Unconventional Methods for Unconventional Sites: An experimental artificial intelligence driven options studio
Revive Citarum River!
Needful Things
A New Urban Landmark: A new imagination for Seoul
Land, Sea, and Disturbance
Landscape Density
Design Thesis
Utilising Horticultural Waste as a Sustainable Landscape Management Strategy for the NUS Campus
Journey into Fukushima: Reimagining hazardous nuclear landscape
Subversive Landscapes in Highway Constructions in China’s Henan Province
Shapes and Is Shaped By: An alternative approach to coastal regeneration based on the interplay of sandy beach dynamics and socio-ecological impacts
Inequitable Green Space Provision and Its Impact on Thermal Comfort: A case study of Singapore’s residential areas
Desertification in Chaos: Atlas and land art and slow science experiments to open up the political imaginary
Floating Oasis: A marine landscape design to enhance health and scientific research in the neopelagic community impact of greenery composition and configuration on outdoor thermal environment
Dr. Victoria Jane Marshall Dr. Tan Chun Liang
AWARDS
International Federal of Landscape Architecture Asia Pacific Region (IFLA APR) 2023 Award of Excellence in the “Cultural and Urban Landscape”, National University of Singapore
Associate Professor Hwang Yun Hye’s project with DPGreen, titled Campus in a Forest, received the IFLA APR 2023 Award of Excellence in the Cultural and Urban Landscape category. Inspired by Singapore’s
rich biodiversity, this project aims to integrate nature into the renovated NUS School of Design and Environment (SDE) buildings. Key features include Wild Hill, the primary gateway revealing previously hidden landforms; Jungle Courtyard, inspired by multi-tiered tropical rainforests to create structural and biological complexity; and Rewilded Edges, a series of vegetation strips blending existing trees with understory species that attract fauna.
EXHIBITIONS
Landscapes of Inclusivity
3-31 May 2024
Queenstown Library, Singapore
How can our neighbourhood landscapes be designed better to enhance residents’ well-being, and stimulate inter-generational mingling?
BLA Year 2 students did a deep dive into the Queenstown neighbourhood throughout the semester to come up with unique and creative ideas to reimagine the public spaces on our doorstep. The design process included collecting inputs
directly from community members via three interactive workshops at Queenstown library, ad-hoc interview surveys, and site visits to key communal facilities in the district. Students summarised the findings and converted them into design ideas with graphics and physical models to visualise how outdoor spaces can attract more communitycentric activities and become more user-friendly and comfortable spaces to enjoy with family and friends. This one-month-long public exhibition yielded opportunities to share ideas generated by students and also to receive feedback and reflections from community members.
Landscape Architecture Graduation Exhibition 17 May-16 June 2024
SDE 3 Level 4, Barrel Room
The Landscape Architecture Graduation Exhibition showcases the work of Master’s and Bachelor’s students in Landscape Architecture. This year marked the first MLA cohort to complete an
independent design thesis project and the second graduating BLA cohort since the programme’s establishment in 2020. The projects explored advanced research and design topics defining our era, including waste and consumption issues, landscape infrastructures, climate change, encounters with non-human entities, and the experiential qualities of landscapes.
LECTURES
LCK 30 BY 2030: A New Typology for Food and Urban Resilency
Leonard Ng (Country Market Director, APAC, Henning Larsen) and Seow Ling Png (Urban Planner, Singapore Food Agency) 16 February 2024 Forum, SDE 4, NUS
In this lecture, Leonard Ng and Seow Ling Png shared a compelling vision for urban food systems in Singapore – a vision of producing 30 percent of Singapore’s nutritional needs by 2030 – and explained how landscape architects can contribute to this initiative. They emphasised the importance of evidence-based approaches, engagement with local communities and stakeholders, and innovative spatial design solutions to enhance Singapore’s food security and resilience. They shared how the ongoing Lim Chu Kang Master Plan project addresses design challenges, including limited agricultural land, while considering sensitive coastal ecologies and the risk of sea level rise.
Student Reflection
Khoo Zhi Luo (BLA 2)
This lecture significantly broadened my understanding of sustainable urban planning. It motivated me to consider how my own work in landscape architecture can contribute to food resilience. Moving forward, I am inspired to explore ways to integrate urban agriculture into my designs, ensuring buildings and public spaces not only serve immediate human needs but also support long-term sustainability goals. Leonard and Seow’s insights have equipped me with a new framework to approach urban resilience, one deeply rooted in the local community and its capacity to sustain itself.
Life Worlds: Landscapes, Cities, and Beyond
Chris Reed (Founding Director of STOSS, Professor at Graduate School of Design, Harvard University) Panellists: Fun Siew Leng (URA), Andrew Grant (Grant Associates), Tan Puay Yok (NUS) Moderated by Dorothy Tang (NUS) 7 September 2023 Gardens by the Bay, Flower Field Hall
Chris Reed, an internationally recognised leader in transforming landscapes and cities, discussed how diverse and multi-scaled living landscapes can address pressing climate, environmental, sustainability, and social issues. He gave an overview of current environmental challenges and explained how his work at STOSS addresses sustainability and resiliency strategies through innovative design.
Student Reflection
Aceline Wong (BLA 1)
Chris Reed’s lecture enhanced my understanding of the importance of landscape architecture for various reasons. The most prominent is that global warming has promoted the need for changes to take place along coastlines. He shared how he takes rising sea level into consideration. He went as far as to propose a filtration system in the concept. It is inspiring how his designs revolve around protecting both people and the environment, showing how it is possible to design a space beneficial for all.
LECTURES
Strategies of Coexistence
Bianca Maria Rinaldi (Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Politecnico di Torino)
15 March 2024
SDE 3, LT 427
Bianca Maria Rinaldi’s lecture focused on integrating strategies of coexistence, on integrating human activities into natural environments. Key topics included cross-cultural interactions in landscape architecture history, China’s impact on Western garden art (17th-19th centuries), 20th-century landscape architecture in the Global South, and the role of history in contemporary landscape architecture and urban transformations. She advocated sustainable design practices that respect ecological systems, promote biodiversity, and create resilient landscapes, aiming to foster the beneficial coexistence of human and natural elements.
Student Reflection
Sumaiya Azad (BLA 1)
Bianca Rinaldi highlighted the crucial role of landscape architecture in creating spaces where humans and non-humans can coexist harmoniously. One particularly interesting point was her observation that urban spaces, often perceived as unkempt or neglected, are actually vital for biodiversity. Rinaldi discussed how landscape architects can bridge the perception gap by designing urban landscapes that cater to various species while also providing aesthetic and emotional experiences for visitors. This insight made me reflect on the social construction of nature and how our perceptions shape our interactions with these spaces. Her lecture left me contemplating how landscape architecture can challenge and transform our views on nature and thereby promote a more inclusive and ecological perspective.
PLANTING DAY
Nasi Ulam Food Forest Garden
26 September 2023
The Nasi Ulam Garden is a food forest plot on the fringe of the Department of Architecture, home to a myriad of edible plant species. Since 2022, the garden has served as a learning ground for students, faculty members, and experts on plant species and food systems. The fourth planting day for Nasi Ulam Food Forest Garden took place in a semi-classroom setting where volunteers were guided on how to identify the plants, harvest them, and propagate certain species. It also took a more technical direction, with volunteers helping to map out the locations of different edible plant species in the garden. The mapping activity was the first step in gaining a clearer picture of what the garden entails and suggested options for the relocation of certain plant species to a better environment where they can thrive.
Student Reflection
Trenyce Chong (BLA 1)
The planting day, organised by Landscape Architecture Collective (LAC), was a therapeutic and engaging activity. A simple task helped us unwind from our busy academic schedules while also tidying up the Nasi Ulam Garden, which we pass by every day on our way to the studio. As a first-year student, it gave me an opportunity to talk to seniors and professors in an informal setting. This played a significant role in my learning experience as a freshman, as there were many things I was unfamiliar with. Meeting seniors in person through this activity made it easier to reach out to them for advice.
Design Studio
SENSING LANDSCAPE LAD1001
- Design 1
Tutors: Yun Hye Hwang, Brownyn Tan, and Ashley Sun
This foundation-level studio, entitled Sensing Landscape explored landscape as a process, highlighting the dynamic relationship between humans and nature over time. Students discovered, described, conceptualised, and synthesised using landscape architectural vocabulary and approaches. Emphasis was placed on developing spatial literacy and systemic design thinking. Three exercises guided students: Sense Landscapes involved observing and documenting natural landscape elements through sensory experiences. Deconstruct Landscapes used phenomenological methods to understand and prototype these elements. Finally, Reassemble Landscapes required proposing a hybridised space where human and natural elements coexist. These exercises expanded students’ perspectives on landscapes, focusing on spatial forms and temporal transitions.
Topsoil: The element indispensable to life by Janelle Goh Shih Ying (BLA 1) explored the essential role of leaf litter and topsoil in nutrient cycling within ecosystems at a site featuring a 35-degree slope, over 40 trees, and contrasting urban soil areas. The project enabled users to be engaged in playful activities like natural composting and edible gardening while learning about reforestation and contributing to the rejuvenation of the forest ecosystem.
Living Roots Walkway by Sophia Lin (BLA 1) was inspired by the Khasi people’s living roots bridge in Meghalaya, India. This project envisioned a versatile skywalk made entirely of ficus elastica along the southwest trail of Bukit Batok Nature Park. Designed to offer relaxation, mediation, and inspiration, it allowed visitors to engage with the tropical forest canopy and its wildlife, with the goal of transforming the park into a biodiversity-rich, sustainable oasis.
Rocks in Streams by Wang Xuechun (BLA 1) revealed geomorphological insights through rocks’ natural arrangement, with gravel piles and boulders shaping distinct flow patterns. When these elements were rearranged in Bukit Batok Nature Park, the organic beauty of ripples and rocks was highlighted, thereby creating a landscape both interactive and visually appealing.
EPHEMERAL LANDSCAPE LAD1005 -
Design 2
The Ephemeral Landscape studio explored the concept of impermanence in landscape design, focusing on material exploration and representation. As the second core studio for first-year landscape architecture students, it covered fundamental design principles, representation techniques, and the design process, emphasising compositions, functions, and landscape systems through observation, analysis, and experimentation. The course aimed to enhance students’ critical analysis skills in landscape design and develop their graphical communication skills, including model making and motion graphics. It started with site observation and abstract interpretation of materiality; this was followed by a design and build project involving temporary, site-specific spatial experiences, addressing how ephemerality and impermanence can be captured and represented.
Tutors: Maxime Cedric Decaudin, Faiz Zohri, Lehana Guo, and Wong Ruen Qing
The Unseen Flow by Zenn Lim (BLA 1) featured the simple observation of campus life and nature’s nuances, particularly the wind. It aimed to reveal the wind’s subtle influence through installations responding to its movements, prompting viewers to pause, observe, and reconnect with nature’s intricate rhythms, fostering a deeper environmental appreciation.
Tale by
was inspired by the inter-weaving of tree branches to invite students to embark on an exploration. It served as a recreational space for them to slow down as they wandered, a pause in the busy campus life – to interconnect with nature around them, if only for a moment.
States of Mind
focused on the states of mind, employing varied landscapes to symbolise mental states, transitioning between compressed and expansive spaces to evoke introspection and explore mind-body connections. By juxtaposing these environments, the project encouraged visitors to reflect on their own mental states, offering both active engagement and passive observation of their emotional spectrum.
by Natalie Sim Kay Yee (BLA 1)
Entwined
Liw Huixuan (BLA 1)
(mis)READING & (re)WRITING
THE SITE LAD2006 - Design 3
Tutors: Chun Liang Tan, Varit Charoenveingvechkit, and Victor Kuan
The ‘(mis)Reading and (re)Writing the Site’ studio focused on key approaches to landscape architecture design, with an emphasis on site matters. The underlying theme of the studio sought to uncover human-nature relations in complex, built environments, curated through proper site analysis and inventory. The key learning objectives included an appreciation of morphological and ambient components in the design palette, such as building configurations, the threshold between indoors and outdoors, flora and fauna, the microclimate, etc. Students were encouraged to understand place and context, to create narratives, to convey design concepts, and to explore the limits of creation by honing their skills in site analysis, narrative creation, design ideation, and production.
Minga Lunaqua Park by Dang Van Trang (BLA 2) was tailored for Singapore’s Burmese community, offering a formalised space integrating their activities while promoting inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. It served as a model for public parks catering to specific ethnic groups, fostering community cohesion and mutual understanding in Singapore’s diverse landscape.
(Un)staging Urban Landscape by Ong Qin Hui (BLA 2) featured the transformation of Hong Lim Park into a hub for free expression and idea exchange, with designated areas for public speaking, debates, and interactive exhibits. While promoting open dialogue, the park implemented safeguards to prevent the dissemination of harmful ideologies, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all visitors.
Wait For Me! by Choo Wei Ling Clara (BLA 2) redesigned Duxton Plain Park as a haven for intergenerational bonding between elderly grandparents and their playful grandchildren. It blended play areas for children with tranquil resting spots for grandparents, fostering a harmonious environment that nurtured imagination and family connections in a shared recreational space.
LANDSCAPES OF INCLUSIVITY
LAD2007 - Design 4
Tutors: Kenya Endo, Melissa Yip, and Huei Lyn Liu
The Landscapes of Inclusivity studio assumed a bold stance whereby landscape architecture stands at the intersection of ecology, infrastructure, and social space, and as such, is strategically poised to augment the health of the environment and people symbiotically. It asked, “How would outdoor spaces within our residential estates be designed differently if designers had a deeper understanding of the needs and circumstances of the vulnerable in our society?” Landscapes of Inclusivity emphasised a detailed contextual understanding from vulnerable individuals’ perspective through interviews and workshops, with the goal of understanding the conditions of physical and social spaces in their daily lives. Queenstown’s residential neighbourhood was the target site for investigation, as its demographics closely mirror Singapore’s projected national demographics by 2030.
Tile by Rewilding Tile by Dang Van Trang (BLA 2) was inspired by Singapore’s Cities in Nature initiative. The project reintroduced authentic natural spaces into Mei Ling, promoting ecological connections and environmental stewardship amongst youth. More specifically, children played a key role in transforming a car park node into a thriving forest using Miyawaki’s method, repurposing hardscape for economic and educational benefits.
Cohesiety by Khoo Zhi Luo (BLA 2) featured a blend of historic preservation with modern design, revitalising the community hub in Mei Ling Estate. It integrated intergenerational activities, promoted food sustainability, and enhanced spatial connectivity. By preserving Mei Ling’s cultural identity and introducing innovative typologies, it fostered communal interaction and a vibrant, cohesive neighbourhood environment.
Nexus: Rejuvenate Mei Ling Neighbourhood Centre by Ong Qin Hui (BLA 2) envisioned a vibrant community centre in Mei Ling, promoting inclusivity and well-being across all ages and mobilities. It integrated backyard landscapes into versatile spaces for intergenerational connections, featured multiple active ageing centres, and transformed Mei Chin Road into a pedestrian-friendly boulevard with seasonal events, aiming to foster a thriving, cohesive community hub.
DIGITAL PLAYSCAPES
LAD3001 - Design 5
Tutors: Lin Shengwei Ervine, Lehana Guo, and Quentin Sim
The Digital Playscapes studio combined design skills with digitally driven landscape architectural tools, in terms of site data acquisition and analysis, form making, and visual representations, to lend relevance to forward-thinking landscape design practices in the industry. Underlying this digital focus was the idea of using play as a driver in design. Without confining themselves to any particular demographic, students designed landscapes as a public amenity for the enjoyment of their users. They also looked at how “playscapes” can potentially activate spaces, bring about a higher level of attachment, and create connections between people and the landscapes they play in.
Nirvana by Wayne Tan Peiwee (BLA 3) was based on the idea of harmonising nature and architecture by providing a journey of joy and contemplation that can evolve with the seasons. Its design encouraged a deep connection with nature, inviting exploration and reflection amidst a landscape reflecting both its surroundings and the individuals who engage with it.
The Wonder of Encountering by Sun Peiqiang Austin (BLA 3) featured a social playscape addressing screen addiction by integrating dynamic elements and vibrant colours amidst natural surroundings. It aimed to reconnect individuals of all ages through playful and relaxing experiences, fostering ongoing engagement, social interaction, and community building. The site promoted diverse activities to combat isolation and enhance well-being.
Play of The Wildfire: Wildwonder by Ho Qianyu (BLA 3) immersed visitors in animal habitats with interactive zones catering to varying energy levels and abilities. Designed around animal movements, from beginner to advanced levels, it blended human and wild experiences. This playful landscape fostered interaction with nature, ensuring diverse preferences were accommodated in a dynamic and engaging environment.
Tutors:
INFRASTRUCTURAL NATURES
LAD3002 - Design 6
In the Infrastructural Natures studio, students explored ideas of nature and how such ideas translate into infrastructures for human and nonhuman agency and space. They reflected on what infrastructural natures, broadly defined, exist at present and what infrastructural natures might be imagined for the future. The studios focused on Sungei Kadut Ecodistrict (SKED) north and Kranji MRT. Each studio used a different critical lens through which to view urban nature: Beyond Productivity (Soh Studio), Embracing Nature (Steed Studio), and Culture Natures (Marshall Studio). Students employed these critical lenses throughout the semester.
Victoria Jane Marshall, Henry Steed, and Agnes Soh
The Habitat Pile Garden - For Humans and Nonhumans by Seah Yun Zhang Deston (BLA 3) reimagined the historic Sin Siong Lim sawmill as a socially transparent factory with an enclosed garden, highlighting natural decay and lumber reuse. It aimed to foster community engagement and ecological awareness by repurposing sawmill wood, encouraging sustainable practices and enriching interactions extending beyond wood consumption. (Tutor: Dr. Victoria Jane Marshall)
Heritage Revival and Green Connection - Reclaiming Nature, Preserving Heritage, Green Connectivity by Sun PeiQiang Austin (BLA 3) featured the Sungei Kadut transformation that harmonises ecological restoration with industrial functions, preserving natural heritage and historical significance. It integrated a green
corridor and heritage trail for connectivity and biodiversity and planned an AgriFood Innovation Park to honour the site’s river history. By repurposing industrial structures, it fostered a vibrant community with multi-use spaces and social activities. (Tutor: Henry Steed)
from a timber-centric past into a sustainable future. The project reimagined timber waste as a resource, fostering a circular economy, creating a community hub for learning, and offering interactive spaces to inspire and educate on sustainable practices.
Agnes Soh)
Wooden Weavings: Sungei Kadut’s circular timber tale by Mariam Yusuf Rajkotwala (BLA 3) transforms Sungei Kadut
(Tutor:
SITUATING SITES: RECOVERING THE LATENT POTENTIAL OF INTERIM LANDSCAPES IN SINGAPORE LAD4001
Tutors: Dorothy Tang, Janice Tung, Bernard Ng, Melissa Yip, Evi Syarifuddin, and Mayura Patil
Design 7 / LA4701 MLA Studio
Every five years, Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) releases a Master Plan, guiding the city-state’s development for the next 10-15 years. Amongst these plans are Reserve Sites, represented as yellow blocks, with over 1,000 identified in the Master Plan. These sites, though not necessarily vacant, are held for future permanent use. As placeholders in the statutory land use plan, they possess latent potential with yet-to-be-determined uses. This studio challenged traditional urban development norms by focusing on Reserve Sites as preparation grounds for Singapore’s future, emphasising the value of designing “interims” rather than final products, integrating ephemeral, social, and biophysical landscape processes.
Eco-Struction by Kashanna Joash (BLA 4) featured reserve sites at Kallang Riverside Park slated for intensive redevelopment over the next few years. Eco-Struction aimed to mitigate the negative impacts on ecological communities during the interim phase of construction, while designing light-handed policies that promote environmentally sensitive practices.
(Tutor: Bernard Ng)
The Kinex Toolkit by Ching Wai Lum (BLA 4) aimed to empower local youth by modifying Pearl Hill estate’s topography and enhancing accessibility. The Kinex toolkit encourages youths to improve their environment, fostering personal growth and stability. It also highlights the importance of external support for social workers in building confidence for those starting life disadvantaged. (Tutor: Dorothy Tang)
Punggol Interim Forest Nursery by Judith Tay (BLA 4) sought to alter perceptions of landscape as a valuable social, economic, and ecological asset by creating an interim forest nursery within Punggol. The reserved site will be used as a nursery supplying trees to the new developments, streetscapes, and parks, generating human capital, and reducing transport time. At the same time, it will strengthen the green connectivity and restore native ecosystems through the use of seed dispersers and pollinators. (Tutor: Evi Syarifuddin)
Ecological Punggol – Interim Transwater by Wang Chenxi (MLA 1) used a vacant site in Punggol to build a temporary water system with ecological purification functions, including wetlands and bioretention ponds, to filter pollutants. The purified water will support freshwater mangroves and rare aquatic animals. This system may also be incorporated into future drainage infrastructure. (Tutors: Evi Syarifuddin)
From Solar to Cooler by Zhu Lujia (MLA 1) focused on the recent spike in electricity prices in Singapore due to international events, highlighting the need for a stable energy resource. Wind and water are unsuitable for Singapore, but the city-state’s abundant sunshine makes it ideal for solar energy. This project focused on developing solar energy to mitigate heat stress, using vacant community land and aiming to provide financial support and innovative land use strategies. (Tutor: Mayura Patil)
Herharbor Nexus by Xing Menghan (MLA 1) focused on social mobility and social inclusion, honing in on a more specific group termed Parenting-moms. By proposing phased venue constructions, it aimed to meet the diverse needs of this group at different stages, ultimately yielding positive outcomes for both the group and society as a whole. (Tutor: Janice Tung)
DESIGNING SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE: MATERIALS,
METHODS, TECHNOLOGIES
LAD4002 Design 8 / LA4702
MLA Studio: Region
Airports are essential for moving people and goods across great distances. But they also drive climate change. Aviation and the necessary ground infrastructure (e.g., roads, runways, terminals) account for about three percent of global CO2 emissions, while also causing significant losses in air quality and biodiversity. Airports face a basic challenge: without them, our society would not be able to function, but if we continue to design them as we have in the past, the environmental consequences will be severe. Through the lens of air travel, the Designing Sustainable Infrastructure studio investigated opportunities to adapt global infrastructure systems to the challenges of climate change. Focusing on sustainable design methods, materials, and technologies, it investigated the key considerations that guide airports’ climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. Briefings with climate experts and on-site research in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor empowered students to develop sustainable future design scenarios.
Tutor: Max Hirsh
Bio-Power: Waste to biogas by Sandy Foo Yock Li (BLA 4) aimed to shift to renewable energy and enhance waste management. Bio-Power integrated bioenergy systems, recycling organic waste for energy. This initiative, located in U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport’s expansion area, targeted visitors and operators, ensuring a sustainable energy supply, reducing fossil fuel dependence, and enhancing economic value in the Eastern Economic Corridor.
Relieving the Labour Crunch: Workforce attraction and housing by Judith Tay Xue Ling (BLA 4) planned to expand U-Tapao Airport and its Airport City, necessitating a sizable workforce. The project aimed to attract employees via an inclusive job portal and affordable housing, featuring a sustainable design to cut costs, construction time, waste, and site disturbance.
REIMAGINING BALI’S WASTE LANDSCAPE
LAD4002 Design 8 / LA4702 MLA Studio: Region
Bali, famous for its beaches, rice paddies, and vibrant culture, faces environmental challenges from over-tourism and rapid urbanisation. Increased waste production and insufficient waste management are causing environmental degradation, threatening tourism and local communities. Students conducted field surveys in the Madahan district, including coastal areas, industrial roads, agricultural lands, and villages. By gathering insights from residents and local NGOs, students were able to understand waste flows and their impact on landscapes. The Reimagining Bali’s Waste Landscape studio explored landscape interventions to reduce waste’s environmental impact, integrating them into multifunctional infrastructure, sustainable waste chains, innovative management practices, local knowledge, and regional ecosystems.
Tutor: Yun Hye Hwang
Marine Debris – Natural Trap by Yu Xinxin (MLA 1) highlighted that Indonesia is the second-largest producer of marine debris, producing about 1.29 million tons annually, with a negative impact on Bali’s tourism. Proposed solutions included a natural marine debris trap using vacant beach areas, involving land modification and community involvement in sorting and recycling waste.
Bali AgriCycle by Pang Yifei (MLA 1) reimagined the agricultural waste management system in Medahan village, Bali, by implementing innovative design solutions. By focusing on waste recycling and reuse, the project repurposed abandoned farmland into diverse landscapes, promoting local economic development and tourism.
CircuLand by Kashanna Lovey Joash (BLA 4) tackled the significant cultural waste in Bali’s Medahan region, where daily offerings and ceremonies overwhelm local waste management. By exploring dual-purpose spaces and introducing sustainable landscapes, the project aimed to create a circular waste system to boost the local economy through tourism and enhance cultural values.
UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS FOR UNCONVENTIONAL SITES: AN EXPERIMENTAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DRIVEN OPTIONS STUDIO
LAD4002 Design 8 / LA4702 MLA Studio: Region
The open call for ideas for the Tanah Merah MRT Viaduct was modified using Adobe Photoshop’s AI Generative Fill function. Industries worldwide are grappling with AI’s impact, with creative fields particularly disrupted, raising concerns about their future. AI-generated images are winning photography awards, books are written by AI, and architects fear job loss. Landscape architecture is beginning to explore AI, viewing it as a tool rather than a threat. This experimental studio incorporated AI into design processes. The decommissioned Tanah Merah MRT viaduct, envisioned as a community space, served as a unique site for applying AI-driven design methods.
Tutor: Ervine Lin
Assorted Flavours by Chua Rui Yi (BLA 4) highlighted Singapore’s vibrant food culture as integral to its national identity, fostering community, stimulating economic activity, and enriching its cultural heritage. This project highlighted food’s role in social interaction, offering diverse dining experiences. By blending traditional and global cuisines, it promoted culinary exploration and shared heritage and positioned Singapore as a culinary destination.
Up and Down Playground by Cai Yihan (BLA 4) revitalised an abandoned viaduct into a dynamic public space along a 6km park connector network, addressing a lack of adult recreational facilities in nearby residential areas. With three distinct zones for climbing, adventure, and family activities, it fostered community gathering. AI tools enhanced the design process, promoting creativity and efficiency.
Park for Changi Depot Site by Guan
is located north of the Changi Depot, at the intersection of the viaducts. The purpose of this design is to create a different travel experience during the tiring and monotonous journey along the north street, hence the name Refuel Park. Through an elaborate use of stablediffusion, the project achieved locality generation, moving from a concept sketch to perspective rendering. Its unique AI-generation and design interactively deepened the advancement of landscape design.
Refuel
Jiayu (BLA 4)
REVIVE CITARUM RIVER!
LAD4002 Design 8 / LA4702 MLA Studio: Region
Citarum River in West Java, Indonesia, is one of the most polluted rivers in the world. The studio focused on the challenge of river rejuvenation for ecology and community use. Students conducted extensive site studies to investigate and explore landscape design solutions addressing infrastructure, pollution, flooding, and social and community well-being issues with an emphasis on ecological rehabilitation and regenerative design. Through field surveys, research, and workshops, students gained critical insights into the urban river context and the challenges of complex urban issues. By allowing them to engage with real-world problems and work in collaboration with the local university, the studio gave students a unique opportunity to have a tangible and positive impact on the environment.
Tutor: Anton Siura
Revival of the Current by Ching Wai Lum (BLA 4) featured urbanisation in Baleendah, Indonesia. Baleendah suffers from severely polluted waterways with industrial runoff and sewage, surpassing safe health limits. This contamination endangers aquatic ecosystems and community well-being. The Revival of the Current project aimed to regenerate the water system and the surrounding areas into a vibrant, ecologically rich district.
NEEDFUL THINGS LAD4002
Design 8 / LA4702 MLA Studio: Region
This speculative studio explored innovative methods of resource harvesting and urban living on Singapore’s very own Long Island. Students reimagined urban landscapes to address evolving needs and changing living conditions. They chose specific resources to harvest, such as nutrients or energy, and designed systems influencing urban life. Design pathways were customised by each student, starting with a precinct-level master plan and followed by detailed proposals and prototypes. Examples included skyrise harvesting of edible plants, solar energy on land, and crab harvesting along the coastline. The goal was to address sustainability and resource security while ensuring community liveability.
The Wandering Botanist by Mulder Sun Fengyu (BLA 4) envisioned landscape designs based on spice scent profiles and native habitats, creating resources for communities, small businesses, and visitors. Through Role Playing Game (RPG)-style tours, it fostered connections to local culture and biodiversity, transforming urban landscapes into sustainable social, economic, cultural, and ecological assets.
and
The Valley – Harvest Seawater by Zhu Yanchen (BLA 4) addressed Singapore’s freshwater scarcity by integrating passive desalination into Long Island’s coastal landscape. It combined solar distillation with sea walls to create ponds for water collection and flood management. The design was adapted to rising sea levels
imagined a modular solar still system to sustainably convert seawater into freshwater.
Prawntein by Nicole Ler (BLA 4) explored integrating prawn farming into daily life, engaging Singaporeans – who are among the largest seafood consumers globally – in the process. The design featured distinct zones for farming and processing, with prawn shells repurposed as fertiliser, thus promoting a circular system, reducing waste and enhancing food source awareness.
A NEW URBAN LANDMARK: A NEW IMAGINATION FOR THE CITY OF SEOUL
LA5701 Option 1
New Connectivity of Han River: A hub for human mobility and wildlife connectivity by Lin Cancan (MLA 2) reimagined Nodeul Island as a hub for human mobility and wildlife connectivity, by integrating high-speed air and water transport, and as a result, creating a walkable Han River and an ecological network. The proposal alleviated public transportation pressure, supporting seamless urban mobility while fostering a thriving ecosystem in Seoul.
Landmarks symbolise cities globally and are often featured in photos. However, creating landmarks involves navigating political, economic, social, and environmental challenges. Today, issues like wars, pandemics, climate change, and cultural shifts influence these processes. In the A New Urban Landmark studio, students conducted research on global landmarks and their urban relationships, focusing on Seoul. Students chose a location for a new landmark redefining the city. Their projects aimed to propose landmarks that would not only renew Seoul’s image but also address future urban issues, embedding solutions and messages for the city’s development within the landmark’s design.
Tutor: Jonghyun Baek
Seoul’s Green Renaissance: A vision for a natural breathing space within Seoul’s center by Alyssa Tee (MLA 2) looked closely into the site’s history, taking inspiration from its forested hill character, further accentuating a different aesthetic and function from its surroundings, termed the Urban Jungle. It aimed to bridge ecosystems, timelines, and the community, designing opportunities for vulnerable and minority communities to thrive, and to boost sociocultural value.
LAND, SEA, AND DISTURBANCE
LA5701 Option 2
A decade has passed since Super Typhoon Yolanda ravaged 70% of Tacloban City on Leyte Island in the Philippines. Situated in one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions, this research-based studio titled ‘Land, Sea, and Disturbance’ began by examining the recovery process from this catastrophic storm surge and the preparations by the government and locals for future risks. Students conducted group field surveys in three coastal municipalities, ranging from rural to urban, and their corresponding relocation sites. Insights from informal settlers to the mayor shaped their understanding for design proposals. Students critiqued the city’s build-back-better efforts and explored alternative strategies integrating landscape perspectives to address recurring disturbances, and as a result, to empower local communities.
Weaving Waterways by Jiang Jiaxin (MLA 2) focused on optimising local resources in Basey, Samar Island, to combat poverty. The project improved water management for floods and droughts by cultivating Tikog grass in rice paddies for Banig weaving (a local tradition). The project used GIS intensively for basin delineation, agricultural zoning, and flood resilience integration, aiming for economic growth and community resilience.
Integrated Water Management: Reshaping rivers for flood mitigation and coastal reclamation in Tacloban by Li Xinyi (MLA 2) proposed a water management strategy in Tacloban City centre, by modifying river channels and building reservoirs to reduce flood risks for those living along riverbanks. The project also looked at sediment management for sustainable reclamation in the bay to protect vulnerable communities from storm surges.
New Planning Principles for the Transformation of Agriculture by Wang Junyu (MLA 2) featured Palo’s agricultural areas, promoting climate-resilient agriculture prototypes. It aimed to reorganise farmlands, using flood risk and accessibility as indicators, and proposed a new agricultural operational model to enhance community resilience and bridge primary and secondary industries.
LANDSCAPE DENSITY
LA5701 Option 3
Ayur Commons – Botanical uprising against remittance trap by Guo Zhiyi (MLA 2) addressed the social and environmental challenges in a peri-urban city called Thrissur in Kerala, India, including emigration, remittance dependence, unemployment, and disease. Leveraging local herb cultivation and government plans, it proposed three land development “rituals” to transform the shoreline into a resilient, high-density community focused on traditional medicine and sustainability.
Tutor: Victoria Jane Marshall
Co-designing Generative Agriculture by Tang Yanqi (MLA 2) creatively addressed changes in peri-urban orchards near Bangkok, challenging inequitable land management practices that heighten vulnerability to land use conversion. The project aimed to redistribute power, encouraging farmers to adopt more profitable business models through generative agriculture, and to counteract existing tensions in land management.
Density is both a topographical problem of number and measurement and a problem of topological politics and space. In this Landscape Density studio, students explored how density is lived, experienced, and contested, and how alternative forms of compactness might emerge. Each student self-selected a one-kilometre square study area in peri-urban Monsoon Asia as their prompt for inquiry. The final projects addressed density through both locality-level spatial strategies and intimate physical spaces. They were also comprised of locality-led proposals for future urban-rural forms implemented incrementally. That is, landscape architecture students designed with existing and imagined landscape practices to transform land use, land cover, space, and power.
From Remnants to Resonance: Reimagine the future of coastal fishing villages by Ouyang Luoman (MLA 2) highlighted Japan’s 2023 nuclear wastewater discharge’s profound impact on its fishing industry. The project addressed Fukushima’s ecological and social fallout, envisioning coastal villages like Choshi transforming from remnants into resource-rich landscapes for all inhabitants.
Design
UTILISING HORTICULTURAL WASTE AS A SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR THE NUS CAMPUS
by Amber Yong
Singapore, known for its high horticultural standards, generates substantial horticultural waste due to frequent landscape maintenance. Current practices predominantly involve off-site compost processing without fully considering the specific characteristics of each waste type. Singaporeans are sceptical about bio-based recycling methods because of concerns about odours, noise, and other nuisances. This project sought to redefine waste as an opportunity for sustainability and innovation. Using scenario-based quantification, it aimed to develop alternative resource flows and waste management strategies towards a circular bio-based economy. The main thesis question explored the extent to which horticultural waste can be leveraged for maintenance, examining the
types and quantities of waste generated, their correlation with resource consumption, and the potential for landscape interventions to minimise carbon emissions while optimising resource usage. The study site was the National University of Singapore (NUS), where daily horticultural waste is collected and typically transported to companies through a linear waste flow. The project’s design goals included implementing physical changes on campus to establish effective waste management, enhancing ecological processes by understanding the benefits of recycling, and incorporating community engagement to foster ownership and participation. The proposed design plan focused on creating a decentralised system to ensure bio-based circularity at NUS.
Tutor: Yun Hye Hwang
JOURNEY INTO FUKUSHIMA: RE-IMAGINING HAZARDOUS NUCLEAR LANDSCAPE
by Chen Yanxin
The Fukushima nuclear disaster on March 11, 2011, had a profound impact on human society, and Japan’s announcement in 2023 that it planned to discharge treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean further fuelled a profound change in attitudes toward nuclear energy. This project reviewed the disaster and proposed innovative strategies for the future revitalisation of the Fukushima region. Through the lens of landscape design, it analysed the current situation in Fukushima, revealing the deep scars left by the disaster and the ongoing challenges in waste management and environmental issues. Based on the
principles of post-humanism and global cooperation, the project outlined a vision for Fukushima’s future, including bold landscape interventions tailored to different land use zones and the needs of both human and nonhuman entities. These interventions aimed to promote equality between humans and nonhumans, rethink approaches to nuclear waste management and the future of Fukushima, and establish a permanent storage solution for nuclear waste. Through careful planning and collaboration, the project reimagined a revitalised, post-humanist Fukushima as a model of sustainable development.
Tutor: Yukio Hasegawa
SUBVERSIVE LANDSCAPES IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTIONS IN CHINA’S HENAN PROVINCE
by Guo Zhiyi
Tutor: Evi Syarffudin
China’s infrastructure-driven economy is faltering, leading to a re-evaluation of the monumental constructions that have defined it. The project examined this narrative, observing how personal experiences and emotions are shaped by it and noting that as the logic falters, discrepancies arise between the promised, experienced, and envisioned realities. The disjunction between the grand national agenda and Guo Zhiyi’s nostalgic impressions of rural landscapes led her to investigate the inner workings of this “movie”. Utilising cinematographic methods, she uncovered narrative structures and editing strategies within the observed landscape, while simultaneously adjusting interpretations and reshaping perceptions. The project argued film is a multifaceted medium for both story-telling and design, and cinematic elements can be
deconstructed to understand landscape formation and evolution. The project’s focus was on Henan Hua County, known for its intensive road construction but facing population outflow and economic challenges, particularly along the AnLuo Expressway. The project revealed that when roads are viewed as ideology and the infrastructure economy as a cultural phenomenon, landscapes become tools for ideological liberation. In this case, social memory and ecological principles undermine the political and financial motivations behind the colossal constructions. The project’s design framework comprised natural climatic and ecological cycles, allowing the design to appear serendipitous and naturally occurring, thus subversively providing opportunities for community development and ecological cultivation.
SHAPES AND IS SHAPED BY: AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH FOR COASTAL REGENERATION BASED ON
THE INTERPLAY OF SANDY BEACH DYNAMICS AND SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS
by Wenjia Liu
Coastal regions worldwide are at the forefront of environmental challenges because of their vulnerability to climate change, rising sea levels, and the burgeoning demands of tourism. The phrase “shapes and is shaped by” points to the profound interdependence between an island’s geological background and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Human activities along the coastline intricately dictate the trajectory of an island’s future, forming a symbiotic relationship where tourists are drawn to natural attractions, offering economic benefits but posing environmental challenges. This requires sustainable development and
management strategies. This project addressed the urgent crisis of sandy beach dynamics in renowned island destinations in Southeast Asia, emphasising their profound socio-ecological repercussions. Focusing on six natural and artificial beaches, with an in-depth exploration of Semporna – a diving destination facing inundated islands due to coastal erosion – the study investigated coastal sand erosion, tourism dynamics, and sustainable development. The findings informed a sustainable development framework to optimise coastal development and achieve vested interest amongst urban planners, investors, and local communities.
INEQUITABLE GREEN SPACE PROVISION AND ITS IMPACT ON THERMAL COMFORT: A CASE
STUDY OF SINGAPORE’S RESIDENTIAL AREAS
by Ouyang Luoman
The research investigated the inequity in urban green space metrics across diverse socio-economic strata in residential areas of Singapore and explored its impact on thermal comfort (TC). Grounded in the realm of environmental justice, the study employed an imagebased approach and utilised landscape metrics (LM) and a digital twin model to quantify disparities in LM and their influence on thermal comfort. By adopting a microscopic scale to measure landscape inequalities and their relationship with thermal comfort from a human perspective, the study addressed existing gaps in the literature. Methodologically, it employed advanced
deep learning techniques, combined with landscape and built environment metrics, to conduct an imagebased assessment of LM. It conducted thermal comfort analysis using ENVI-met simulations, considering the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). The study has implications for creating more equitable and sustainable living environments in residential areas of Singapore. More generally, the research aimed to provide actionable insights for urban planning and design, bridging existing gaps in the literature and contributing to the understanding of the symbiotic relationship between urban design, environmental justice, and thermal comfort.
Tutor: Ervine Lin
DESERTIFICATION IN CHAOS: ATLAS AND LAND ART AND SLOW SCIENCE
EXPERIMENTS TO OPEN UP THE POLITICAL IMAGINARY
by Wang Junyu
Tutor: Maxime Decaudin
As a global problem, desertification causes land degradation and sandstorms, and these extensively affect people’s lives. Starting with China’s Three-North Shelterbelt Program policy, this thesis observed that in the face of large-scale ecological policies, a one-to-one causal relationship is not applicable, and many events often occur in chaos without completely clear facts. Some problems cannot be solved or explained by existing policy
frameworks and scientific understanding. We should be aware of the limits of existing policy imagination. To open the imagination and promote the effective process of combating desertification by increasing the participation of local people, the project design included three different types of methodology: non-spatial means – an atlas; an online method – a star map; two spatial methods – land art and slow science experiments.
FLOATING OASIS: A MARINE LANDSCAPE
DESIGN TO ENHANCE HEALTH AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE NEOPELAGIC COMMUNITY
by Wu Yueyang
Tutor: Kenya Endo
This design thesis proposed solutions to the emerging ecological challenges posed by the North Pacific Garbage Patch and its impacts on marine communities. The project explored the concept of a floating oasis, a hybrid habitat and research laboratory designed to provide refuge and scientific insight into this unique marine ecosystem. The floating oasis was designed to reduce the negative
impacts of marine pollution on pelagic communities, while also facilitating scientific research to better understand its ecological role and potential contribution to marine ecosystems. By integrating principles of technology, social responsibility and ecological sustainability, this design provided a holistic approach to environmental protection and scientific research.
IMPACT OF GREENERY COMPOSITION AND CONFIGURATION ON OUTDOOR THERMAL ENVIRONMENT
by Zhang Ziyuan
Tutor: Chun Liang Tan
Greenery positively impacts outdoor thermal environments in high-density cities, yet studies often overlook the vegetation hierarchy within greenspaces. This research project conducted field surveys to obtain detailed stratified vegetation data from 15 test sites at the National University of Singapore (NUS). These data were used to calculate indicators describing plant composition and configuration. Correlation analyses between these metrics and air temperature data explored the effects of different plant compositions and configurations on cooling. The study found canopy vegetation, including large and small trees, plays a decisive role in cooling, with canopy cover and density significantly negatively correlated with
maximum air temperature. Understory vegetation, such as ground cover, shrubs, and lawns, affects air temperature based on species habits. Shade-tolerant understory vegetation positively impacts cooling, while sun-loving understory vegetation can increase temperatures. The research suggests creating dense shade patches and planting multiple layers of shade-tolerant vegetation are key to maximising the cooling function of green spaces. Unshaded greenery with only low vegetation has little cooling effect during the day and may even raise temperatures. The findings have implications for evaluating existing greenery at NUS and for future urban greenery landscaping strategies.
Credits & Teaching Team
AY 23/24 STUDENTS
BLA 1 Design 1
Yun Hye Hwang (Coordinator)
Ashley Sun
Bronwyn Tan
BLA 1 Design 2
Maxime Decaudin (Coordinator)
Lehana Guo
Ruen Qing Wong
Faiz Zohri
BLA Year 1 Students
Sumaiya Azad, Dian Firzanah Binte Mohammad Azlan, Trenyce
Maydalene Chee Shi Jia, Calyn Chia Xin Mei, Clara Choo Wei Ling, Van Trang Dang, Yukun Dong, Felicia Poh Shi Han, Jonald Khaw Chee Hong, Emily Jing Jiaxin, Danea Binte Mohamad Khalid, Zhi Luo Khoo, Charie Ka Yi Kwok, Huei Min Lee, Lu Yi Lee, Junyoung Lim, Xin Yi Lim, Xavier Xuan Ling, Arya Muthukumar, Nur Nadzirah Binte Mohamed Nizam, Jun Hao Ng, Qin Hui Ong, Seh Ting Soh, Joey Jiayi Tan, Jasmine Eng Hee Teng, Melissa Ruth Tang Hui Xian, Faith Gan Yufei, Wang Lu,Ian Hiedie Zuraimi
BLA 3 Design 5
Ervine Lin (Coordinator)
Lehana Guo
Quentin Sim
BLA 3 Design 6
Victoria Marshall (Coordinator)
Agnes Soh
Henry Steed
BLA Year 3 Students
Lebelle Merci Abbeyquaye, Simon Seah Chee Ann, Yu Wei Chang, Benedict Chern Jie Wen, Winnie Chia, Winston
Choi Yung Zhen, Qian Yu Ho, Cleon Lai Yi Hui, Izwan Shah
Bin Mohamed Ismail, Sofeah Insyirah Binte Ahmad Jamal,
Nadia Kuan Shiqi, Sherly Lee Wen Qi, Krystle Lim Si Ying, Mariam Yusuf Rajkotwala, Nur Neesha Shafeera Binte Selamatshahh, Radhakrishnan Srivarshini, Altoaimi Lina
Walid S, Kaena Sutanu, Peiqiang Sun, Yijia Tan, Jing Ying Tay, Kai Liang Teo, Sean Ho Tiong Teng, Abdul Tha’Qif Bin
Abdul Terawis, Vince Toh Cheng Choon, Yuting Wang, Wayne
Tan Pei Wee, Clarissa Ke Li Wen, Deston Seah Yun Zhang
BLA 4 Design 7
Dorothy Tang (Coordinator)
Benard Ng
Mayura Patil
Evi Syarifuddin
Janice Tung
Melissa Yip
BLA 4 / MLA 1 Option Studio
Max Hirsh
Yun Hye Hwang
Ervine Lin
Anton Siura
Chun Liang Tan
BLA Year 4 Students
Kevin Ang Tian Sheng, Jiajin Cai, Wai Lum Ching, Cherise
Chng Cheng Hwee, Qi Fang Chow, Rhueyviianne Chua Rui Yi, Sandy Foo Yock Li, Abdul Latiff Bin Hamzah, Kashanna
Lovey Joash, Kristen Khoo Jun Yi, Josephine Kwan Shu Jun, Woei Qing Lai, Nicole Ler Min Rui, Dexter Lim Yau, Jia Yin Lin, Jeffery Lok Yong Quan, Nuramirah Binte Mohd Nor, Kangqi Peng, Mohammad Amirul Bin Abdul Rahman, Judith Tay
Xue Ying, Shu Zie Tee, Julia Tong Wai Shan, Huajun Wang, Anderson Wong Kui Lok, Xi Yi Yap, Zhen Hao Yeo, Yijie Zhang
Sizhe Chen, Yanxin Chen, Yuxin Chen, Zhiyi Guo, Xinrui He, Jiaxin Jiang, Magan Lam Wan Kay, Xinyi Li, Cancan Lin, Runhan Liu, Siwen Liu, Wenjia Liu, Xuan Liu, Siyu Long, Luoman Ouyang, Verma Medha, Yanqi Tang, Alyssa Julianne Tee Xin Yun, Yi Shi, Virginia, Junyu Wang, Yujia Wang, Yueyang Wu, Jin Xin, Yikai Yang, Amber Yong Ling, Yu Zhang, Ziyuan Zhang, Perry Zou Lipeng, Xiaoqian Zou
TEACHING TEAM
Full Time Faculty
Dr. Maxime Cedric Decaudin, Senior Lecturer
Kenya Endo, Lecturer
Yun Hye Hwang, Associate Professor
Dr. Ervine Lin, Senior Lecturer
Dr. Victoria Jane Marshall, Senior Lecturer, MLA Programme Director
Dr. Chun Liang Tan, Senior Lecturer, BLA Programme Director
Dr. Puay Yok Tan, Professor
Dr. Dorothy Tang, Assistant Professor
Adjunct and Visiting Faculty
Jong-Hyun Baek, Visiting Fellow
Dr. Max Hirsh, Visiting Fellow
Dr. Mark McDonnell, Visiting Associate Professor
Henry Steed, Adjunct Associate Professor
Teaching Consultant
Dr. Shawn Lum
Part-Time Studio Tutors & Instructors
Varit Charoenveingvechkit
Lehana Guo
Yukio Hasegawa
Jiann Bin Koh
Victor Kuan
Alfred Lee
Huei Lyn Liu
Bernard Ng
Mayura Patil
Quentin Sim
Dr. Russell Smith
Dr. Xiao Ping Song
Agnes Soh
Anton Siura
Evi Syarifuddin
Ashley Sun
Bronwyn Tan
Ronnie Tan
Yit Chuan Tan
Janice Tung
Ruen Qing Wong
Abraham Wu
Melissa Yip
Faiz Zohri
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The publisher does not warrant or assume any legal responsibility for the publication’s contents. All opinions expressed in the book are of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the National University of Singapore.
