Singapore is at frontier of skyrise greenery movement: Khaw Boon Wan

Channel NewsAsia 1 Mar 14;

SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan is hoping to see more skyrise greenery in Singapore, especially within the public housing estates in Singapore.

In a blog post on Saturday, Mr Khaw shared that a project in Milan, which is due for completion next year, aims to create a vertical forest within a residential concrete tower.

This, he said, is history in the making.

Mr Khaw added that Singapore is also a pioneer in the skyrise greenery movement.

He said the super trees in Gardens by the Bay broke new ground and created something endearing.

Mr Khaw noted that there are 61 hectares (ha) of rooftop gardens in Singapore.

He said this is no mean feat considering that the country only actively embarked on greening roofs in the last five years.

Comparing Singapore's track record to Chicago's, Mr Khaw noted that the American city has 50 ha of rooftop gardens even though it has a longer history in greening roofs.

Singapore's achievements in this field have been documented in a book by National University of Singapore's Professor Dr Tan Puay Yok titled "Vertical Garden City, Singapore".

Mr Khaw said Singapore will continue to contribute to this emerging global effort to green upwards.

Singapore is getting more buildings with bolder skyrise greenery designs -- for example, the recently completed Park Royal@Pickering and the upcoming CapitaGreen building.

In the public housing sector, Mr Khaw shared that the new integrated development project located next to the Admiralty MRT Station will soon "ground-break and show what can be achieved within HDB estates".

- CNA/fa