More green spaces can reduce environmental impact of urban growth

Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 21 Nov 13;

SINGAPORE: The recently released Draft Master Plan by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has promised more green spaces around planned new neighbourhoods, and experts say this could help reduce the environmental impact of urban growth significantly.

But they also emphasise that environmental sustainability will require more than just the building of facilities and hardware.

Some of the green features surrounding new residential and industrial developments that are laid out in the Master Plan include new bio-retention ponds to remove pollutants from storm water run-off, harnessing wind to naturally cool new buildings, and parks to bring recreational spaces closer to home.

Experts say these features can help reduce what is known as the urban heat island effect.

The effect occurs when the temperature in highly built-up developments is higher than rural areas, and can affect local wind and weather patterns.

They say that green spaces will also create more liveable surroundings.

Colin Tan, director and head (research and consultancy) at Suntec Real Estate Consultants, said: "In a densely-populated environment, we do feel the effects of overcrowding.

"And I think some of these green elements help to reduce some of these overcrowding feelings, and may be good for mental health."

“This overcrowding sometimes manifests itself in the "not-my-backyard" syndrome. You have people complaining about eldercare, hospice located next to you. Sometimes, it is not that people are heartless. But they feel that it is overcrowding --buildings more tightly packed together, feeling of claustrophobia."

The Master Plan focuses on environmental sustainability, and experts say this could be beyond just green features such as bio-retention ponds.

It could also be in the construction process, such as using recycled concrete from demolished buildings and using materials that have a low carbon footprint.

Dr Kua Harn Wei, Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore's School of Design & Environment said: "We do need to see how we can green the entire process of building, rather than just focusing on the green features of the by-product."

But he said that environmental sustainability also needs buy-in from society, to integrate the "software" into the "hardware".

Dr Kua said: "Sustainability is not just about infrastructure, it's not waiting for the government or authorities to build things for us. It's about how we make use of these facilities in a responsible manner.

“So the onus is also on us, as the users and consumers, on how to make this whole Master Plan a success."

Dr Kua said this means residents must act responsibly to ensure everyone benefits from the new facilities and spaces.

- CNA/nd

Plans for pedestrianised streets, waterfront promenade in civic district
Eileen Poh Channel NewsAsia 22 Nov 13;

SINGAPORE: Singapore's civic district is set to be the country’s "civic and cultural" node.

The area is the historical and cultural heart of Singapore, with the Old Parliament House, Padang, Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) and the Esplanade there.

Plans to strengthen this identity and increase its attractiveness include building new public spaces and improving pedestrian connectivity.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) announced the plan on Friday morning.

For a start, a small road at the Empress Place, between ACM and Victoria Theatre, will be closed to vehicles.

URA said it is also exploring pedestrianising other roads in the area, such as Connaught Drive, St Andrew's Road and Anderson Bridge.

Pedestrianised lanes are not new in Singapore.

The concept is already in place at Ann Siang Road and Haji Lane.

The latest addition is Circular Road, which saw the street being closed off to cars on weekends, beginning last month.

The F1 race track will also be adjusted to provide for a new public space within Empress Place, in front of Victoria Theatre.

Over at the Esplanade Park, a new waterfront promenade with stepped plazas will be built, allowing the public to get closer to the water.

The URA said it expects most of these plans to be completed by 2015 and will coincide with current developments in the area, such as the opening of the National Art Gallery, renovation of Victoria Theatre and an extension of ACM.

Fun Siew Leng, URA's group director for Urban Planning & Design, said: "All these institutions are coming together very, very well and it is very timely for the URA to undertake plans to see how we can upgrade the whole public realm, to tie all these institutions together."

The URA added that community involvement is important in the creation of better public spaces.

It is also inviting the public to submit design ideas for four public spaces in Singapore.

These are The Lawn @ Marina Bay, spaces along the Singapore River Promenade, an open space in Kampong Glam and Woodlands Civic Plaza.

Members of the public can submit their ideas at URA's website: http://www.ura.gov.sg/ideasforpublicity

- CNA/xq

URA calls for ideas on shaping public spaces across the island
Sumita Sreedharan Today Online 22 Nov 13;

SINGAPORE — The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is inviting the public to have their say on how public spaces are shaped.

Two projects will be launched in the next four months to gather creative design ideas for public spaces.

The first is the ‘PubliCity: Your Ideas for Public Spaces’ project which aims to garner ideas on how to develop four different public spaces.

The spaces are the Marina Bay Lawn, the Promenade Space at North Boat Quay, the open space in Kampong Glam and the Woodlands Civic Plaza.

Up to 10 winners stand to win S$1,000 each and their ideas will serve as inspiration for future improvement projects in these public spaces.

The second project, ‘Pick a Bench, Pick a Place’, will begin in February next year. Members of the public will be invited to vote for their favourite bench designs, which are made from the seating planks from the former National Stadium, and choose a location they would like to see it installed.