Palm | Kelapa Sawit

Channel NewsAsia 24 Jan 13;

SINGAPORE: A new publication has shown that innovative planning, design and development practices that emphasise a "people-first" focus can help ensure that rapid urbanisation does not compromise liveability and sustainability.

The publication, 10 Principles for Liveable High Density Cities: Lessons from Singapore, draws upon Singapore's successful urbanisation experience.

It was published by the non-profit education and research centre, Urban Land Institute and Singapore's Centre for Liveable Cities.

The ten principles which include planning for long-term growth and renewal and embracing diversity and fostering inclusiveness were developed during two workshops hosted by both organisations.

Other principles are drawing nature closer to people, developing affordable, mixed-use neighbourhoods, making public spaces work harder, prioritising green transport and building options, relieving density with variety and adding green boundaries, activating spaces for greater safety, promoting innovative and non-conventional solutions, forging "3P" - people, public, private partnerships.

Discussions at the first workshop centred around four case study districts in Singapore.

These were the mixed-use downtown district of Marina Bay, the commercial corridor of Orchard Road and two new public housing developments in Toa Payoh and Tampines.

Both organisations considered the districts to be both densely populated and highly liveable.

The ideas and principles generated were further developed, corroborated, and condensed into ten principles.

In the foreword to the publication, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan pointed out the lasting benefits of building cities for people.

He said maintaining a good quality, liveable high-density urban landscape in which all Singaporeans can find and make a home is crucial to the survival of the Singapore nation.

- CNA/xq