URA to spread wings

It will take expertise overseas while bringing places alive at home
Kalpana Rashiwala, Business Times 18 Apr 09;

AFTER 35 years of planning and shaping Singapore's physical landscape, Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is ready for a bigger canvas. It has set set up a URA Consulting Group (URACG) to provide its planning expertise for projects overseas. Meanwhile, at home, it will make new places in Singapore come alive. After Marina Bay, the Singapore River could be the next to feel its energising touch.

At the URA Corporate Plan Seminar yesterday, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan spoke of how the master planner would step up its 'place management' role. This meant combining the resources of the public and private sectors to create places, districts and areas that are more vibrant economically and socially, he said.

In addition to URA's role as master planner and infrastructure provider, the stat board will also work with stakeholders on 'softer' initiatives such as branding, marketing and events programming, he said.

Mr Mah noted that URA is already undertaking the place management of Marina Bay. It will expand its portfolio to include the Singapore River. In addition, it will chair a coordinating forum to 'synergise the place management efforts of partner agencies at Orchard Road and also the Civic District-Bras Basah/Bugis areas', he added.

The formation of URACG would help URA playing a bigger role outside Singapore's shores.

'Our planning expertise is very much sought after outside of Singapore. In fact, it has played a leading role in the master planning of projects like the Tianjin Eco-City, which is now being built, which has drawn on Singapore's experience in integrated planning and urban management,' Mr Mah said.

Elaborating, a URA spokeswoman said URACG's priority will be to support the Singapore government in government-to-government level projects overseas which require master planning expertise. In addition, URA can partner local private companies, where suitable, to carry out consultancy work for big projects. URACG's scope of services will generally include concept and master planning, urban design and development control processes.

Another role of URACG is to provide professional development training on urban planning and related matters for both local and international participants under the Urban Leadership Programme. URA recently conducted a four-day training programme on integrated land use planning for participants from Brunei, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, China and Singapore.

Remaking goes on in good times and bad

New round of reviews begins this year on blueprint for Singapore's long-term physical development
Kalpana Rashiwala, Business Times 18 Apr 09;

THE Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will begin this year a new round of reviews for Concept Plan 2011, a blueprint that maps out the long-term vision for Singapore's physical development.

URA's review, which will be done with various ministries and government agencies, will examine Singapore's land use and infrastructure needs to cater to an increased population and also the changing profile of its resident population and economy.

The Concept Plan review's 'ultimate aim must be to ensure that we will continue to have a good quality living environment in Singapore, one that will take into account the needs of not just the young, but also of the old, and a growing population which will consist of people from many, many different parts of the world', said National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan.

As part of Concept Plan 2011, URA will also actively seek views from the public, Mr Mah said in his keynote speech at the URA Corporate Plan Seminar yesterday.

He also highlighted that one of Singapore's key strengths is its long-term integrated planning approach. 'Few cities in the world have a holistic planning framework like ours . . . ,' Mr Mah said. He cited a case in point. Despite the dismal economic climate when URA started planning the development and infrastructure for Marina Bay, just before the start of the last downturn in 2000, the government remained focused on building up Marina Bay. 'And because we planned ahead, we were able to attract foreign investments into the Bay when the economy started to pick up and then when it boomed,' Mr Mah said.

He also also stressed that efforts to remake Singapore must continue in both good and bad times if the island is to be a key node in the network of global cities. It was as a result of forward planning, and effective and consistent implementation that a new Singapore city is taking shape fast. He painted a picture of the 'new iconic signature skyline' emerging at Marina Bay. The double helix bridge, Art Park, Gardens by the Bay and new waterfront promenade will be progressively completed by 2011. Then, there are the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort and the first phase of Marina Bay Financial Centre which will be operational by 2010. The government has invested nearly $5.7 billion in infrastructure works in Marina Bay so far and will continue to pump in more money to support its future growth and boost connectivity with the existing city, Mr Mah added.

The prime Orchard Road shopping belt is also being rejuvenated with new malls. Singapore will have a new generation of regional commercial districts, such as Jurong Lake District. And the island will become an even more exciting playground with a wider range of leisure and recreational options. Singapore's park connector network will be tripled to 300 km over the next five to 10 years, joining up into a continuous loop around the island. URA is also developing scenic walks along Singapore's coastline.

The Ministry of National Development and URA will be launching a programme called 'My New Singapore' to encourage Singaporeans to rediscover Singapore.

'The programme will comprise a series of events and activities which will reach out to Singaporeans. We invite everybody to see the new developments and visit new leisure destinations. We will show Singaporeans the plans that we have for their neighbourhoods, bring them to see the new Marina Bay, let them enjoy the parks and park connectors. And I hope that when Singaporeans rediscover Singapore, they will realise what a special little city we have, and perhaps, we will love our city even more,' Mr Mah said.

He even suggested Singaporeans may want to shop, eat and sightsee in Singapore. 'Perhaps during this downturn, it is timely for Singaporeans to take time to get to know our city better. Enjoy what we have to offer here in Singapore, and maybe save a little bit of money at the same time.'

URA will hold the 'My Endearing Home' roving exhibition at major malls between May and August this year to present Singaporeans a chance to learn about plans for their immediate neighbourhoods and for the city, and 'discover that there is much to treasure on our island'.

A Marina Bay Festival will be held in the later part of 2010 that will showcase the waterfront promenade and new developments to both locals and foreign visitors.

NParks will also press on with its efforts to green Singapore and conserve the island's natural heritage.

Getting to know Singapore's urban heritage
Business Times 18 Apr 09;

URA engages students with a workshop and competition to raise awareness

A BOHEMIAN artists' enclave in Tanjong Pagar, 'secret gardens' in Chinatown and skate parks at Duxton Hill Park. These are some of the winning ideas generated by the inaugural Challenge for the Urban and Built Environment or CUBE.

The event, organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), is aimed at raising awareness of the built environment and the dynamics of land use and urban planning among junior college and polytechnic students, and getting them familiar with Singapore's urban heritage.

The three-day workshop and competition is part of URA's Architecture and Urban Design Excellence Programme, an initiative to promote quality architecture and urban design. URA said yesterday that 10 teams, comprising about 100 students and teachers from seven junior colleges and three polytechnics, took part in the event.

The winning teams were Hwa Chong Institution, which clinched first prize, followed by Temasek Polytechnic and Serangoon Junior College.

URA chief executive officer Cheong Koon Hean said: 'URA turns 35 this year. Marking this milestone with an urban planning competition for students creates more awareness of Singapore's built environment and stirs interest among our bright young students in becoming the planners and architects of the future.'

During the three-day workshop, students aged 16-25 were introduced to the basics of architecture, urban planning and design. Interviews and observations were also conducted on the human and traffic patterns of parts of Chinatown. And a panel of judges from URA and industry provided critiques.

The teams were judged on sensitivity and relevance to site context and environment, creativity, clarity of ideas, execution of ideas, visual and verbal presentation skills and level of teamwork and cooperation displayed.

CUBE extends URA's efforts to engage the younger generation. Urban planning workshops - the Young Urbanist Programme and Design My Place - have previously been conducted with primary and secondary school students.

These activities are aimed at helping a growing number of students better appreciate Singapore's built environment and learn more about architecture and urban planning.

URA plans to get Singaporeans acquainted with new developments
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia 17 Apr 09;

SINGAPORE: The landscape of Singapore will soon look quite different as new developments spring up in the city centre and in the heartlands over the next few years.

By 2011 for instance, residents of Jurong will have more opportunities to live by the waterfront. Southern coastal areas like the Labrador Park and Bukit Chermin will also be made more accessible to the public.

These are on top of new projects coming up in the Marina Bay and Orchard Road areas.

Many of these plans were announced in recent years, but the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) wants to get more Singaporeans acquainted with them.

To do that, it is holding a series of activities and public exhibitions called "My New Singapore" from May this year.

Speaking at the URA Corporate Plan Seminar on Friday, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said: "We will show Singaporeans the plans for their neighbourhoods, bring them to see the new Marina Bay, and let them enjoy the parks and park connectors.

"I hope that when Singaporeans rediscover Singapore, we will realise what a special little city we have and perhaps, we will love our city even more."

Other activities include the Marina Bay Festival in the later part of 2010, which will comprise a series of activities and events to showcase developments in the area.

Next year, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) will also conduct a series of roving exhibitions from March till July to show how HDB neighbourhoods have evolved and improved over the years.

There will also be new plans for public housing in the future.- CNA/so