LRT, 'green' buildings for Tianjin Eco-city project

Today Online 9 Apr 08;

IT iS meant to be a model of economic sustainability and green living — and yesterday, the draft masterplan for the Tianjin Eco-city, a project by Singapore and China, was endorsed.

The Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city Joint Working Committee met for the second time yesterday in Singapore.

Incorporating the best ideas from both countries, the masterplan proposes that existing wetlands and rivers on the site be preserved and provides for a generous amount of greenery.

The eco-city will be compact, with key facilities, services and workplaces located close to residential areas, so as to minimise travelling by residents.

An efficient and affordable public transport network is called for, with an LRT line as the main mode of transport, which will be supplemented by a good bus network.

There will also be extensive cycling paths, as well as footpaths for pedestrians.

All buildings will conform to green building standards to ensure efficient energy use. Clean and renewable energy will also be promoted.

The eco-city will include residential, mixed, commercial and institutional uses, as well as a business park development.

The masterplan was jointly developed by the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, the Tianjin Urban Planning and Design Institute, and the Singapore planning team led by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Further refinements will be made when the Tianjin Government releases the masterplan for public consultation in mid-April, before it is submitted to Chinese authorities for approval.

Meanwhile, work has commenced on the detailed plans for the 3-sq km start-up area.

The detailed plans will be reviewed at the next meeting in Tianjin in late May.

Singapore, China approve eco-city plans
Business Times 9 Apr 08;

SINGAPORE and China have endorsed the draft masterplan for the proposed eco-city project in Tianjin.

The Ministry of National Development (MND) said in a statement that the go-ahead was given at the second meeting of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city Joint Working Committee held yesterday.

The meeting was co-chaired by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, and China's Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Housing and Rural-Urban Construction, Qiu Baoxing.

The proposed master plan, which will guide the land use and development of the eco-city site, was jointly developed by the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, the Tianjin Urban Planning and Design Institute, and the Singapore planning team led by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

It incorporates the best ideas from both Singapore and China and reflects the common vision of an eco-city that is environmentally friendly and economically sustainable.

The plan also allows for a variety of land uses, including residential, mixed, commercial and institutional uses, and business park development.

An efficient and affordable public transport network has also been worked into the master plan with a key feature being a light rapid transit (LRT) line running through the eco-city.

All buildings in the eco-city will conform to green building standards to ensure efficient energy use.

The use of clean and renewable energy in the eco-city will also be promoted.

The draft master plan will be further refined when the Tianjin government releases it for public consultation later this month, after which it will be submitted for approval by the Chinese authorities.

The next joint working committee meeting will be held in Tianjin in late May.