from the ground Up

During the summits held last week of June, a lot of issues were debated and I wrote some stories, some published, some not, and others still in point form in my notebook.

Here is a write-up of a brief interview I had with urban planning expert Marilyn Taylor of the US-based Urban Land Institute.

[Singapore, 26 June] AS THE world’s urban population rises rapidly, it is crucial that cities learn from each other in order to combat the challenges ahead.
Even a forward-looking country like Singapore cannot stand alone in the face of the global impact of urbanisation and the “trans-border” challenges it triggers, said urban planning expert Marilyn Taylor at the start of the two-day World Cities Summit yesterday.
Ms Taylor, citing an example used by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his opening speech at the conference yesterday, pointed out that haze pollution is something Singapore cannot control but can work closely with other countries to prevent.
Singapore also has much to offer from its own experience in urban planning, added the former chairman of the United States-based Urban Land Institute in an interview with The Straits Times.
Ms Taylor is also a member of the International Panel of Architects and Urban Planners, set up in 2001 to advise Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on international best practices and trends in planning and urban design.
“Even with the rapid development of Singapore, the Government was very aware of the limitations of land,” said Ms Taylor.
“There was an ability to balance high density with open, green spaces, which adds to the quality of life, as opposed to making it feel like an imposition.”
Singapore’s successful urban planning is also a result of planners who recognised the importance of seeking constructive criticism.
“Singapore has a willingness to offer itself up to go under the microscope, for others to scrutinise, and that has helped it to develop successfully,” she added.
The country shares with other Asian cities an excitement and optimism of the future, yet also has an international orientation similar to London and New York, said Ms Taylor.
But what sets Singapore apart is this “belief in the public realm, which allows many people to occupy the same space together and enjoy a quality of life”, she added.
Singapore has an ability to invest ahead of demand, she said, something that comes down to having a responsible government.
Other experts speaking at a seminar on “planning for a distinctive and vibrant city” yesterday also underlined this point.
An attractive city requires a public sector that can take responsibility for the effective use of resources, and for building sustainable infrastructure – which will lead to a healthy economy.
Achieving this, however, is is only one part of the story, added Ms Taylor.
Top cities must also define a distinct and authentic identity to be able to retain its people and talent.
Singapore in the 1980s used to bulldoze many old landmarks and this was a worrying trend, said Ms Taylor, who has worked here occasionally over the last two decades as an architect and urban designer.
This has improved since the 1990s, with URA’s conservation drive, she added. About 6,800 buildings here have now been conserved.
“People tend to respond positively to a mix of old and new. Some beautiful cities have a sense of ‘messiness’, with very old elements which turn out to be places that people enjoy, as part of the city’s identity,” she said.
This is one area Singapore could learn from other cities – how to mix the old with the new, the traditional with the modern.
“What may be visual chaos might be the key ingredient in building a distinctive, vibrant city,” she added.