M.Arch Students Reimagine Pulau Ubin Through Community Engagement

What does the future of Pulau Ubin look like, and who gets to shape it? For Associate Professor Tan Beng Kiang and her students from AR5802 Options Design Research Studio 2, the future begins not with a blueprint, but with listening to residents, community partners, and the stories embedded within Pulau Ubin's landscape.

A long-time advocate for community-centred design, Associate Professor Tan led her students beyond the classroom and into the field. There, they documented the island's timber houses through 3D scanning, conducted interviews with residents and visitors, engaged with community stakeholders, and uncovered the social and cultural histories that continue to define this remarkable place.

STUDENTS ENGAGING WITH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ON PULAU UBIN

Guided by her belief that meaningful architecture grows from a deep understanding of people and place, the students developed six design proposals that reimagine how Pulau Ubin's village centre could be sensitively renewed. Their innovative ideas envision a future where community infrastructure is strengthened, sustainable livelihoods are nurtured, and thoughtful, low-impact architectural interventions breathe new life into the island—ensuring that its heritage is not only preserved, but lived, shared, and carried forward by generations to come.

"Working on Pulau Ubin has allowed me to rediscover the importance of the island and its relation to our national history and heritage, and how much we should be caring for it. Engaging with the public and various stakeholders throughout the past semester has also made me realise the tangible impact that our ideas have on the community. To date, we are still working with them on various aspects of Ubin, and I believe our studio can make that difference and inspire future generations."

- Justin Quek, MArch 1

Adapted from NUS Facebook.