MEDIA FACTSHEET

PICK A BENCH, PICK A PLACE

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) launched the ‘Pick a bench Pick a place’ initiative on 27 February 2014, to invite the public to vote for their favourite bench designs and where they would like to see the benches installed around . These uniquely designed benches will be made from the wooden planks from the former National Stadium to commemorate this meaningful landmark.

The voting ran from 27 February to 31 March 2014 and we received over 6,000 votes. The public can look forward to 42 benches at 15 locations islandwide by early 2015. Please refer to Annex A for the list of bench designs and locations chosen by the public.

The benches will provide the community with interesting resting places and also serve as focal points for community interactions. Besides serving the community in a practical way, these benches will enhance and beautify our neighbourhoods while commemorating the former National Stadium in a meaningful manner.

The public was invited to choose from 24 bench designs and 24 public spaces. The 24 designs were created by our local designers, artists, architects and winners of the bench design competition held in 2012.

For more information on ‘Pick a bench Pick a place’ initiative, visit www.ura.gov.sg/MS/pickabench

This project would not have been possible without the strong support from our partners who offered venues for the public to vote:

 Ang Mo Kio Town Council  National Arts Council  Housing & Development Board  National Heritage Board  Jurong Town Council   Khoo Teck Puat Hospital  National University Hospital Singapore  People’s Association  LASALLE College of the Arts  Development Corporation  Moulmein-Kallang Town Council  Sport Singapore  Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts  Town Council

26 benches have already been installed at six locations in 2013. Details of the benches and their locations are available here.

PubliCity initiative

This project is under the PubliCity initiative announced as part of the Draft Master Plan 2013 last November. PubliCity is an initiative that aims to involve the community to celebrate good public spaces and to enliven public spaces through good design and programmes. Public spaces are important components of our living environment. The creation and development of well-designed public spaces provide areas for people to gather for social activities and serve as leisure and recreational spaces. As part of urban planning and design, public spaces are carefully planned and distributed across the island. PubliCity strives to create both new public spaces as well as rejuvenate existing ones.

ANNEX A

Locations and bench designs selected

S/N Bench Designs and Locations 1 Peter Chen, Assistant Professor, School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University: 1973

Location(s):  Ang Mo Kio Town Centre  Marina Bay (Waterfront Promenade)  Sentosa (Beach Station / Plaza)  Tampines Community Plaza

2 Look Architects Pte Ltd: (The) Coil

Location(s):  Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park  HortPark  National University Hospital (Lobby A and B)  Sentosa (Beach Station / Merlion Plaza)

S/N Bench Designs and Locations 3 Raymond Hon, Student, Department of Industrial Design, National University of Singapore: Bench.

Location(s):  Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (1st storey landscape garden)

4 Andrew Crombie, MKPL Architects Pte Ltd: Bench / Stadium

Location(s):  Fort Canning Park (Foothills)  Marina Bay (Waterfront Promenade)  Orchard Fountain Corner  Sentosa Boardwalk

S/N Bench Designs and Locations 5 Tang Guan Bee: Bench as Sculpture

Location(s):  Ang Mo Kio Town Centre  Holland Village Park  Marina Bay (Waterfront Promenade)  National Museum of Singapore (2nd storey Visitor Services Counter)  National University Hospital (Lobby A and B)  Orchard Fountain Corner  Sentosa Boardwalk  Tampines Community Plaza

6 PHUNK: Dream bench

Location(s):  Fort Canning Park (Foothills)  HortPark  Jurong Pedestrian Mall  Marina Bay (Waterfront Promenade)  National Museum of Singapore (2nd storey Visitor Services Counter)  National University Hospital (Lobby A and B)  Sentosa (Beach Station / Merlion Plaza)

S/N Bench Designs and Locations 7 Hans Tan, Tan Studio: Lumber

Location(s):  Sentosa (Beach Station / Merlion Plaza)

8 VW + BS: Scape Bench

Location(s):  Orchard Fountain Corner  Sentosa Boardwalk  Tampines Community Plaza

S/N Bench Designs and Locations 9 Wong Mun Summ and Richard Hassell, WOHA Architects: Stadium Bench

Location(s):  Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (1st storey landscape garden)  National University Hospital (Lobby A and B)  Orchard Fountain Corner

10 Ministry of Design: The Kallang Wave

Location(s):  Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park  Fort Canning Park (Foothills)  HortPark  Jurong Pedestrian Mall  Punggol Promenade (Riverside Walk) x 2  Sentosa Boardwalk