Sylvester Toh, Straits Times, 5 Oct 13;
Singapore is acclaimed around the world as a successful waterfront city and maritime nation (Dream Towns, Life!, Sept 28).
Yet, it does not have a world-renowned beach like Rio's Copacabana and Ipanema, Sydney's Bondi and those along the French Riviera to call its own. Instead, the ones at East Coast Park and Changi are poorly maintained, while those at Sentosa are blighted by a smorgasbord of attractions nearby.
The Lion City is also highly regarded for its urban planning capabilities.
Unfortunately, it has been outshone by the likes of Masdar City in Abu Dhabi and Songdo in South Korea as purveyors of futuristic eco-friendly townships.
Now that our Government has confirmed plans to consolidate all port operations along Tanjong Pagar and Pasir Panjang at Tuas, we have a fantastic opportunity to reclaim our place in the sun.
As far as I know, no major global city has implemented an exclusively car-free zone in its central business district.
Above all, no major city can boast a sexy smoke- and food-free beach and lagoon manned by professional lifeguards in its CBD area.
It is never too late to execute a vision that allows stressed out office workers to get a quick tan on a beach during lunch, as well as a place to hold beach parties in the heart of the city.
Tanjong Pagar can be a cul-de-sac for the use of renewable energy, with a centralised waste-to-energy management system.
For example, planners may wish to line its perimeter along Keppel Road with sustainable commercial buildings and mixed developments that have ample pick-up and drop-off points, as well as parking space, so that those who are used to getting around by car will not be deterred from visiting it.
The Tanjong Pagar project will also provide our planners an excellent platform to close the loop for the Circle Line, by establishing a few new MRT stations in the precinct and linking them to those at HarbourFront and Marina Bay in an imaginative way that could potentially turn a regular trip on the train into a fun experience.
For example, part of this conduit can be a track along a wide footbridge above water that pays homage to kelongs from days of yore.
One of the stations may also be linked to the old Tanjong Pagar Railway Station when it is redeveloped, perhaps as a cultural foundation dedicated to the culinary arts, food heritage and technology.
Visitors may choose to either walk along the footpaths - at ground level, on elevated bridges and underground - ride a bicycle or hop on to electric trams, to get to key attractions, including the alluring beachfront.
The idea of building finger piers by the founder of Ministry of Design, Mr Colin Seah, would be most ideal for this section of the township. As the creative denizens of New York City have shown, finger piers and wharves can be used for a variety of events, from art exhibitions to fashion shows, and not just for berthing boats.
The Tanah Merah ferry terminal should be converted into a cruise hub that connects seamlessly to the expanded Changi Airport. Set aside the southern waterway for sea sports such as rowing, and hold annual international dragon-boat races there.
Above all, Tanjong Pagar should avoid being a location for mass entertainment such as mega theme parks. There are already Universal Studios and other attractions on Sentosa.
Beyond the green mixed developments and commercial buildings, a sizeable portion of Tanjong Pagar's land area should be devoted to waterfront residences, public squares for alfresco dining, beach and sports clubs, and perhaps a couple of aqua-based resorts and a family-oriented indoor beach resort catering to those who wish to avoid the sun.
A true waterfront city must first and foremost be about returning the sea and the land to the people, and not just for them to capture panoramic waterfront views on Instagram.
