NUS Cities Lecture Series 22

Prof Heng's Lecture_Website

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.

 

Prof. Heng Chye Kiang

Professor Heng Chye Kiang is the Provost’s Professor and Deputy Dean (Research and Innovation) at the College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore.  He was the former Dean of the School of Design and Environment (2007 to 2016) and the Head of its Department of Architecture prior to his deanship. He teaches and researches urban history, sustainable urban design and planning, and publishes widely in these areas.

Professor Heng has served on the boards of government agencies including the URA, HDB, CLC, JTC, BCA and advises academic institutions like SIT, NAFA, CUHK and HKU. He is currently appointed Honorary Professor at CUHK and has been appointed Visiting Professor at Hanyang University (Korea), Keio University (Japan), Southeast University, Chang’an University, Xiamen University and Tongji University (China) and EAVT (France). He has served as a jury member in numerous international design competitions locally and overseas, and on several editorial boards of international journals. He is also planning consultant to numerous award-winning urban planning and design projects in Asia. Some of the awards include Architecture MasterPrize 2020 (urban planning), 2023 (urban design), Cityscape Global Master Plan Project 2018, and Singapore Institute of Planners 2021, 2023.

Date: 18th November 2024, Monday

Location: NUS SDE3 LT421

Time: 6:30 p.m. SGT - 8:30 p.m. SGT

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NUS Cities Lecture Series investigates ideas, policies and projects developed by urban experts, which aspire to create sustainable, resilient, and liveable cities.