ISSUE 10 · 2019 | URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Moving goods We look at innovations and new ideas in urban logistics Is Singapore New ways to How to create a biophilic city? beat the heat inclusive cities THINKING ALOUD / EDITOR’S NOTE ISSUE 10 · 2019 Making cities work “You cannot care about what you do not know,” For cities to continue to flourish, designers and says Dr Lena Chan, one of Singapore’s leading planners are also demonstrating what good conservationists. In driving various efforts in design can do for streets, infrastructure and Singapore as a biophilic city, Lena stresses the need even services. Former Toronto chief planner Editor to develop a deeper understanding of our natural Jennifer Keesmaat is redesigning streets that Serene Tng assets. She is one of the many who are shaping and focuses on pedestrians. LOOK Architects’ [email protected] redesigning environments and systems for cities elevated walkway in Fuzhou has become a Contributing writers to thrive. catalyst for people-centric public spaces. Ar. Adrian Lai, director, META Architecture, at the iconic Khong Guan Building which he helped to restore. It took Dawn Lim some detective work to reinstate the distinctive red star in its three-dimensional form. More on page 39. Jennifer Eveland In this issue, researchers, experts and designers And design consultancy fuelfor is tackling Justin Zhuang show us new ways to green the city, beat the heat indifference that caregivers face with wide- Photographer and manage goods deliveries. They also show us the ranging solutions, advocating for designers to Contents Chee Boon Pin importance of good design for cities. create more compassionate and sustainable Design societies where people can play a role in THINKING ALOUD Green House Design Part of making our cities work is in building up our shaping their world. 03 Making cities work 26 Ways to beat the heat + Communications knowledge base and capabilities. The latest Cooling Private Limited Researchers suggest new ways of Singapore project’s multidisciplinary approach Indeed, it takes all of us to make our cities work. SPOTLIGHT keeping Singapore cooler Published by enables it to not only identify knowledge gaps to We hope this issue inspires you to continue 04 In short address the urban heat island effect in Singapore, to rediscover the city and play your part in 32 Design frontiers but have also reached out to government agencies contributing to the many initiatives and efforts 05 More reasons to make places great 5 designers discuss challenges, 9 new precincts are piloting the and more than 2,000 citizens, making the findings that make our living environments better. renewal and how to stay relevant Business Improvement District more relevant and relatable to every individual. programme 45 Maxwell Road 39 New travels and old biscuits The URA Centre It is also about changing mindsets and behaviours. We explore how The Great Madras Singapore 069118 06 Redesigning cities for people Amongst the various urban logistics solutions, and Khong Guan Building have been Former Toronto chief planner Jennifer Vincent Phang, chief executive officer at ST beautifully restored Connect with us Logistics wants us to change the way we view Keesmaat advocates for complete URA.sg/skyline streets focused on pedestrians IN PICTURES time to consider deliveries that can be scheduled URASingapore 44 An expression of life differently at night or during off peak hours. This also 12 Moving goods A new book celebrates Singapore’s @URAsg means consumers need to change their behaviours With the rise of on-demand deliveries contemporary architectural works in to receive goods round-the-clock. and new technologies, we look at the last 15 years innovations and new ideas in urban Skyline is published 3 times a year. No part of logistics 46 At a glance this publication may be 5 things to check out this weekend reproduced in whole or part INSIGHT without the prior consent 20 Is Singapore a biophilic city? of URA. All rights reserved. Yes and more – conservationist Dr Lena Chan on why we need to ISSN 24249971 reconnect with nature 02 03 SPOTLIGHT / IN SHORT SPOTLIGHT / BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT “Who do we want to use More reasons to make places greater this street and how can In 2017, Singapore imported Place-making efforts are gaining momentum in Singapore with 9 new precincts piloting S$452 billion worth of goods. we ensure the safety of URA’s Business Improvement District (BID) programme. With the rise of on-demand deliveries and new technologies, all users, especially the experts and policy makers are finding new ways to transform the most vulnerable ones?” 452 way goods are moved quickly and efficiently throughout the city. Former Toronto chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat Source of figure: Singapore on the idea of “complete streets” where instead Department of Statistics BILLION of designing streets based on how to move cars as quickly as possible, she suggests that it should begin with understanding how people want to use the streets. “I hope our communities relearn to live and reconnect with nature because that is the best way for humankind to live sustainably.” One of Singapore’s leading conservationist, Dr Lena Chan, on what she hopes Singapore’s biophilic efforts will achieve. “Singaporean architects have produced a The Tianjin Eco-City celebrated its 10th remarkable portfolio year anniversary in 2018. A front runner in eco-city development, it continues to thrive Place-making, a coordinated, multi-stakeholder can also bring the community together, and help of innovative designs… and lead in sustainable development. It is approach to improve districts has become to develop shared memories and build meaningful the first eco-city in the world that uses a increasingly important for cities in creating lively connections. That is the key, also, in making our and they have enriched comprehensive set of 26 major performance streets and sustaining vibrant districts. Efforts in city special, distinctive and endearing – both for indicators to guide its planning efforts. the vitamin pool this area have gained momentum with stakeholders Singaporeans as well as our visitors,” he says. 10 from 9 precincts coming forward to participate in the of contemporary pilot BID programme launched by URA in September Precincts selected to participate in the pilot BID architectural language.” 2017. The precincts are China Place, City Hall, Jurong programme are required to develop detailed Professor and architect Li Xiaodong The Cooling Singapore project engaged Gateway, Kampong Gelam, Marina Bay, Marina business plans and get at least 51 per cent support reflects on the innovation and revolution more than 2,000 Singaporeans through Centre, Paya Lebar, Raffles Place and Tanjong Pagar. from stakeholders within the defined boundary in of contemporary architectural works in social campaigns to study the relationship their respective precincts to go on to form pilot BIDs. between climate, urban space and people. Singapore in the last 15 years, presented Minister for National Development, Lawrence Wong, The government will then provide dollar-for-dollar in URA’s new book, Contemporaneous “Our research wouldn’t be complete if we Architecture, that will be published by aren’t reaching out to people,” says Project at the announcement of the 9 precincts piloting the matching for the membership fees collected by each March 2019. 2000 leader Dr Heiko Aydt. BID emphasised the importance of place-making pilot BID up to a cap of S$500,000 per year, for the especially in response to changes in the digital and first 4 years of the pilot BID programme. URA will retail landscapes. “We need place-makers to turn also work closely with the stakeholders in developing generic spaces into authentic experiences that can business plans for their precincts. engage people and make them want to spend time, and come back again. Successful place management Above Precincts are attracting communities with lively festivals such as the Kampong Gelam Day Out on 24 November 2018 (image on left) and vibrant public spaces like the Urban Park at Tanjong Pagar Centre (image on right). Photo credit: One Kampong Gelam and GuccoLand. 04 05 SPOTLIGHT / CREATING INCLUSIVE CITIES SPOTLIGHT / CREATING INCLUSIVE CITIES Redesigning cities for people Toronto’s former chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat is redefining the use of streets and the way residents are engaged to create more inclusive cities. Writer Jennifer Eveland In a world inundated with more complex urban Tackling challenges through urban renewal In this context, one of Toronto’s finest examples on the residents of St. Lawrence indicate that the challenges, Jennifer Keesmaat is hopeful. Toronto’s of urban renewal is the downtown St. Lawrence project has overwhelmingly succeeded in lifting chief city planner from 2012 to 2017, Jennifer Optimism may seem easy in a city that is consistently neighbourhood. Built in the 1970s on former its poorest residents out of poverty, what Jennifer has taught at the University of Toronto, served as voted one of the world’s most liveable, yet Toronto, industrial land, the city-funded housing project believes is due in large part to the precinct’s balance chief executive officer of a non-profit organisation Canada’s largest metropolis by population, introduced a new built form typology – midrise of high-density and mixed-use environments. established to create affordable urban rental faces problems common to many cities, such as – into the landscape of a city that was otherwise housing, and has even run for city mayor. homelessness and lack of affordable housing, dominated by dual extremes of urban sprawl and Determining the right density economic and ethnic segregation, and general apathy, point towers. “My work is about demonstrating that we can to name a few. Where Toronto falls short, urban “From a planning perspective, you can say that the overcome constraints of the past,” says Jennifer.