Annex A

My Ideas for Public Spaces invited the public to share creative ideas for underused or

overlooked pockets of public spaces in Singapore.

WINNERS

1. Bukit Timah Green Ribbon Neighbourhood

Antonius Richard Rusli Service lanes in landed housing estates, Bukit Timah

The Bukit Timah Green Ribbon Neighbourhood transforms existing service laneways into

active, landscaped spaces for the neighbourhood. The transformation of the laneways

creates a flexible pedestrian grid with spaces for community gardens, play elements and

urban farming.

Jury Citation:

The transformative nature of the proposal for an entire neighbourhood is of particular

note. The proposal, made up of various systems, has the potential to be scalable and

flexible in its implementation.

2. Citi-TV

Hsu Hsia Pin, Eunice Koo, Lian Ren, Monica Stephanie Santosadjaja Pedestrian Underpasses, Marsiling and Clarke Quay

Citi-TV proposes a simple intervention to activate underpasses and improve pedestrian

safety using digital technology. ‘Live’ footage of pedestrian traffic at one underpass is

projected on the wall of another underpass (and vice versa). The projections activate the

space and the pedestrians become the subject of surveillance and the one surveying,

creating a sense of safety and security.

Jury Citation:

The proposal is applauded for its approach in encouraging public participation with the

use of technology that serves as a surveillance tool as well, instead of the often heavy-

handed approach of bringing in intervention by the authorities. The proposal’s strengths

lie in its ability to activate and improve the quality and safety of spaces all at the same

time.

3. Farm X

Muhammad Hizkil Bin Imran Corridors and void deck spaces, Beach Road Gardens (HDB Estate)

‘Farm X’ proposes a transformation of Beach Road Gardens estate with a masterplan

proposal combining next generation retirement living and urban farming. The plan

transforms the communal areas of the estate into an urban farm with corridor herb

gardens, agricultural centre, meadow park and areas for traditional community farming.

Jury Citation:

The strength of this proposal lies in the manner in which it develops the common garden

concept into one that is holistic and potentially viable for high-rise living. The proposal is

commended for the creative use of high-rise spaces and activating corridors with a self-

sustaining vertical urban farming system.

4. One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure

Syafiqah Aziz Common areas in HDB Estates

This proposal aims to give life to an overlooked space in the HDB void deck by

engaging residents to sort, recycle and reuse their unwanted items as a community.

Through simple means of providing shelving and clear instructions to organise and sort

unwanted items, the space becomes neat and inviting, and provides a platform for

residents to find ‘treasure’ among the ‘trash’, transforming the perception of these

unwanted items and this forgotten space.

Jury Citation:

The proposal is commended for its fun approach in rethinking service spaces as public

space, and its potential to reshape public attitudes towards recycling and waste

management.

5. Rethinking the Derelict Landscape

Liu Yue Hua Underneath the elevated MRT, Queenstown

‘Rethinking the Derelict Landscape’ is a proposal to transform an underutilised stretch of

landscape beneath elevated MRT viaducts into an ecological corridor for birds. The

design proposes a pedestrian and cycling path surrounded by lush landscaping to

create living habitats for local bird species.

Jury Citation:

The scale of the proposal and its attempt to establish an ecosystem and promote

biodiversity at a masterplanning level is commendable. The idea to transform and make

use of existing infrastructure to improve walkability is particularly strong, and has

potential for future development as a broad strategy for the Park Connector Network.

6. Stepping Into The Woods, The Hidden Bath

Lee Wei Sen, Ng Siew Mum Sembawang Hot Spring

‘Stepping into the woods, the hidden bath’ is a simple idea to enhance and bring out the

rich historical values of the Sembawang Hot Spring. Various sizes of moveable wooden

barrels are proposed to allow visitors to use the space freely and enjoy the natural

environment with the filled barrels reflecting the clear, blue sky.

Jury Citation:

The simplicity of the idea and its ability to evoke memories of past experiences,

particularly of visiting hot springs with the family is praiseworthy. Overall, it is an

imaginative and artistic take on space with a strong connection to nature.

7. Tanjong Pagar Backyard Koh Ting and John Tay Open space at Tras Link, Tanjong Pagar

The Tanjong Pagar Backyard aims to create a social space in the centre of the

commercial district that allows workers and the public to spill out and reconnect with the

urban environment and one another. The design proposes a series of hexagonal

modules which interlock to form a pathway and series of social spaces to create a

gradually undulating terrain.

Jury Citation:

The proposal is commended for its potential to redefine the identity of the entire

neighbourhood. The designer’s very sensitive response to the existing context,

maintaining certain areas of hardscape, acknowledging their importance to the

neighbourhood, and subtly using larger trees to create pedestrian connectivity is

particularly praiseworthy.

8. The Urban Commune Loo Hui Jing Common areas in HDB Estates

Urban Commune proposes three programmes to support residents to adopt under-

utilised communal spaces within HDB estates and transform them into active community

spaces. The ideas include a programme where residents can lease the plot in front of

their strata unit, rent a rack in a community garden plot or erect a pavilion, all for free.

Jury Citation:

The ground-up nature of this initiative and its potential to create public spaces that are

effective and sustainable, akin to the Community In Bloom programme, sets it apart

from other proposals.

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MERIT

1. Alfresco Urban Oasis

Benjamin Xue Pockets of green space beside pedestrian walkways

Alfresco Urban Oasis is a proposal to re-think the planted areas adjoining pedestrian

walkways as micro parks for people to meet and chat or simply enjoy a moment of

afternoon sun.

Jury Citation:

The strength of the proposal lies in its simplicity and adaptability as it is not tied to a

specific location, but instead to a common spatial condition and is thus easily scalable

and implementable in various situations. The proposal encourages the use of space

under trees that is often underused and underappreciated, blurring the boundary

between hard and soft landscape.

2. Bukit Timah Explorer

Yi Yun Hi Underneath the Anak Bukit Flyover

Bukit Timah Explorer is a bike-sharing system for people to seamlessly explore and

discover Bukit Timah by bike. The proposal includes a series of new bicycle-only lanes to

connect places of interest, park connectors and the Rail Corridor with pit stops at five key

locations for bike rental and return.

Jury Citation:

A beautiful and simple idea that is highly implementable. The proposal exhibits intimate

knowledge of context and environment, and it was observed that the site selection was

well-suited for the idea.

3. Fun @ Stairways

Chin Qian Lyn Marang Trail, Mt Faber

Fun @ Stairways proposes a giant slide down the Marang Trail at Mt Faber to encourage

people to explore the area and climb up the stairway knowing that they can then enjoy a

fun slide down.

Jury Citation:

The proposal is commended for the ingenious idea that promotes an appreciation for

nature. It provides an opportunity for children to connect with and experience nature in a

fun-filled and educational manner.

4. PCF Sparkletots Preschool

Ryan Wong Jun Shin Open field, Choa Chu Kang

The submission by PCF Sparkletots Preschool proposes a simple idea to adopt the open

space beside their school and turn it into a sports field for the children to enjoy.

Jury Citation:

This opportunistic proposal for the improvement of an existing space is unpretentious but

at the same time highly implementable. It provides an interesting insight into how

children think about their immediate environment and how they wish to interact with it.

5. Public Sculpture Space Along The Coast

Bai Tian Yuan East Coast Park

The submission proposes transforming the shoreline along the East Coast Park into an

art space with a series of installations both in the water and on the beach.

Jury Citation:

Activating the coastline and defining shallow waters as an extension of public space is a

compelling idea, as it plays on Singapore’s identity as an island city. The proposal also

acknowledges and seeks to promote the value of public art as an important element of

public spaces.

6. Recreational Runway

Henri Khoo Underneath the Jurong East MRT Station

Recreational Runway is a proposal to transform the open space beneath Jurong East

MRT Station into an active multi-sports facility. Unlike conventional sports facilities where

line markings are permanent, the project proposes a simple playing surface with no line

markings and users can opt to rent traditional equipment or select from a series of pre-

set laser projections to create line markings on the ground surface.

Jury Citation:

An imaginative and non-conventional proposal that is noteworthy through its innovative

idea to make use of light to define and activate unused space beneath existing

infrastructure.

7. Sheares Linkway

Eugene Lin Sheares Bridge

In response to lower traffic volumes observed following the downgrading of the ECP to

an arterial road, Sheares Linkway proposes to reduce the number of vehicular lanes

along Sheares Avenue to create a new central island to serve as a pedestrian and

cycling linkway connecting Marina Bay to Tanjong Rhu.

Jury Citation:

The entry is applauded for the bold idea of an elevated green corridor akin to the

‘Highline’ in New York. The green corridor would make a fabulous green expressway

from the Marina Bay Sands and Tanjong Rhu for both cyclists and joggers.

8. 1km Gym and Gallery

Zoe Lin Underneath MRT Viaduct, Ang Mo Kio

The 1km Gym and Gallery proposes to activate a stretch of under-utilised space at Ang

Mo Kio by integrating the ‘static’ nature of a gallery and the ‘dynamic’ nature of an

outdoor fitness gym to create a total well-being experience for the residents of Ang Mo

Kio.

Jury Citation:

The idea is a simple and creative one, identifying a simple detail in a neglected space

and adapting it for community participation and thereby, beautifying and activating the

space through art.

SPECIAL MENTION

1. Forgotten Spaces

Afsheen Various locations

The submission proposes three ideas to activate public spaces, a community art gallery at

the Amber Road underpass on East Coast Road where children’s art can be displayed,

flower gardens between buildings, and community gardening.

Jury Citation:

The proposal is recognised for the efforts put together by a family and the inspiration that

‘Life's greatest work is done within the walls of our own home’.