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ASEAN VISION
Singapore studio leader Jeremy Farrington espouses an holistic outlook to development in Southeast Asia
There is a proverb in Southeast Asia that loosely translated says “When gentle breezes stick together, they can have the power of a typhoon”. This captures the spirit of the continued growth of the collective group of countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Often considered the powerhouse of the region, Singapore is an anomalous exemplar. It is a well-manicured model of prosperity and urbanisation that most of the region’s other countries and cities aspire to. Economic development among developing Southeast Asian countries brings productivity, income and access to healthcare, education and transport. But it also presents challenges. From Yangon to Manila to Hanoi to Jakarta – they are all on parallel growth trajectories, where population increase and mass migration to the cities will
drive urban populations to triple within the next 15 years. The concern expressed by many Southeast Asian governments, policy makers, planners, developers and investors is that without a connected approach to growth, unrestrained urbanisation could bring congestion, pollution, alienation and social dysfunction, resulting in unhappy citizens. They must therefore face key interdependent challenges: how to promote economic growth and employment while ensuring protection of the environment and addressing climate change; how to develop social infrastructure that enhances sustainable urban living while preserving the customs and values that define the identity of a region. Smart cities is part of this emerging picture, or forms part of the solution. Using communications technologies
to improve traffic flow and public transportation, healthcare, working, education, energy and water usage in buildings and city neighborhoods is a key aspect of making life better. There are a growing number of examples throughout Southeast Asia where this approach is being piloted. In the Philippines, Singaporean based masterplanners and architects Surbana Jurong have envisioned the New Clark City Masterplan, which adopts smart use of data and digital technology integrated with new transport infrastructure to address Manila’s legendary congestion. In Thailand initiatives focus on digitally empowered ecosystems, traffic management and townplanning while Vietnam and Malaysia have collectively targeted the creation of no fewer than 100 Smart Cities over the next 20 years.
