Pandemic-resilient city planning: 3 developments show the way

Chantal Sajan
Senior Correspondent

Nov 19, 2021



SINGAPORE - New developments here are designed for pandemic resilience. Instead of focusing on the maximum number of homes that can be built per land area, they offer open spaces for nature and healthy living. Here are three projects that are showing the way.

1. Riverfront living: CanningHill Piers by CapitaLand Development and City Developments Ltd (CDL)

When this property is completed in 2025 on the former Liang Court site, it will not only offer breathtaking views of Fort Canning Hill, the Singapore River, the Central Business District and Marina Bay, but it will also be the tallest residential development along the riverfront.

Singaporean lead architect Brian Yang from Bjarke Ingels Group, which is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, says CanningHill Piers is designed to build resilient communities that will not only survive, but also thrive, in the new normal.

"We want to create new experiences along the Singapore River. When we think about the community, it's not just the people who live in the residential towers, or the guests in the hotel, but the entire community along the riverfront," says Mr Yang, 42, who joined the firm in 2007 after graduating from Harvard University.

The aim is to create a live-work-play environment within the integrated development, which will house two towers with 696 apartments, one block for Somerset serviced apartments and one block for Moxy Hotel. Residents need not travel far to enjoy amenities.

"The public spaces along the river are built around the community and offer open-air experiences," says Mr Yang, who has also helmed CapitaSpring, a 51-storey skyscraper by CapitaLand in the heart of the central business district, which is scheduled to be completed by year-end.

CanningHill Piers' 99-year leasehold apartments are spread across two blocks linked by a skybridge on the 24th floor. Prices for one-room units start at $1.16 million, four-bedders from $5.22 million, and five-roomers for upwards of $8.1 million. The taller block will have one super-penthouse - 180m above ground - with an equally stratospheric price tag of about $50 million.

The residential blocks are connected to the 21-storey hotel run by Marriott International, the 20-storey serviced residences, and a two-storey podium with shops, food and beverage outlets, and a supermarket.



Ms Lee Mei Ling, CDL's executive vice-president and head of property development, says that with work-from-home arrangements and home-based learning keeping more people indoors, home buyers may desire to be closer to nature and wellness amenities, and place more emphasis on flexible use of space.

"Properties located near key transport nodes and amenities such as shopping malls, medical facilities and supermarkets are highly sought after," she adds.

Mr Chew Peet Mun, managing director of investment and development at CapitaLand Development (Singapore), says homes within integrated developments are popular with urbanites who enjoy the convenience of having a variety of amenities right at their doorstep.



"Another draw is flexible space," he adds, referring to spaces that can be converted into home offices.

"CapitaLand is exploring how to incorporate even more transformable space and furniture within our apartments to maximise space efficiency and flexibility, while allowing residents to have a clear demarcation between personal and work life."

2. Green oasis: Martin Modern by GuocoLand Singapore



This new development in the prime River Valley area is a playground for nature lovers. A botanical garden sits at the ground level, while secret gardens hide on the rooftops. Green nooks are found on different levels and throughout the property.

Martin Modern, which was completed in May and has 450 residences in two 30-storey towers, was sold out in September. GuocoLand devoted about 80 per cent of the 1.6 hectare property to create lush botanical surroundings for its residents.

The multi-level tiered landscape, the developer says, was created to draw residents out of their homes.

Master architect Yip Yuen Hong of ip:li Architects, a four-time recipient of the President's Design Award, says: "Our intention was to create a botanical garden in the midst of the city. Martin Modern is located in a very busy area and we wanted to create an enclave that one can retreat to.

"The minute you enter the development, the expansive green spaces and the all-embracing plantations carry you into a slower and more relaxed world."

The property has 15 curated gardens with more than 200 species of plants, including native trees and palms like the jelutong, meranti and chengal, as well as a bamboo grove.



It is also big on sustainability. Two landscaped rain gardens are part of its water management strategy to treat, retain and harvest rainwater. The gardens collect rainwater runoff from the surrounding area, which is then cleansed as it filters through the soil media and channelled back to the harvesting tank to be reused for irrigation. This contributes to an estimated 50 per cent of the development's irrigation needs.

Atop the two residential towers are secret gardens that offer residents private spaces. There are reading and dining pavilions, which come with cooking equipment for whipping up intimate dinners - with a breathtaking view of the Singapore River to boot.

GuocoLand is taking a leaf from Martin Modern for its upcoming Midtown Modern condominium project in Bugis, which is due for completion in 2024. It is part of a sprawling new 3.2ha integrated development called Guoco Midtown.

Ms Dora Chng, general manager (residential) at GuocoLand, says the company is focused on creating an environment that promotes wellness through various ways - including having biophilic elements, open spaces and seamless connectivity to amenities.

"People's lives today are typically fast-paced and we face different stresses all the time, especially since the pandemic began," she says. "It is important for us to be part of a community that helps maintain our mental well-being."

3. Sustainable sanctuary: Jervois Mansion by Kimen Group



It is still a few years away from completion, but this development by niche property developer Kimen Group has already achieved its first milestone.

For its focus on sustainable design, Jervois Mansion received the Green Mark GoldPlus Super Low Energy Residential Building rating, a new standard from the Building and Construction Authority - making it the first private residential development in Singapore to get the benchmark.

The 93,183 sq ft freehold development in Jervois Close - nestled among a leafy Good Class Bungalows enclave - is due to be ready in 2026.

It is a redevelopment of Jervois Mansions, which was built by the group's founder, the late Aw Kim Chen and his children - Mr Aw Chye Wee, Ms Aw Soo Eng and Ms Aw Seoh Bee - almost four decades ago.

The low-rise development comprises 70 one- and two-bedroom units and 60 three- to five-bedroom types spread over six five-storey blocks. Kimen has sold 104 of the 105 units, most of them to Singaporeans.



The development adopts a bungalow-inspired design with cross-ventilation, verandah-like sky planters and abundant outdoor greenery. It generates solar power from photovoltaic panels on its roof pavilions for up to 30 per cent of its power needs in its common facilities.

The rooftops of the six blocks will be connected by bridges. One rooftop will house an urban farm and gardens that will cultivate plants, including edible and medicinal varieties. Residents will be able to enjoy farm-to-table dining. There will also be an initiative to regenerate native flora and fauna, including a seeding programme.

Dr Arthur Aw, Kimen's executive director, says the BCA rating is testament to the company's commitment to promoting eco-living. "A functional layout is no longer enough," he adds.

He worked with his development team to come up with an experiential design for residents, which encompasses "seven life essences" - wellness, creativity, growth, nourishment, energy, kinship and longevity.

"The Covid-19 experience has given rise to an increased desire by urban dwellers to seek a healthier lifestyle," he says. "We focused on maximising the healthy living experiences that residents can enjoy, rather than maximising the total number of units we could build."


https://www.straitstimes.com/life/ho...s-show-the-way