A 5-MINUTE INTERLACED TOWNSHIP: Planning A Healthy, Regenerative, And Inclusive Town with Complete Neighbourhoods for Innovation and Resilience

Event Synopsis

A 5-MINUTE INTERLACED TOWNSHIP

Planning A Healthy, Regenerative, and Inclusive Town with Complete Neighbourhoods for Innovation and Resilience

Singapore faces systemic urban planning challenges due to the confluence of climate change, demographic shifts, technological advancement and changing lifestyles. Conversely, this invites new opportunities that require town planning models to evolve to meet emerging societal needs and environmental challenges. The redevelopment of Paya Lebar Airbase (PLAB) from 2035 to 2050 provides a pivotal opportunity to rethink urban planning to create a sustainable, healthy, inclusive, and future-ready township for 450,000 residents while preserving and enhancing precious built and natural heritage.

This presentation showcases research by the NUS Centre for Sustainable Asian Cities (CSAC) supported by the URA that leverages a multidisciplinary team to reimagine a 1,870 ha site comprising PLAB and its surroundings. Building on CSAC’s previous work on a “1-minute neighbourhood” at Dover Road, the study advances the land use concept of “bands” at different scales to enhance accessibility, connectivity and urban convenience. Each neighbourhood prioritizes active mobility, job access, social and commercial spaces fostering social cohesion and age-friendly environments. Divided into distinct districts with integrated functions, the proposed development aligns seamlessly with neighbouring townships and the environment. Analytical studies illustrate how this approach improves accessibility and sustainability, safeguards environmental performance as well as fosters resilient and complete communities.

The CSAC’s PLAB Redevelopment research posits a novel planning framework for adaptability, resilience and future-ready urban landscapes in Singapore that supports demographic change, evolving lifestyles and work practices.

Speaker

Professor Heng Chye Kiang (PhD), JD, PPA(P), BBM, PBM

Provost’s Chair Professor, Dept of Architecture, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117566