In 2012, Atelier Dreiseitl was awarded first place for Kallang Riverside Landscape and Urban Hydrology Masterplan, where Pedro Santa served as the design lead for the competition proposal and subsequent consultancy. He crafted and sketched the visionary concept argument – that developers should avoid the “old paradigm” of urban development – where buildings impose themselves onto the landscape – and embrace a “new paradigm” – where ecological landscape, & resilient infrastructure are prioritized.
Several news articles have been published covering the plan at Kampong Bugis. Here are some excerpts provided below (see credits at the end of this post):
In the years to come, this district will become more urbane. Kampong Bugis has been designated as a new housing region. According to the URA Draft Master Plan 2013, Kampong Bugis will be developed as a high-density waterfront residential area in a lush garden setting with accessible public and alternative transport links to reduce car usage. Located between 2 river channels leading directly into Kallang Basin, Kampong Bugis will be an exemplary water-sensitive urban design precinct. We also envisage future residential developments with creative ‘fenceless designs that facilitate public enjoyment of the area.
The quaint waterfront setting along the Kallang River will form the backdrop to a new high-density private residential precinct in Kampong Bugis, with around 4,000 new homes. The 18ha area is bounded by Kallang Road and Crawford Street and extends up to Rochor River and Kallang River. More from AsiaOneRead the condensed version of this story, and other top stories with NewsLite. Development may begin after 2016, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).
Tentative plans drawn up for the area include garden settings with seamless pedestrian connectivity. Kampong Bugis residents will be encouraged to use their cars less and take the MRT more often, in a pilot project. The area has two existing MRT stations nearby: Kallang and Lavender. There may also be car-sharing and bicycle-sharing schemes, but they will not be rolled out by the authorities, unlike in other cities. Instead, the URA will encourage private property developers to implement them.
Water taxis may also be an alternative way to commute around the area. No fences will be erected around the private housing developments so that members of the public can enjoy the waterfront more. Such fenceless designs have been explored in other developments, such as the one-north residences and Robertson Quay, and are designed to encourage community interaction and increase pedestrian connectivity. Property analysts have said in earlier reports that the waterfront setting stands the Kampong Bugis area in good stead with investors and home buyers. Homes with waterfront views may be priced at the higher end of the market.
At Kampong Bugis, near the Kallang riverside, the focus will be on reducing car usage and preventing floods. For residents, this means driving less in favor of other modes of commuting. They will be encouraged to take the train via two existing nearby MRT stations, Kallang and Lavender, and public buses. They will also be able to get about by water taxis in the future. Another feature is bio-retention basins. These are shallow basins where stormwater can be collected and treated. A third feature is detention ponds, which can hold water for a limited time. Such ponds are often used to protect against extreme flooding.
All text and images are publicly available via online sources. See below:
Image Sources:
http://www.ura.gov.sg/MS/DMP2013/regional-highlights/central-region/housing.aspx
https://heartlandertourist.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/kampong-bugis-ura-1.jpg
https://heartlandertourist.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/kampong-bugis-ura-2.jpg
https://www.asiaone.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_main_image/public/business/2013/11/20/20131120_waterfront_URA.jpg?itok=5rk-zQ3v
Text sources:
https://heartlandertourist.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/kallang-riverside-park/
https://www.asiaone.com/waterfront-living-kampong-bugis
https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/uras-new-blueprint-developing-singapore
https://propertylaunch-invest.com/blog/entry/ura-draft-master-plan-2013.html
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/car-free-residential-area-be-piloted-kampong-bugis