August 2005 - Association of Dutch Businessmen

SINGAPORE
Singapore in the 21st Century
By Michael van Ommeren &
Jeroen de Koning
within adjacent buildings, will provide for more
convenient car parking. With the construction of
the new coastal expressway, the existing East Coast
Parkway (ECP) which divides the new Downtown
area into two irregular areas will be straightened
and converted to a major arterial road, allowing
for better parcels of land to be created.
Modern infrastructure will be implemented to
improve the reliability of services supplies and
allow easy maintenance and new installations. An
underground Common Services Tunnel (CST), will
be located below the roads to house and distribute
utility service lines, including water pipes, power
cables and communications facilities. 22kV power
will be supplied directly to individual developments
from the 230kV network via a Central Electrical
Substation using a new and reliable distribution
method. The CST will also house chilled water pipes
from the District Cooling System to carry chilled
water directly to buildings. The CST is also planned
to house a Pneumatic Refuse Conveyance System
to provide centralised refuse collection for the
area in future.
In the new Downtown, pedestrians will take
priority. A comprehensive pedestrian system will
ensure all-weather protected routes and seamless
connectivity between buildings, open spaces and
transport networks, whether at street level, above
or below ground. Pedestrians can also take a stroll
along the tree-lined boulevards and the open
spaces which would be lined with activities, thus
providing a pleasant relief to the dense urban
setting. Buildings will be lined with retail frontages,
cafes, restaurants, outdoor refreshment areas and
kiosks, creating vibrant and active streets. Major
public open spaces will be complemented by pocket
parks, plazas, sky terraces and roof gardens within
individual developments to create a lush tropical
landscape and unique sense of place, reinforcing
Singapore’s garden city image.
Marina Bay and the waterfront area around it
are an important asset for Singapore and will be
a key urban space within the city. The planning
intention is to develop it into a lively, vibrant and
exciting premier waterfront location. The 1.5-km
promenade at the Central and Bayfront areas and
the new 280-m bridge between Bayfront and Marina
Centre will complete the continuous, 3.35-km
walking “loop” around the Bay, fully linking Marina
Business and Financial
Centre Site
Possible Future
RTS Station
Centre, Collyer Quay and Marina City Park. The
good news is that the public will not have to wait
for the whole Downtown to be built up many years
down the road before they can enjoy the entire
waterfront. For the new stretch of the promenade
and the new bridge will be ready in three years.
That is not all. The public will also be able to enjoy
recreational and lifestyle-related activities in the
shorter-term developments fronting the Bay. In
addition, with the completion of the Marina Barrage
in 2007/8, Marina Bay will have a stabilised water
level with no tidal fluctuations making it suitable
for staging water-based events and performances
and international water-sport competitions as well
as recreational activities.
Sources: http://www.ura.gov.sg
Centre
Promontory
Site
Site Sold
in 2002
One
Raffles Quay
One Marina
Boulevard
MARINA BAY
RAFFLE
PLACE
The New Downtown will not be a place for business only.
When night falls, the place will take on a new look with the
skyline adorned with glittering lights. Activities will continue
after office hours. This is made possible because the new
downtown will offer living in the city. The area will offer a
variety of housing with magnificent views out across the
waterfront and parks and all the city’s attractions and
convenience close at hand. It will be a place for people to
return home and to unwind after work.
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Vol.15 • No. 6 • July/August 2005