that provides a seamless pedestrian connection from Jurong Gateway where the MRT Station is located to the Lakeside area where the current Science Centre is. J Link is also an exciting public space that injects more vibrancy in Jurong Gateway and celebrates Jurong’s history and heritage. Below are highlights of J Link’s unique features.

Overall design

The design for the 270-metre long J Link is inspired by the history of Jurong and terrain of the site.

We used materials such as bricks, recycled timber and earth tone colours to reinforce Jurong’s role as the bedrock in ’s industrial development. To reflect the site’s former undulating terrain, we incorporated wave-like and semicircle shapes to the pavilion roof, benches, playground and rolling landscape.

Covered walkway

Previously, the covered walkway along the shops at Block 135 Jurong Gateway Road was crowded and cluttered with merchandises placed at the outdoor display areas along the shops. The canopies along the walkway were also unsightly and worn out. As part of the project, the outdoor display areas were either removed or reorganised, enabling pedestrians to walk comfortably under a wider, unimpeded path while visiting the shops or walking to the surrounding areas. Pushcarts will be introduced to provide shop owners a standardised and more defined space to display their merchandise.

We upgraded the walkway with aluminium roof panels to reduce noise levels. New lighting, seats and pavement-side plantings were added along to provide a more pleasant environment for pedestrians and visitors.

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There was previously no direct connection to the Jurong Regional Library. The library was isolated and pedestrians needed to walk on dirt tracks on the grass patch to reach the library. Part of J Link includes a new linkway that provides a direct and sheltered pedestrian connection from JCube shopping mall and Block 135 to the library.

The Canopy: A green-roof pavilion for community events and activities

A main highlight of J Link is a new green roof pavilion. Named the Canopy, it has an area of 600 sqm and is 13-metre high at the highest point.

We designed the Canopy to be a multi-purpose public space. Its arch-shaped, pillar-less structure provides an unobstructed space for a variety of activities. Two high ventilation low speed fans help ventilate the space, and programmable lighting caters for different activities. The horizontal louvers provide shelter to participants of events and pedestrians during wet weather.

The Canopy’s curved green roof complements the rolling landscape of J Link, and the existing arch-shaped designs of adjacent HDB blocks and surrounding greenery. It also provides a cooler environment for visitors and users.

Green landscape and open spaces J Link features a continuous five-metre wide paved open walkway lined with distinctively designed rolling grassland, wave-like urban furniture and pavement-side plantings. These provide pedestrians and visitors a pleasant experience set in greenery.

We designed the lighting along the walkway to enhance the ambience of J Link and its surroundings at night. The pedestrian mall is also accessible to all users, with universally designed ramps and handrails.

Visitors and residents can look forward to the addition of two benches ( Wave and DREAM benches) next year. These benches are specially made from the wooden seating planks from the former National Stadium.

Children’s playground and art exhibition corner

J Link is a public space where people can gather, have fun and unwind. A unique children’s playground provide the little ones with a place to play and explore. The playground design also complements the rolling landscape of J Link.

J Link also has a special community section with an art exhibition corner that showcases roving exhibitions of residents’ and local artists’ artworks. 2

A Jurong-themed heritage corner

In designing J Link, we saw an opportunity to celebrate and commemorate the history and heritage of Jurong and thus partnered the National Heritage Board (NHB) to add a heritage corner that documents the history of Jurong.

The heritage corner comprises 12 special structures that tell the story of Jurong’s history and social memories. For example, the concrete drums tell the story of Jurong’s role in Singapore’s industrial development, while the film roll pays homage to Jurong being home to Singapore’s first and only open-air drive-in cinema.

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