NUS LANDSCAPE : Re-Imaging Sungei Pandan Landscape

RE-IMAGING SUNGEI PANDAN LANDSCAPE

Landscape architectural approaches to revitalize coastal habitats in a high-dense tropical city

NUS School of Design and Environment | Department of Architecture

LA4701 MLA Studio: Quarter, 14 Aug - 20 Nov 2017

| Fan Lei Helen | Gao Chen Chen | Kong Lingchang | Kuan Wai Tuck Victor | Lam Si Yun Swan

Liu Xiaolei | Nur Azilla Bte Nazli | Wang Hanfeng | Wang Zhe | Xu Linxin | Xu Yuexin

Yao Haomu | Yong Keng-Whye, Raymond

Tutor: Hwang Yun Hye | Melissa Yip Sui Ling

Published by CASA Centre of Advanced Studies in Architecture

Department of Architecture

School of Design and Environment

National University of Singapore

4 Architecture Drive

Singapore 117566

Tel: +65 65163452

Fax: +65 67793078

Copyright © 2018 Hwang Yun Hye (ed.)

ISBN: 978-981-11-6460-6

RE-IMAGING SUNGEI PANDAN LANDSCAPE

Landscape architectural approaches to revitalize coastal habitats in a high-dense tropical city

NUS School of Design and Environment | Department of Architecture

LA4701 MLA Studio: Quarter, 14 Aug - 20 Nov 2017

| Fan Lei Helen | Gao Chen Chen | Kong Lingchang | Kuan Wai Tuck Victor | Lam Si Yun Swan

Liu Xiaolei | Nur Azilla Bte Nazli | Wang Hanfeng | Wang Zhe | Xu Linxin | Xu Yuexin

Yao Haomu | Yong Keng-Whye, Raymond

Tutor: Hwang Yun Hye | Melissa Yip Sui Ling

RE-IMAGING SUNGEI PANDAN LANDSCAPE

Landscape architectural approaches to revitalize coastal habitats in a high-dense tropical city

Hwang Yun Hye

LOSS OF COASTAL HABITAT OF SINGAPORE

Situated in the tropics, one-and-a-half degrees north of the equator, Singapore is an island nation located in one of the most species-rich regions in the world. The land was originally covered by primary rainforests, mangroves and freshwater forests, harbouring thousands of floral and faunal species in a complex tropical ecosystem (H. T. Tan, Chou, Yeo, & Ng, 2007). In the mangrove forest alone, 56 of 70 of the world’s mangrove species could be found in Singapore, the most numerous in Southeast Asia (Yang, Lim, Sheue, & Yong, 2011). However, the clearing of land for settlements, starting from the late 1800s and continuing into post-war urbanization in the 1960s, have resulted in widespread deforestation, leaving less than 5% of the original habitats intact (Ng, Corlett, & Tan, 2011). Over the years, these local habitats are projected to further decreased and deteriorated as they become increasingly fragmented due to urban growth (Brook, Sodhi, & Ng, 2003; Corlett, 1992). Almost all of Singapore’s shorelines have been drastically modified to meet industrial, residential, water resource and recreational demands. Most of the natural sandy shores and river mouths on intertidal shores have been reclaimed, losing 65% of original coral reefs and decreasing mangrove forests coverage from 13% of the total land area in the 1820’s to 0.5% in 2011 (Yee, Ang, Teo, Liew, & Tan, 2010). These massive changes and fragmentation of the coastal ecosystem disrupts aquatic ecosystem processes, and decreases water quality (Friess, 2016a). According to the 2008 Master Plan and 2011 Concept Plan, however land development in Singapore continues unabated and planned land reclamation will result in additional losses of 33% of the existing mangrove area. It is apparent that many of eth natural coastal habitat face to shrinking area, increasing fragmentation, and encroaching by urban expansions (Lai, Loke, Hilton, Bouma, & Todd, 2015). This occurs in the context of climate change, which brings about mounting environmental pressures such as sea level rise, altered hydrological regimes and sediment supply (Burkett, 2012).

However, this does not mean that all coastal habitats are dead or we should stop the land development. As calls for conservation are often seen as impractical in the economically-driven state, alternative landscape architectural approaches are needed to address the social and ecological consequences of rapid development. It is unhelpful to see economic development and environmental conservation in a zero-sum game, where a clear winner or loser emerges in any contestation over a land lot slated for development. Instead, we look to find means of reconciling these objectives that are currently framed in opposition to each other and develop design strategies that could address both economic and environmental concerns.

SUNGEI PANDAN

While existing mangrove forests are mainly located along the northern coast, originally the southwest shore had the largest mangrove forested areas in the main land of Singapore. Sungei Pandan is a remnant mangrove forest located along the stretch of Pandan river. It lies between the Pandan Tidal Gates and the Sungei Pandan Bridge. Of the original 219 hectare mangrove forest, only 9ha remain, in the form of an isolated strip within the industrial business zone in the Jurong district. The river has been dammed to form the Pandan reservoir with conventional engineering treatments that disrupts flow and separates the stream into two parts with distinct characteristics. The upper reaches of the river has been canalised with cemented banks and beds – it runs to the PIE and branches out to Sungei Ulu pandan at AYE. Across the PIE, with a continuation of Ulu Pandan Park Connector to Bukit Batok Nature Park, Sungei Pandan provides opportunities for nature walks and birdwatching. The lower part of the river still opens out to the sea, remains relatively natural ecosystem with stands of various mangroves including rare Apiapi Jambu, and became a home of avian residents of the watery forest and other mangrove fauna species. Besides a rich diversity of flora and fauna, the Sungei Pandan provided livelihood opportunities for a village of 135 human inhabitants many of whom was fishermen or prawn farmers before the area has been cleared in 1960’s. Sporadic informal fishing and bird watchers can still be spotted along the riverside, offering a vestige of the old kampong life that once thrived in the area.

Although this remnant of mangrove forest has been designated as a ‘protected’ park space by URA plan 2014, the coastal habitats in Sungei Pandan has a high risk of extinction due to the relatively small size of the mangrove forest and development pressures by highly urbanized neighboring contexts. The forest lined much of the canalized banks of the Pandan and Jurong rivers being surrounded by factories (Jurong industrial zone), heavily used ports (Jurong port), and managed park land styled urban greenery (West Coast park). Like recent port development cases of Singapore, it has also a strong possibility to transform the port land into mixed urban development in the nearer future as similar as other cases of coastal redevelopment (Wong, 2006).

The Sungei Pandan was selected as a ‘landing’ site and serves as a point of reference for all design activities – sites selected were inspired by findings from the coastal landscape and its surrounding context. Students chose his/her own design boundary along Sungei Pandan or in its immediate periphery, based on problem statements and topics arising during the research period, aided by the various design exercises and input sessions.

RE-IMAGING SUNGEI PANDAN LANDSCAPE

How can we effectively conserve the existing coastal habitats while meeting the increasing human development demands? Given the future development requirement and sea level rise, how could initial infrastructure planning be guided towards a sustainable coastal ecosystem and the diversity of wildlife? Beyond simply preserving the site, can landscape

landscape architects propose design prototypes that can infuse greater ecological functions and diversity into the urban coastal context? How can design promote a healthier lifestyle that closer to nature for city dwellers? The studio aimed to answer these questions by devising new strategies and design applications of ecological principles, predicated on deep awareness of the multi-faceted nature of our city landscape and the intricate feedbacks between social and ecological factors in the city.

The studio highlighted the value of natural resources and ecological services, and propose ways to integrate them into our urban environments. We capitalized on the academic nature of the studio to develop ideas and schemes free of restrictions commonly faced in the practice, and beyond any constraints of political correctness. Multiple issues such as identity, multi-functionality, and livability have been examined.

THIS BOOK is a compilation of works from the studio. The first half of the book documents the sequential studio process from the beginning of preliminary research, site analysis and prototyping. The fourteen-week logbook is a useful demonstration of how initial activities and resources can be transformed into viable design proposals. The studio started off with site analysis as group work, giving rise to backgrounds of and motivation for subsequent design topics. Four approaches are emphasized from the studio: 1) developing a strong awareness of site specificity; 2) deepening our understanding of urban ecology; 3) producing a wide ranging spectrum across scales; and 4) encompassing various functional layers. Lastly, the reflections address all that we have come away with from every single experience we had during the entire studio process.

Reference Brook, B. W., Sodhi, N. S., & Ng, P. K. (2003). Catastrophic extinctions follow deforestation in Singapore. Nature, 424(6947), 420-426.

Burkett, V. (2012). Coastal Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerabilities: Springer.

Corlett, R. T. (1992). The ecological transformation of Singapore, 1819-1990. Journal of biogeography, 411-420. **Friess, D. A. (2016a). Ecosystem Services and Disservices of Mangrove Forests: Insights from Historical Colonial Observations. Forests, 7(9), 183.

Friess, D. A. (2016b). Mangrove forests. Current Biology, 26(16), R746-R748.

Mark, J. M., & Dave, K. (2015). The Ecology of Urban Forests Routledge Handbook of Forest Ecology: Routledge. Ng, P. K., Corlett, R., & Tan, H. T. (2011). Singapore biodiversity: an encyclopedia of the natural environment and sustainable development: Editions Didier Millet.

Tan, H. T., Chou, L., Yeo, D., & Ng, P. (2007). The natural heritage of Singapore. Pearson Prentice Hall. Wong, T.-C. (2006). Revitalising Singapore’s Central City through Gentrification: The Role of Waterfront Housing. Urban Policy and Research, 24(2), 181-199.

Yang, S., Lim, R. L., Sheue, C.-R., & Yong, J. W. (2011). The current status of mangrove forests in Singapore. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the Nature Society, Singapore’s Conference on ‘Nature Conservation for a Sustainable Singapore.

Yee, A., Ang, W., Teo, S., Liew, S., & Tan, H. (2010). The present extent of mangrove forests in Singapore. Nature in Singapore, 3, 139-145.

Our studio begun with a studio orientation by studio tutors, Ms. Hwang Yun Hye & Ms Melissa Yap. The students were assigned a couple of exercises to be completed throughout the course of the semester.

The first seminar was conducted by Dr Tan Puay Yok, Associate Professor of NUS Department of Architecture on Urban Greenery in Singapore. He explained the landscape planning policies and legal framework drafted out by the dedicated institutions in Singapore.

He left the students a little brainstorming question, whether do they think Singapore is really Ecologically Green?

14 Aug Studio Orientation & Seminar 1

15 Aug Visit to URA

The studio visited URA and they were given a talk conducted by Ms Celine Tan, Executive Planner (East) & Ms Kitty Khoo, Executive Planner (Central West) has has kindly agreed to give a talk on the broad strategies for the Great Southern Waterfront, Singapore. The students understood the Coastal Development strategies for the Great Southern Waterfront in Singapore. In addition to the 5 main ideas URA had proposed.

Idea 1, Housing, Mixed-Use, Entertainment & Leisure _ Idea 2, Expanding Network of Public Space _ Idea 3, Capitalising the Blue Assests _ Idea 4 _ Continous Waterfront _ Idea 5 _ Connect Green & Open Space

It was a well- planned and orientated focused seminar and field trip as it focuses on a specific topic which is, Singapore Mangroves. First half of the day, a seminar on "Singapore Mangroves" was conducted by Mr Dan Friess, Assistant Professor of NUS Department of Geography. He shares with Singapore Mangroves conditions & habitats. He also emphasized the importance of Mangroves.

The session was followed by Ms Chih Min Boo, an Ecologist, whom conducted a field trip to Pasir Ris Mangrove Park where she discusses about The Past & Present Coastal Landscape in Singapore. They venture dthrough broadwalks to understand the different habitats of Mangroves & using the knowledge they had with Mr Dan Friess earlier of the day and tried to applied on site

21 Aug Seminar 3 with Mr Dan Friess & Field Trip 1 to Pasir Ris Mangrove Park with Ms Chih Min Boo

23 Aug Field Trip 2 to Sungei Pandan (Site) to Kayak with Kayakasia Singapore

2 guests was invited to join them on their site visit, namely, Dr Tan Puay Yok, Associate Professor of NUS Department of Architecture Dr Shawn Lam, Tropical Rainforest Ecologist, President of the Nature Society Singapore

They were taught basic kayaking tips and instructions in order to stay focused and vigilant while kayaking down Pandan River to explore Sungei Pandan. This activity gave them a larger persepctive on how to view its' site surrounding conditions and keeping in mind what are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and constraints.

The second half of day was led by Dr Shawn Lam. He conducted a short walk through the Mangroves in West Coast Park to better share with them the current Coastal Landscape within the site boundary.

The session begun with Ms Lynette Loke, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Biological Sciences, NUS, who gave us an overview of Ecologically Engineering Singapore's Seawalls.

The session was followed by Mr Ryan Micheal Shubin, Landscape Architect from Ramboll Studio Dreiseitl, who provided the students with a seminar on designing with Bio-Engineering, as well as the design developments of Bishan Park.

The seminar was followed by Exercise 1 and pin-ups of Exercise 2 whereby students share their site studies and research in their respective groups

28 Aug Seminar 5 & 6 by Ms Lynette Loke, NUS Biology and Mr Ryan Michael Shubin, RSD & Exercise 1 Presentation & Exercise 2 Pin-ups

2 guest reviewers were invited for Exercise 2 Presentation & individual Issues & Site Analysis Pin up, namely, Dr Jessica Cook, Associate Professor of NUS Department of Architecture Mr Andrew Toland, Lecturer, School of Architecture, University of Technology Sydney

Students shared updated and improved verson of Exercise 2, where 2 guest reviewers also gave them constructive feedbacks where they could work on, to improve their research and site studies skills.

4 Sep Exercise 2 Presentation & Individual Issues & Site Analysis Pin up with Mr Andrew Toland & Dr Jessica Cook

31 Aug Field Trip 3 to Labrador Park with Dr Shawn K.Y. Lum

The studio needed an extra field trip to learn and understand more about the habitats and species of coastal forest in Singapore which would be beneficial for their individual design ideas.

Dr Shawn Lum,Tropical Rainforest Ecologist, President of the Nature Society, took time off his busy schedule to conduct a field trip to Labrador Park where he patiently explained and discussed the different species of flora which could be found along the Coastal Forest

11 Sep Site Analysis & Issues Presentation

Students were required to propose their issue statement and also look for suitable approaches to reslove them Students presented their detailed Site Analysis & Issue statement across the studio, where they gave feedbacks and suggestion to each other

The session begun with Ms Melissa Yap, where she discusses about case studies in Singapore's future residential estate developments. Where it dealth with waterfronts, park connectors and broadwalks. Bringing people closer to the waterfront / river.

The seminar was followed by a briefing, regarding what students should work on and what they should present for their Mid Review.

18 Sep Seminar 7 by Ms Melissa Yap & Synthesis & Preparation for Mid Review

25 Sep Mid Review

3 guest reviewers were invited for the mid review session, namely, Dr Tan Puay Yok, Associate Professor of NUS Department of Architecture Dr Mark McDonnell, Associate Professor of NUS Department of Architecture Mr Kenya Endo, Landscape Architect of Ramboll Studio Dreiseitl

The reviewers gave the students a myriad of advice and offered design suggestions regarding their individual research and site issues and how the students could possibly progress towards design in their final review

Students returned back to their site in order to retrieve detailed findings and observations to back up their studies and research

They did models to showcase the site's surrounding context for better understanding and visualization during consultation. Sketches of different schemes were important to showcase design development

2 Oct Studio Consult 1

9 Oct Studio Consult 2

During this period, the students focused on the development of their design strategies, making them more realistic and specific to their sites.

Students might have returned to their targeted site to confirm feasibility of their design proposal with studio tutor.

More intensive studio sessions were needed to further refine individual works.

16 Oct Internal Review with Ms Liu Huei Lyn & Mr Shawn Lum

3 guest reviewers were invited for the final review session, namely, Dr Tan Puay Yok, Associate Professor of NUS Department of Architecture, Dr Jessica Cook, Associate Professor of NUS Department of Architecture, and Ms Liu Huei Lyn, Senior Landscape Architect Public Utilities Board (PUB), Singapore,

The reviewers gave the students a myriad of advice and offered design suggestions regarding their individual research and site issues and how the students could possibly progress towards design in their next semester.

20 Nov Final Review & Reflections

- 13 Nov Studio Consultation towards Final Design

2 guests was invited to join them on their studio consultation, namely, Dr Shawn Lam, Tropical Rainforest Ecologist, President of the Nature Society Singapore Ms Liu Huei Lyn, Senior Landscape Architect, Public Utilities Board (PUB), Singapore

The students presented their design development and the session concluded on a favourable note whereby they gave advice crucial to the progress of their projects for their final review

PRELIMINARY RESEARCH

HISTORY OF JURONG DISTRICT 1930s-1980s

HISTORY OF JURONG DISTRICT

The Sungei Pandan mangroves, found along the stretch of river that lies between the Pandan Tidal Gates and the Sungei Pandan Bridge, is perhaps the last remnants of the lush mangrove forest that had once lined much of the banks of the Pandan and Jurong Rivers that had been offered protection as the Pandan Forest Reserve.

Before 1961, Jurong was a tangle of mangrove swamps, jungle, farms and small kampongs. Like many other parts of Singapore at that time, it was still a vast wilderness of jungle and wasteland with no metalled roads.

Source: National Archives of Singapore (http://www.nas.gov.sg/)

HISTORY OF JURONG DISTRICT

HISTORICAL TIMELINE

Research and study would primarily focus how on Human Intervention and Nature in regards to the past and present users activities, lifestyle, culture, stories, memories. A study on how Sungei Pandan and it’s neighbouring districts such as Jurong and Pasir Panjang has evolved and shifted over time

Human Interventions

The act of constructing infrastructures, roads, buildings where it allow people to live, meet, work & play.

Nature

The natural environment, such as waterbodies, vegetation, forest and mangroves which plays a part in provisioning ecosystem services.

A) Kampong Pulau Damar Darat / 1945 – 1963 / 50 People

B) Kampong Tanjong Balai / 1945 – 196340 People, which today sits Jurong Port

C) Kampong Java / 1945 - 1945

D) Kampong Java Tebar / 1945 - 1974

E) Kampong Tanjong Penjuru / 1863 – 1987This kampong was located between the coast at Tanjong Penjuru and the Jurong forest reserve and its multitude of tributaries and streams / 200 People, a mixture of Chinese (Prawn Farmers) & Malay (Fishermans)

F) Kampong Sungei Pandan / 1911 - 1974

G) Pasir Panjang Village / 1913 - 1914

H) Kampong Terbing Terjun / 1945 – 1974The name of this kampong hints at a fascinating origin story. In Malay, the phrase tebing terjun refers to a dive off a cliff. To add to the intrigue, the kampong was sited right by a tributary of the Sungei Jurongwith the macabre name of Sungei China Mati (Dead Chinese River)

I) Kampong Sungei Jurong / 1969 – 1974Sandwiched in between the Chithamparam Chettiar Estate and the Arunachalam Chettiar Estate, this kampong was on the 11th milestone of Jurong Road.

J) Kampong Ulu Jurong / 1944 - 1974

Location of Villages in Jurong District

HISTORICAL TIMELINE

Changes of LandsCape and Landuse

HISTORICAL TIMELINE

1800s

1819

Orang Lauts settle into Kampongs (K.S.Pandan / K. Penjurur / Tanjong Kling / K.Damar.Duat) Kampongs were pirate hideouts

Mangroves, maze of islands and rivers used as escape routes for pirates

1820

Population grew exponentially

1826

Republic of Singapore Yacht Club –recreational & social club in Singapore

1830

Gambier Plantation was Booming

1840

600 Gambier plantations across the island –6000 Chinese labourers

1841

Pasir Panjang Road was built

1848

Sungei Jurong was described as “a large creek divided at the top 2 branches, East (Chinese Jurong) & West (Peng Kang) Sungei Pandan was described as “a large creek with Chinese & Malays at the head) Could see, large open boats, “pukats” (35pax per boat), transport goods such as, gambier/ pepper/agricultural products along the coastal & riverine towns to markets or port towns

1850

Pasir Panjang Road reached as far till Jurong River

1855

Plantations in Jurong was listed for clearing (600,000 Gambier/67,000 Pepper Vines/1700 Nutmeg)

Number of workers working in these 4 plantations were less than 300

5 plantations in Sungei Pandan

3 plantations in Sungei Jurong

20 plantations in Peng Kang

14 plantations in Pulau Damar Duat

1856

Lithograph of Jurong

1877

Introduction of Rubber

1880

Tuas Village was found

1884

Forestry Registration was set up to safeguard remaining forest

1900s

1900

Jurong was a successful crop in Singapore Carp & prawn farmers carried out aquaculture

A worldwide demand for rubber due to automobile industry

1904

A raid broke out, currency counterfeiting operation deep in the jungles of Jurong

1908

Pasir Panjang was regarded as a rural area

1920

Singapore was rubber capital of the world

Fresh pork was available at markets

Pasir Panjang wealth Chinese business man build seaside homes & bungalows along the coastline

1930

No roads, lack of roads & bus services

Pasir Panjang was known as “millionaire rows”

1936

Remaining Forest Reserve in Jurong was Pandan Reserve

Tanjong Balai was one of the most beautiful isolated seaside bungalows in Singapore

1940

2000 Chinese & Malay fisherman in Jurong

1942

Crop plantation in Jurong was destroy during Japanese Occupation

1950

There was 1000 acres of Prawn Ponds in Singapore, half of it was in Jurong

1956

190 hectares of Industrial Town was proposed

1959

Lack of jobs for growing population, a problem of economic & social dimensions /20,000 people were jobless

1960

Jurong known as a “no mans’ island / Redevelopment of Jurong New Town

1961

Clearance of swampland, forested hills, prawn ponds and farmers plantation in Jurong

1964

National Iron & Steel Mills (Natseteel) started, 90 workers

Taman Jurong was developed

1965

Jurong Port began operations

1966

Mouth of the Sungei Pandan having hosted the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club (RYSC)

1967

Industrial Sector was set up, 5000 new jobs annually, however not sufficient to solve nation employment issues

1968

Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) was established

1969

270 factories were set up in Jurong, 20,000 workers

1970

Agriculture character of Jurong was gone

1974

Padan Reservoir was built by enclosing swamp of Sungei Pandan with 6.2km earthen dyke

1979

Accomplished West Coast Park, 50 hectares

1992

Singapore 1st Business Park, International Business Park

1998

National Parks Board called for redevelopment of West Coast Park

1999

Republic of Singapore Yacht Club (RYSC) shifted to West Coast Ferry Road

2000s

2000

Public Housing started

Started of Phase 1 West Coast Park revitalized & improvement infrastructure

2006

5-years Masterplan, to upgrade Jurong was revealed. Expanding playgrounds, improving fitness corners, ramps, covered walkways, rewiring & communal gardens

2008

URA unveiled extensive plans to improve quality life in Jurong

2010

Jurong Island Version 2.0 was launched

The Sungei Pandan project was officially launched in terms of the planting activity, Southwest Community Development Council (SWCDC) One Million Tree Planting Programme

2014

JTC unveiled 1st underground storage facility liquid hydrocarbons in Southeast Asia on Jurong Island

2030

Great Southern Waterfront, 1000 hectares

TABULATIONS OF COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS

CIRCULATION & BARRIER

Studying the circulation in the industrial district in terms of vehicular and pedestrian. Analysing the proximity to green spaces.

There are no access for users to transit across the plot of factory due to security reasons. Barriers suchs as fences, parapet wall, steel gates, wall are implemented to avoid trespassing.

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

Creating spaces of migrant workers to relax, slow down, pause, catch a breathe to re-energise themselves in order to work efficiently and effectively

The barriers varies in terms of visual and physical permeability.

Typical Barrier within two buildings Opaque

WATER CATCHMENTS ANALYSIS

CANAL DISCHARGING CAPACITY

WATERFLOW CONDUCTIVITY

Saltwater average salinity: 0~35 parts per thousand(ppt)

Saltwater average conductivity: 0~40 millisiemens(ms)

Freshwater average salinity: <1-2 parts per thousand(ppt)

Freshwater average conductivity: <1-2 millisiemens(ms)

Measure time: 4-5pm

RAINFALL & FLOODING

SEA LEVEL RISE

SEA LEVEL RISE SECTION OF AFFECTED AREA

Sea level rise reduces the capacity of the soil to absorb rainfall by raising the watertable. This results in increased runoff, which increases and the amount of surface flooding that occur during a rainfall event.

INDUSTRIAL TYPOLOGY

Studying 6 types of basic industrial typology in the industrial distritct, in terms of guard houses, building plot, orientation, vehicular and pedestrian circulation, storage spaces, green spaces and parking lots

FUNCTIONS OF INDUSTRIAL SPACES

FAUNA MAP

FAUNA HABITATS

High Flying Birds

Brahimy kite

Little egret

Grey Heron

House swift

Oriental Hornbill

Straited heron

Low Flying BIrds

Common kingfisher

Black-naped oriole

Pacific swallow

Asian glossy starling

Ashy tailorbird

Small minivet

Greater rackettailed drongo

Common emerald dove

Yellow-vented bulbul

White-breasted waterhen

Long tail parakeet

Yellow-breasted sunbird

Oriental magpie-robin

Land Animals

Smooth-coated otter

Plantain squirrel

Long-tailed macaque

Sea Animals

Malayan water monitor

Crab eating frog

Orange fiddle

Mangrove tree-dwelling

crab

Singapore vinegar crab

Mudskippers

Mangrove flathead

gudgeon

Mangrove cardinal

Seabass

Shore pit viper

Canal

Areca catechu 20m

Foliage suitable favourable for nesting. Commonly found by the road

Elaeis guineensis (Oil palm) 20m

Insect polinated. Usually planted along roadside and parks.

Cocus nucifera (Coconut tree)

30m

High Flying Birds

Brahimy kite

Little egret

Grey Heron

House swift

Oriental Hornbill

Food source for pollinators. Commonly found by the roadside and coastal area

Casuarina equisetifolia 30-40m

Fruits are eaten by some but mostly a nesting tree for soaring birds. Found coastal and land

Rhizophora sp (Bakau) 15m

Exposed roots are used for perching for numerous animals.

Bruguiera cylindrica

20m

Straited heron

Low Flying BIrds

Common kingfisher

Black-naped oriole

Pacific swallow

Asian glossy starling

Flowers are insect-pollinated. Food source for butterflies and moths. Nesting for fauna.

Ficus microcarpa 30m

Insect pollinated. Bird attracting. Its fruit is eaten by birds, monkey, squirrel.

Fragrea fragrans (Tembusu) 30-55m

Bird attracting. Fruits & seeds are dispersed by bats and birds.Heritage tree.

Alstonia angustiloba (Pulai tree)

40m

Ashy tailorbird

Small minivet

Greater rackettailed drongo

Common emerald dove

Yellow-vented bulbul

White-breasted waterhen

Long tail parakeet

Pagola shaped crown is favorable for roosting and nesting. Heritage tree.

Mangifera indica (Mango tree) 30-35m

Bird attracting plant. Food source for caterpillars.

Musa cultivar (Banana tree) 20m

Ornamental foliage. Fruit attracts animals. Commonly planted in private gardens.

Dillenia suffruticosa (Simpoh ayer)

2-10m

Native tree commonly found by the roadside. Bird attracting.

Macarang bancana 23m

Ants inhabits its hollow twigs. Fruit attracts animals. Nesting for some.

Terminalia catapa (Sea almond)

35m

Yellow-breasted sunbird

Oriental magpie-robin

Land Animals

Smooth-coated otter

Plantain squirrel

Long-tailed macaque

Sea Animals

Malayan water monitor

Crab eating frog

Orange fiddle

Mangrove tree-dwelling crab

Ornamental foliage. Attracts birds, monkey and bats.

Pithcellobium dulce

25-30m

Ornamental foliage. Foliage offers refuge for animals.Heritage tree.

Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit)

16-30m

Fruit attracts birds and mammals.

Singapore vinegar crab

Mudskippers

Mangrove flathead gudgeon

Mangrove cardinal

Seabass

Shore pit viper

Coastal Mangrove

Tidal Mangrove

Mudflats Parks

FAUNA MOVEMENT

FLORAL SPECIES AND HABITAT

MANGROVE HABITAT CONDITION IN SINGAPORE

VEGETATION DENSITY IN SUNGEI PANDAN

A Sungei Pandan Mangrove Habitat (Unmamaged man grove & coastal habitat)

B Urban Habitat (managed vegetation)

C West Coast Park (mixed managed and unmanaged habitat)

SPECIES MAP

SPECIES MAP - ZOOM IN 1: PANDAN MANGROVE

Area A

SPECIES MAP - ZOOM IN 2: URBAN HABITAT

Area B1

Area B2

Area B3

Seawall Vegetation

Barringtonia racemosa Pouteria obovata

Barringtonia racemosa, Pouteria obovata which coastal forest species are commonly identified on Pandan Road.

Rhizophora and back mangroves are establishing on seawall and canal mouth.Alstonia angustiloba on roadside.

Coastal forest species (Calophyllum inophyllum, Alstonia angustiloba, Talipariti tiliaceum, Terminalia catappa) are used for urban plantation in this area.

SPECIES MAP - ZOOM IN 3: MARSH GARDEN, WEST COAST PARK

Area C

LEGEND

LEGEND

HABITAT MAP OF SUNGEI PANDAN

Legend

Tidal Mangrove Freshwater Mangrove Brackish Swamp

Brackish Pond Coastal Forest Seawall

Tidal River Riverine Drainage Canal

Park & Garden Plantation

Roadside

HABITAT MAP OF SUNGEI PANDAN

Tidal Mangrove

Often identified at tidal waterfront, impacted by salty seawater flow and inundations

[Pandan habitat A]

River River habitats are freshwater or tidal streams that undergoes a state of continuous physical changes of flowing water.

[Sungei Pandan river habitat]

Freshwater Mangrove

Featuring mid-high tide mangroves and back mangrove species, less impacted by salt water intrusion

[Pandan habitat A, C]

Coastal Forest

Seaside terrestrial habitat, with species tolerant of harsh coastal condition: salt spray, strong, seawater intrusion, and full sun.

[Pandan habitat A, C]

Brackish Swamp

Water pond with static water level, has more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater.

[Pandan habitat C]

Roadside

Trees are foundamental to roadside habitat. Epiphytes establishing on the tree truncks and shrubs and climbers further diversify this urban ecosystem.

[habitat B]

Riverine

Riverine is the habitat along-side the river. Riverline in forest area are well-shaded by the canopy, and with waterway providing colling environment

[habitat A]

Seawall

Seawall are engineering structures for protection from wave-erosion. However, they are also supportive for spontaneous growth intertidal marine organisms.

[habitat A, C]

Rocky Shore

A rocky shore is an intertidal area that consists of solid rocks. It is often a biologically rich environment and can include many different microhabitats type.

Canaland Drainage

Canals and drainages are concrete or gravel structures for rapid conveyance of urban surface runoff. Waterbody isolated from its surroundings.

[habitat B]

Park & Garden

Tamed landscape under management. Not only the vegetations are under human intervention, but there are also facilities and manmade structures integrated into this habitat.

[habitat A, C]

Plantation

Plantation are usually monocultured vegetation that serves as alternative food source for fauna.

[habitat A, B]

SPECIES ADAPTABILITY AND FAUNA ASSOCIATION

SOIL POLLUTION

soiL poLLuTion anaLysis based on poLLuTion degree map SOIL

LEGEND

salt/fresh flow

drainage flow

surface flow

main canal flow

HARDSCAPE AND SOFTSCAPE ANALYSIS

HARDSCAPE AND SOFTSCAPE ANALYSIS

PERCENTAGE OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES

Grass

Bare

Mixed

Relatively natural vegetation

Relatively

PROPOSALS

THE SYMBIOSIS OF COASTAL LANDSCAPE SUCCESSION IN A HIGH DENSE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Kuan Wai Tuck Victor P96

GROWING TOGETHERSEEDING COASTAL HABITAT INTO HIGH DENSE DEVELOPMENT AREA

Wang Zhe P108

COASTAL LANDSCAPE AS STORMWATER MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE

Kong Lingchang P120

THOUGHTFUL PLACEMENT OF GREEN SPACE FOR RESILIENT LANDSCAPE

Xu Yuexin P132

RECONNECTING THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE WILDLIFE AND HUMAN ALONG THE COASTAL LANDSCAPE

Lam Si Yun Swan P144

IMROVING AQUATIC HABITAT

Liu Xiaolei P154

MORPHING FAUNA BARIER IN COASTAL AND URBAN LANDSCAPE

Nur Azilla Nazli P164

RETROFITTING INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE INTO EVERYDAY LIVES

Yong Keng - Whye, Raymond P174

M ITIGATING MICROCLIMATE IN THE INDUSTRIAL AREA

Gao Chenchen P190

NEW INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE AS A LIVING MACHINE

Wang Hanfeng P200

NATURING URBAN: RESOLVE THE TENSION BETWEEN URBAN AND NATURE HABITATS, LEVERAGING ON NATIVE HABITAT STRUCTURES IN SUNGEI PANDAN

Fan Lei Helen P216

GENERATE AN INTEGRATED WATERFRONT BASED ON BROWN EARTHWORK

Xu Linxin P232

RESHAPING COASTAL EDGE LANDSCAPE IN A HIGH-DENSE TROPICAL CITY

Yao Haomu P244

THE SYMBIOSIS OF COASTAL LANDSCAPE SUCCESSION IN A HIGH DENSE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Sungei Pandan, a 2.8km river with fragments of mangrove fringes – one of the highest mangrove richness in Singapore – is surrounded by industrial factories that pose high environmental disturbance, limiting ecological linkage between Sungei Pandan Mangroves and West Coast Park. Demarcated as a future private high-dense residential waterfront development placing the current industrial site, the phases of construction, new land-use implementation and proposed programs are three significant factors that will greatly affect the conditions of the major green cores. Unconventional development with highly manicured urban greenery often swiftly constructed results in fragmentation of habitats and biodiversity loss due to poor development strategy to integrate existing habitats and drastic timescale difference which disallowing nature to “grow” with human intervention.

Ecociety Living, located at the waterfront and West Coast Park’s Marsh Garden serves as an alternative prototype for coastal ecological development to achieve a symbiotic relationship of coastal succession within a high-dense residential neighbourhood.

The design construction for both human intervention and provided ecological zones with planting strategies that multiplies social and ecological values are developed in phases to allow adaptation of existing ecology and accelerates ecological succession within the urban environment. Learning from the existing natural habitat in Sungei Pandan, constructing of new waterways and naturalising existing canals are strategies to tackle flooding concerns while introducing riparian conditions inland which integrates aquatic stratification to existing landscape densifying its ecological functionality. The project incorporates necessary environmental parameters which blend untamed vegetation with the naturalised urban landscape to strengthen biodiversity connectivity and provide ecological patches within every precinct. To create a biophilic experience for residents, communal programs, facilities and building design are oriented to maximise human and nature interaction, increasing residents to knowledge and appreciation in living within proximity with wildlife.

Ecociety Living aims to redefine future approaches in coastal development to rehabilitate coastal habitats within the urban environment and eradicate bio-phobic misconceptions while ensuring continual development growth.

Kuan Wai Tuck Victor

SINGAPORE VEGETATION EVALUATION MAP

VegeTaTion size and mangroVe riChness

Habitat Types in Modern Singapore, 2011

Source : The vegetation of Singapore - An updated map

Yee Alex Thiam Koon (2011) National Parks Singapore

Coral reefs of Southern Island, Singapore

Loh et al. (2006).

Marine Science Institute

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF SUNGEI PANDAN

enVironmenTaL CirCumsTanCes of sungei pandan

Source: Gao Chen Chen National University of Singapore

annuaL rainfaLL of singapore

Source: National Environmental Agency, 2011

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF SUNGEI PANDAN

VegeTaTion densiTy and zone eVauLaTion unTamed and Tamed VegeTaTion

Source: Estuarine Mangrove Squeeze in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam (2017) Son H.T., Ye Q. and Stive M.J.F.

ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF SUNGEI PANDAN

eCoLogiCaL neTWork of sungei pandan

Source: Dr Abdul Rahim HAMID National University of Singapore

CONSTRUCTION PHASES ANALYSIS

Time-lapse:

MASTERPLAN OF ECOCIETY LIVING NEIGHBOURHOOD SCALE

ConVenTionaL hdb ConsTruCTion proCess

Source: PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, National Parks Board, President Design Award, Ramboll Dreiseitl, Housing Development Board

Transformation of Bishan Park to River Plains by Brice Li

MASTERPLAN OF ECOCIETY LIVING NEIGHBOURHOOD

SCALE

eCoCieTy LiVing residenTiaL esTaTe Land use pLanning proposed sTraTegies

WATER FLOW AND PROCESS SYSTEM

WaTer managemenT sTraTegies

Source : Investigation of Elevation - Vegetation Processes through High Precision Mapping of Nandai Mangrove Leong Chin Rick (2011)

PLANTING STRATEGIES

WATER AS SYMBIOTIC TOOL

sTormWaTer WeTLand perspeCTiVe

CONSTRUCTION PHASES OF ECOCIETY LIVING NEIGHBOURHOOD

WaTer sysTem eCoLogiCaL parameTers urban deVeLopmenT

VISION OF SUNGEI PANDAN IN 2032 (CAUSE AND EFFECT)

ConVenTionaL masTerpLan

eCoCieTy LiVing masTerpLan

0.5 km N

Source: Ecological Buffer Information, https://www.nature.org/media/centralapps/recommended-shale-practices-ecological-buffers.pdf

GROWING TOGETHER: SEEDING COASTAL HABITAT INTO HIGH DENSE DEVELOPMENT AREA

Mangroves, the forgotten fortune, are disappearing rapidly as the urban jungle encroaches on its existence and threatens its survival. The narrow slice of Pandan mangroves lies at the edge of Jalan Buroh Bridge, which has insufficient space to develop strong biodiversity and resilience due to the coexisting pressure from urban sprawl. Growing together tries to find a new relationship between coastal habitat and urban area under the new development. This project selects the highly critical area, which is near the bridge and located in the Southern bank of Panda River, as the first area for intervention.

On one hand, this project attempts to expand Sungei Pandan mangrove to strengthen it, enabling it to become a key refuge for the ecosystem. The first step is to create a suitable environment for new coastal habitat by preparing the soil, topology, and hydrology. Through creating unique landform, topology and flexible growing space, the new habitat will get a safe and stable environment to flourish. At the same time, with the strategic planting scheme, the site provides a unique habitat for back mangrove conservation while utilising urban infrastructure as a new habitat to connect current mangrove habitat and the seeding habitat.

On the other hand, this project tries to integrate ‘seed habitats’ - ecological succession patches - with high dense residential to ease the adaptation with urban intervention. Unique terrain is created as a transition zone to reduce the impact of urban for coastal habitat by using the 2.5 meters height difference from inland to tidal zone. Meanwhile, physical and intangible connections are created between seeding habitat and residential area by integrating human activities and coastal habitat with mixed land use, connecting inland drainage system, sea and designing plants for fauna flow.

In 25-30 years, the first ‘seed’ will grow up with a stable system where following coastal habitat successions will grow similarly like the first succession along with the urban developing. Finally, the strong ecosystem of Sungei Pandan will be established.

EXISTING CONDITION

STRATEGY 1 - CreaTe suiTabLe enVironmenT for CosTaL habiTaT by preparing The soiL, TopoLogy, and hydroLogy.

TACTIC01- CREATING SPECIAL LANDFORM

WATERFLOW-RISING POTENTIAL EXPANDING

Initial width:15-20m

Final width(inlet):80-90m

TACTIC03- UTILIZING URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AS A NEW HABITAT

Drainage system of Sungei Pandan Bridge

DEATIL

Potential area of Sungei Pandan Bridge

TACTIC02- CREATING SPECIAL TOPOLOGY

Multi-layer plant design on the bridge

Bio-engineering landscape under the bridge

Utilizing the drainage system well

PLAN OF BRIDGE

BIRD-ATTRACTING PLANTS

WATER FLOW CONNECTION

PEOPLE FLOW

TaCTiC 07 - CreaTing physiCaL and inTangibLe ConneCTion beTWeen seeding habiTaT and residenTiaL area Back mangrove

STRATEGY 2

HABITAT MAPPING

FAUNA FLOW AND MIXED USE SPACES

CONNECTION BETWEEN HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND HABITAT

Fauna flow

Bird-watching tower

Plants with big canopy Island

COASTAL LANDSCAPE AS STORMWATER MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE

Kong Lingchang

Over flooding of stormwater runoff is a common issue in highly developed urban areas where impervious surface treatment and hard engineering infrastructure for stormwater management often conflict with natural water flow. The project serves as a green-blue plan for the future residential area along the Pandan River to reorganize the problems regarding the water flow in high-dense urban context and mimicking the natural capacity of flood conveyance and storage of the land with three proposed strategies.

First, the design attempts to decentralizing stormwater management by diversifying water catchment areas based on natural water flows. Traditionally, as rainwater is unable to be absorbed by previous mediums, it will then become surface runoff which will be received by conventional drainage system on site, canalized to the main canal and finally get discharged into the sea. However, by discharging the surface runoff directly limits its potential for ecosystem services. A more ecological way is to retain the water on site and follow the natural water process which reduces the volume of surface runoff and its discharge rate, facilitating its infiltration. In this case, the design fully respects the natural landform and decentralized the catchments by following the nature catchment boundary.

Additionally, optimizing in the capacity of stormwater management by using strategic designs of the green-blue network directs water to water-centric zones. Different from conventional treatments which hide water channels, this project inserts green spaces combined with ABC water features to receive the surface run-off from buildings and pathways to form a greenblue network which is visible where people can appreciate.

Lastly, the project provides more habitat areas for coastal biodiversity through thoughtful plant selection. For a unique coastal land, the existing pump station of Pandan river separates the merged water conditions into freshwater and seawater which generates both constraints and opportunities for my design. With the unique mangroves growing on the tidal mudflat, these factors can potentially provide various species habitat which the project identifies to create additional buffer zones to mitigate the extreme flooding and provide more coastal habitat.

The project envisions Sungei Pandan to be an ecological and multifunctional urban community where the water feature could be integrated into the coastal infrastructure to effectively manage stormwater runoff.

WATER MANAGEMENT

singapore managed

Annual maximum hourly rainfall intensities in Singapore

singapore Terrain map

singapore rainfaLL inTensiTy map(2011) singapore peak run-off CoeffiCienT map

masTer pLan

Valuable vegetation along the coastline: Coastal Mangrove Diverse water salinity environment

WATER MANAGEMENT SCINARIOS

Maximal elevation difference:7m(exclude the depth of canal)

long conveyance route

50%

75%

scheme3(Selected) 1 2 3 4 5 6

good balance between retaintion and discharge

surfaCe runoff CaLCuLaTion gree-bLue infrasTruCTure arrangemenT

separated catchments S=8.29ha Q=1.14m³/s V(/h)=4103m³ green space water body

S=6.32ha Q=0.87m³/s V(/h)=3128m³ S=4.65ha Q=0.63m³/s V(/h)=2268m³ S=7.29ha Q=1.03m³/s V(/h)=3708m³ S=8.58ha Q=1.16m³/s V(/h)=4176m³ S=5.05ha Q=0.69m³/s V(/h)=2484m³

100% Legend 6

MLA publication_Helen edit.indd 124-125 2018/2/28 14:31:54

STRATEGY 1

Decentralizing stormwater management by diversifying water catchment areas based on natural water flows

STRATEGY 2

Optimizing capacity of stromwater management by strategic designs of green-blue network

STRATEGY 3

Providing habitat for coastal biodiversity through thoughtful flora selection.

10 Years Return Period: 90mm/h

Catchment area=2.81ha

Q(surface runoff)=0.32m³/s

V(water capacity/h)=1138m³

greening rate:45% Internal Retantion capacity: over 52%

Bioretention

Roof water flow

Swale water flow

Surface water flow

node A

node B node C

managemenT TooLkiT

Underground storage

Green roofs

Parking lot filter strip

Rain gardens

Pwevious pavement

Grassed swales

basins

Rain barrels

habiTaT map

THOUGHTFUL PLACEMENT OF GREEN SPACE FOR RESILIENT LANDSCAPE

Under the influence of global warming, sea level rise and abnormal climate threaten the coastal areas all over the world. Sea level rise causes a series of impacts on coastal habitats, species, and ecosystems. Heavy rainfall caused by abnormal climate has triggered intensive floods storm that affects the life of coastal residents.

Our site is located on the southern coast, and the previous industrial zone has 68.5% impervious surface the existing green space which covers only 18.3% of the site. According to the planning scenarios, our site will become a new residential area in the future. The rapid-growing population brings opportunities and challenges of the site development. My design starts from the green space, through reserving significant space for natural habitat and transforming the grey spaces to create additional functional green spaces. The design establishes a variety of ecological resilient, water resilient and social resilient landscape to cope with the changing climate and hydrology conditions with the rapidly growing population.

According to different site conditions and users’ needs, I use different design control to thoughtful place five kinds of green spaces. Firstly, biotic research, conservation areas, wildlife preservation and observation area are integrated to provide eco-resilient green space to supply sufficient riparian zones for existing species and potential species which increases the mangrove habitats from 9ha to 12ha.

Secondly, roadside green areas and buffer zone areas are mainly used for creating water-resilient green space to defence against the effects of sea level rise and intensive flood storm. Thirdly, recreation areas & urban development areas are used to establish activity spaces for people.

By thoughtfully placing the green spaces, the site will become more resilient to cope with issues regarding rising of sea level and abnormality of climate conditions. Also, under the impact of high population density, the site can provide more open spaces for people to have an intimate connection with nature.

ISSUES & PLANNING SCENARIO

Sea level rise after 100 years

Heavy rain causes intensive flash storm

According to the future planning scenario, most of the factories will become residential areas, and 35,000 people will live in the venue. On the basis of government forecast, furture population composition is under the following two pie charts.

Reference: Source: http://www.citypopulation.de

15% 10%

Existing water-sensitive areas when sea level rise 3m

Existing species compared with the whole singapore’s. (Core species 1500)

18.3%

Existing green space

6.2%

Underutilized parcels

68.5% 0

Existing impervious surface

Existing parks

BIRD MIGRATION MAP SITEANALYSIS

ConserVaTion areas

bioTiC researCh

WiLdLife preserVe

obserVaTion areas

roadside areas

buffer zone areas

semi-open spaCe open spaCe

seLeCTiVe urban deVeLopmenT areas

1.0-2.8 buiLding densiTy

OPEN SPACE PLANNING

reCreaTion areas & urban deVeLopmenT areas seLeCTion

Mangrove

Irregular flash marsh

Regular flash marsh

Tidal flat

100 meters biological protection zone

Seawater erosion sensitive area

Mangrove seed trajectory

Conservation line

Vulnerable area

Important ecological corridor

Buffer zone

Conservation line

reCreaTion areas & urban deVeLopmenT areas seLeCTion

Recreation area

Residential area

STRATEGY 1. ECO RESILIENCE

reTreaTmenT of mangroVe

Most mangrove species flower and fruit regularly and the pmpagules are dispered by tide. The new mangrove habitats can improve the existing pollonation process and increase the mangrove succession rate.

STRATEGY 2. WATER RESILIENCE

differenT LeVeL of WaTer managemenT

Sedimentation Basins

exisTing

Mangrove area: 9ha

50 years ago

tide level: 3m

Mangrove area: 10ha

100 years ago

tide level: 3m

Mangrove area: 12ha

The planning stratagy is to use different level of water management to face the intensive floods storm

Sedimentation basins and swales can provide temporary retention and a reduction of stormwater flow velocity to promote the settling of particles by gravity.

50

Constructure Wetlands can purify the stormwater

100

STRATEGY 3. MOTIVE FUNCTION FOR PEOPLE

Biotic rEsEarch & coNsErvatioN arEas

Protect mangroves and carry out related scientific research

·mangroVe ConserVaTion area

eCoLogiCaL ConserVaTion WeTLands

·pLanT and fLoriCuLTure area

soiL and WaTer ConserVaTion and produCTion researCh areas

beaCh ConserVaTion area

WiLDLifE prEsErvE & obsErvatioN arEas

Areas for flora and fauna to migration and live

seasonaL WaTerfoWL sanCTuary

·bird Life area

obserVaTion sTaTions

·fishing grounds

oCean fish nursery

RoaDsiDE aND buffEr zoNE arEas

Separate urban use areas and natural areas and protect natural areas from urban development

·roadWay

biCyCLe TraiLs

hiking TraiLs

naTuraL eduCaTion area

CounTry parks

REcrEatioN arEas

Recreation areas are mainly located in residential areas, buffer zone areas and observation areas which provide various places for human activities

·TenT Camping fishing area

·ouTdoor sporTs area

resT area

LaWn

SELEctivE urbaN DEvELopmENt arEas

High-density urban development land includes commercial, entertainment and residential areas

residenTiaL area greenery

·CommerCiaL area greenery

RECONNECTING THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE WILDLIFE AND HUMAN ALONG THE COASTAL LANDSCAPE

In a high-dense development, the strive for a balance between the living space for human and wildlife is always a challenge. Sungei Pandan has lost a large area of vegetation throughout the years due to industrialisation. The development of industrialisation has progressively destroyed the vegetation at a rate where the natural habitats could no longer replenish itself and be self-sufficient.

As there are already a substantial number of species had already been recorded to have shifted from their usual breeding grounds along the coastal landscape as well as migratory birds who have the potential to perch in Singapore in their migratory route. The design adopts two main strategies to create habitats ideal for the avifauna which encourages migratory birds to perch in Singapore and prospers the local birds’ population. Furthermore, by increasing mangrove swamps as the primary habitat, it also attracts aquafauna to inhabit and serve as the main food source for the migratory birds.

The first strategy is to restore nature element in the urban condition, such as naturalising of river canal to create riparian buffer zones which improve biodiversity and encourage avifauna to reside. The planting edge provides a green buffer for the aquatic habitat and aids in the removal of contaminants from canal water and stormwater runoff which also serves as a living filter for urban space. Furthermore, the project redirects migratory birds that pass Singapore when traveling to neighbouring countries to stopover at our coastal landscape. An opportunity of increasing species richness to the mangrove region by imprinting ideal living conditions which they can strive such as mimicking vegetation of their homeland.

The secondary strategy is to redefine boundary between human and nature. This method includes promoting nature appreciation by bringing people to be involved and interact with the avifauna through ecological activities. This creates ecologically friendly habitats in the managed built environment such as rooftop garden on residential building for avifauna to stay.

In conclusion, the project constructs ideal living conditions for the migratory birds at Sungei Pandan which creates new sightings for the locals and tourists that increases its economic value and improves the ecosystem of both wildlife and human to established in an urban environment.

Lam Si Yun Swan

DESIGN INSPIRATION

migraTory birds fLyWay

MIGRATORY BIRDS IN SINGAPORE

assoCiaTionbeTWeenCoLd&hoTCLimaTeandbirds’popuLaTion

Source: Singapore Bird Group Migratory Bird Collisions in Singapore https:// singaporebirdgroup. wordpress.com/2015/05/15/ migratory-bird-collisions-insingapore/

The 18 speCies of birds migranTs VisiTing singapore during migraTory season

SITE CONDITION

eVoLuTion of green spaCes aT sungei pandan

disTribuTion of WiLdLife aCross sungei pandan

human inTrusion is noT inVoLVed, surroundedWiThriChmangroVehabiTaT The CoasTLine eVoLVed Through LandreCLamaTion&indusTriaLisaTion

human deVeLopmenT oCCupies open spaCes & WiLdLife LosT Their habiTaTs mainLy oiL refinery, LogisTiCs businesses ThaTdepend on CoasTLine for deVeLopmenT

Site condition - Industrial zone & Neighbourhood Landscape

DESIGN PHASE 1

anaLyse aVifauna’s behaViour and habiTaT requiremenTs

DESIGN PHASE 2

Land funCTions Through soiL quaLiTy anaLysis

Geological Formation of the Coastal Landscape in Singapore

Soil condition is one of the contributing factors of zonation among animals and plants

daybehaViour nighTbehaViour

The effeCT of sea LeVeL rise on siTe

anaLysis on siTe

STRATEGY 1

naTuraLize manmade CanaL To riparian buffer zone To inCrease biodiVersiTy

STRATEGY 2

inCLusion of naTuraL habiTaTs in human deVeLopmenT To enhanCe CoexisTenCe of WiLdLife & human

Legend:

1 - Private Residential + Roof Gardens

2 - Riparian Buffer Zone + Grassland Trail

3 - Palm Green Link

4 - Migratory Birds Research Lab + Edu Hubs

5 - Obstacles Playground

6 - Public Residential + Rooftop Farms

7 - Busstop

8 - Open Carpark

9 - Alfresco Dining Area

10 - Sports + Activities Zones

11 - Mangrove + Consevation Zone

12 - Kayaking + Canoe Stop Points

13 - Park Maze Playground + Discovery Bay

14 - Research Staffs Monitoring Campsites

15 - Stonewalk Pathway

16 - Nightzone Walkway

17 - Reservoir Viewing Towers

IMROVING AQUATIC HABITAT

Liu Xiaolei

As a result of urban development, the coastal habitat is fragmented and isolated which disrupts aquatic ecosystem process and decrease water quality. This project aims to create a new aquatic habitat to improve existing conditions. I choose the certain species – seabass as the project’s starting point -

As there is an abundance of them living here in marsh lagoon behind mangrove areas, serving as a protection for mangrove roots. But now the number of seabass is decreasing drastically. This project is located in a part of the industrial zone in Sungei Pandan area next to drains where fishes inhabit. This area has potential to be connected to the remaining mangrove zone that allows fauna to move through.

The first strategy of this project is to imitate aquatic habitat working process by providing different habitats for different growth stages of seabass that serves as food and shelter for aquatic animals. By creating a spawning area which satisfies the condition for seabass to grow with shallow water with low flowing speed and fine-grained substrate, this will allow related plant species to flourish.

The second strategy is to create fish nursery area, by planting new mangrove as shelter and food source for the juvenile fish. The design slows down the water speed by changing the water topography, planting of new mangroves and removing a part of the industrial area to let water in.

The last strategy of this project is to improve the connection between nature and urban environment by adding educational area and building a long path that extends into the mangrove for people to see the whole aquatic ecosystem process.

With the creation of new aquatic habitat, not only strengthen the ecological function, but also enhance the connection of the existing habitat, this provides a new habitat for seabass to regenerate that positively improves the conditions of all related coastal species.

MARINE HABITAT AND SPEICES

HABITAT ISOLATION MAP

STRATEGY 1 CREATE SPAWNING AREA

Satisfy the condition for seabass to spawn，shadow water with low speed, finegrained substrate, related plant and species

STRATEGY 2: CREATE FISH NURSERY AREA

pLanT neW mangroVe as sheLTer and food sourCe of juVeniLe fish

tide

fine - grained substrate

tidal mangrove

Costal forest Coconut tree

Taliparti tiliaceum Mangrove cannon

Before Before After After

high tide low tide high tide low tide quick

DIRECTION quick current slow current stable current

Detritus :mangrove leaves and dead organism

year 0

STRATEGY3: IMPROVE THE DRAIN

mangrove speices year 20

tidal swamp speices coastal forest speices

buffer speices urban speices

Terminalia catappa L. Barringtonia

racemosa (L.) Spreng.

base(stone) bioretention

Mallotus paniculatus

Manihot carthaginensis

Solanum melongena Macaranga gigantea

Barringtonia

inophyllum Samanea saman Calopyllum inophyllum

Casuarina

equisetifolia Pandanus tectorius

Cerbera manghas

Horsfieldia irya (Gaertn.) Warb. Sindora wallichii Benth.

MLA publication_Helen edit.indd 160-161 2018/2/28 14:33:27

Coccoloba uvifera (L.) L.

Planchonella chartacea (F.Muell. ex Benth.)

Artocarpus

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION OF DESIGNATED HABITATS

MORPHING FAUNA BARIER IN COASTAL AND URBAN LANDSCAPE

Nur Azilla Nazli

With the rapid growth of urban environment, spaces pose a challenge in this dense metropolis. Urbanization had undeniably caused landscape fragmentation, which in turn causes habitat isolation. This impedes movement of local fauna, as the harsh dense environment provides no room for them to live in. Further habitat isolation will cause great negative impact for our urban wildlife over time such as decreasing species population. So how does the City in a Garden resonate in an industrial landscape? This project focuses on morphing the barrier in the urban and coastal landscape, using the existing local habitat, as well as infrastructures, as part of its formula.

Landscape connectivity is the key factor for maintaining species diversity in a fragmented landscape.

The limited variety of habitats for animals isolated from one another due to developments and insufficient existing landscape where these animals rely on for movements are identified key issues this project strives to tackle.

The first strategy is to provide habitats in the dense urban areas. To achieve this, firstly, a continuous tree canopy will be maintained throughout the site to serve as stepping- stones for these fauna. Secondly, by mimicking the forest structure in suitable spaces to provide a more diversified habitat. Thirdly, strategic planting designs to accommodate the needs of different species. The second strategy is to integrate habitats in the built environment. This includes retrofitting of building structure and enhancing streetscapes to connect with nearby habitat.

“Morphing fauna barriers” is meant to provide a vision for initiating a solution to the imperative tension between biodiversity and urbanization. Through the implemented strategies and tactics, the overall site will have optimum ecologically viable spaces whilst achieving heterogeneity of species in the Southern part of Singapore. With an increase in habitat, heterogeneity leads to increase in species diversity, expanding Singapore’s biodiversity in our shared landscape.

FAUNA MAP

GREEN TYPOLOGIES

EXISTING GREEN SPACES

Potential Biodiversity

FRAGMENTED HABITAT

BARRIERS EVALUATION

urban barriers for birds

urban barriers for Land animaL

This map generated from ArcMap indicates areas where there are high or weak barrier imposed for the birds that impedes their movement.

This map generated from ArcMap indicates areas where there are high or weak barrier imposed for the land animals that impedes their movement and visibility.

EXISTING FAUNA

Optimal

Extends existing habitat to create a habitat

-Introduce trees for roosting/ nesting and hunt

STRATEGY 1 - PROVIDE HABITAT IN URBAN DENSE AREA

mimiCking foresT sTruCTure To proVide habiTaT

Creating roof garden for high flying birds to roost and hunt

Creating a vertical greenering on existing buildings -For birds to forage

Creating a low wall with thick planting as fence -Introduce food source

Wild growth area - multiple layers to allow different foraging need

- food source patch

- diverse habitat

Fences - Low wall with alternate big gaps

- Flowering plants to cover any gaps

Green Roofs - food source trees

- verticle greenery to allow foraging for some birds

ConTinuiTy of Tree Canopy as sTepping sTones

Green rooftop

Food patch at private garden

- multiple layers to allow different foraging need

- food source patch

Roosting area

- Continuos canopy at 12m

- Thick dense foliage to allow refuge

Vegetated buffer

- to slow down traffic

- minimize noise barrier

- maintain 2-4m shrub layer with food source

sTraTegiC design pLanTing paLLeTe

Existing Streetscape Trees are sparsely spread creating a less favorable steeping stone

Private gardens (715.6m2) Food source trees attracts faunas

Existing Canal Coatal landscape meets the urban where it allows fauna to travel easily Open Public Space (4503.4m2)

The canal is accompanied by lush greenery that attracts fauna for refuge or hunting

A. Exising mangrove

B. Proposed green roofs

C. Core area

D. Private garden

E. Naturalized canal

F. Proposed alley

G. Porposed street

H. Vegetated buffers

Sungei Pandan

J. Pandan Reservoir

Road buffer with layered vegetation -introduce food source

-Maintain continuos canopy at 12m

-Food souce for both at 2-4m

Private gardens for food patch

-Creating vegetated layers

Food patch is accompanied with roosting tree nearby - Alstonia angustiloba -Pterocarpus indicus

Breathing space

Green Roof Growing crops for food production

Unmanaged Areas (1250.9m2)

Unclaimed spaces where vegetation grows wildly

Layered vegetation Multiple layers of vegetation ensures a diverse habitat for fauna

Redefining Streetscape

Vegetated buffers to slow down traffic as well as to create continuous canopy

Food Source Trees & Shrubs

Vegetation are chosen based on the needs of different fauna for food and shelter

Existing Streetscape Tree canopy is connected for some but absence of shrubs makes it less favorable

Retrofitting Built Structures Identifying buildings suitable for green roofs and vertical greenery that acts like a stepping stones

Maintain some open space with low groundcover

Mimicking Forest Structure Core areas to have multiple layers of forest to accomodate the different needs of different fauna

Exposed Trees Some independent trees for perching

Enhancing Existing Habitat Creating diverse habitat to attract more species into site

STRATEGY 2 - INTEGRATING HABIATAT INTO BUILT ENVIRONMENT

reTrofiTTingbuiLdingsTruCTuresandredefiningsTreeTsCaoeTo ConneCT WiTh nearby habiTaT

Area to roost near food patch

- Alstonia angustiloba

- Pterocarpus indicus

Naturalising canal

- to cater for different types of foraging

- introduce food source (fishes)

Green rooftop

Outdoor timber walk

- spillover for foodcourt

- resting area for workers

Creating continuos connection

- vegetated buffer as a stepping stone in between the road

RETROFITTING INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE INTO EVERYDAY LIVES

Yong Keng - Whye, Raymond

The perception of mangroves disservices was dominant in research reports. The way people perceive mangroves were mainly negative, treating them as a reservoir of disease, areas of danger and harbour of pests. The public only sees the alluring conditions of the coastal landscape but have not understood the important aspects of mangroves ecosystem services which are beneficial to our biodiversity and environment. Migrant workers being dominant in the industrial district allows the project to focus on their culture, stories, lifestyle to reform spaces which serves to educate and raise awareness of the importance of what coastal landscape while allowing them to enjoy implemented recreational activities.

No.7 Pandan Road, currently an abandoned site is specifically selected for a variety of reasons, in terms of Nature & Human considerations through precise studies, observations & research of biodiversity, habitats especially mudflats and proximity of green spaces.

By adopting the Biophilia methodology, bridging social groups with green spaces and injecting activities helps to cultivate stronger and closer affiliations between humans and nature. Thus, elevating migrant workers working attitude, efficiency and efficacy which could be beneficial in their working prospect and the economy of the country

Redefining the coastal landscape where it allows a larger volume of sediments to be deposited, creating a larger area of mudflat, boosting feeding grounds and habitat for fauna and infauna species. Introducing patches of green spaces in the site and enhancing the existing slipway with recycled materials on site draw users closer to the coast physically and visually.

Retrofitting the longitudinal streetscape of Pandan Road, by mimicking the structure of the coastal forest, creates a green canopy framework that elevates fauna and flora habitats and their movement which will be beneficial for the biodiversity and ecology. With this implementation it helps to increase vegetation volume and create larger shaded area for workers commuting along Pandan Road.

These strategy aims to foster a greater appreciation of nature within a particular target audience and cultivate a stronger sense of ownership to the created landscape and at the same time boosting ecological and biodiversity value of the area which could leave a positive impact in the industrial environment and hopefully to the future generations.

CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS

singapore, region

Understanding on a macro scale of the main stakeholders and studying the industrial land area in a regional map

Employee Value Proptosition Work - Life - Harmony

“We take care of your health & wellness by providing flexible work arrangments, comprehensive benefits & other practical enablers”.

HISTORICAL STUDY

reViVing ConneCTion WiTh naTure , fragmenTaTion of mangroVes & mudfLaTs

hisToriCaL TimeLine

diagrams iLLusTraTing The morphing of infrasTruCTure, LandsCape, aCTiViTies & LifesTyLe

SOCIAL ISSUES OF SITE

SELECTED SITE

PROSPOSED STRATEGIES

migranT Workers

migranT Workers LifesTyLe sCheduLe

3 main sTraTegiC Layers

MASTERPLANNING

PLANTING STRATEGIES

masTerpLanning & pLanTing sTraTegies

ECOLOGICAL STUDY / ANALYSIS

mudfLaTs sTudy & fauna moVemenT

eCoLogiCaL sTraTegy

Showcasing potential avifauna flow from the coast into the site into the land (streetscape)

ECOLOGICAL STUDY / ANALYSIS

mudfLaTs sTudy & fauna moVemenT

Mudflats contribute significantly to the ecology of an area. Mudflats support a high abundance of infauna, or animals that are found within the mud.

Many of the birds are migratory, and they feed on the animals in the mudflats to refuel.

avifauNa

Waders

iNfauNa

The abundanCe of These animaLs Then supporT The many speCies of birds and oTher fauna in The area.

herons

Apart from their ecological value, mudflats are also able to prevent or reduce coastal erosion.

MACRO GREEN SPACE STUDY

proximiTy of green spaCes & aCTiViTies

CIRCULATION, NODES, ACCESS POINTS

siTe is aCCessibLe by pubLiC TransporTaTion,hoWeVer,proximiTy To enTranCes of green spaCes are noTWiThinThe400mradiusWaLking disTanCe

PROGRAMMATIC CONFIGURATION

arriVaLsquare

WesT CoasT CriCkeT ground singapore roWing CenTre

CONGREGATION HOTSPOTS / NODES STUDY

a series of informaL spaCes

Migrant workers are being pickup by trucks to be send back to their dorm, far from their workplace

These are spots which represents informal pickup points and congregation spaces

STREETSCAPE STUDY & INTERVENTIONS

Layers of sTreeTsCape aLong pandan road

exisTing proposed

Linear moVemenT

fragmenTed green Canopy

aggregaTing aVaiLabLe open spaCe & emphasizing on eCoLogiCaL poinT

gaTheringpoinT for users

CreaTe seamLess indusTriaL LandsCape

fruiTTreesaTTraCTing aVifauna, baTs

breaking free from exisTing barriers dense green buffer

improVe fragmenTaTion of green Canopy

draWing pLanT speCies from siTe onTo sTreeTsCape To CreaTe and enhanCe eCoLogiCaL ConneCT V Ty

sofTbarriers,inTroduCinggreenWaLLsTobLur The boundary / barriers

PHASE OF ECOLOGICAL CORRIRDOR

groWing & eVoLVing LandsCape

The design inTerVenTionof sTraTegiCaLLy pLanTing VegeTaTion manage To improVe The green spaCes inTheindusTriaL LandsCape

When The LandsCape (VegeTaTion) sTarTs To groW and maTure, T WouLd end up CoVering The siTeandmerges

ouT aLong The sTreeTsCape, CreaTing a kind of green Canopy / umbreLLa

VegeTaTion WouLd be dense enough To proVide or CreaTesuiTabLe habiTaT for fauna, WhiCh Then aCTs as sTepping sTones inTo The sTreeTsCape

Change CouLd happen approximaTeLy 10 yearsLaTerWhenVegeTaTionsTarTsTomaTured and CreaTe a dense VegeTaTed Canopy aCTing Like agreen roof spreading aCross The enTire indusTriaL area

FUTURE PREDICTIONS

diagarm iLLusTraTing eCoLogiCaL aspeCTs of siTe

users Working in The indusTriaL area, CouLd noW enjoy green spaCe WiThin Their ConVenienCe, They are W Thin The 400m radius To agreen spaCe

disTriCT VieW

pLaying a CruCiaL roLe in singapore’s eCoLogy & biodiVersiTy

riCh in CommuniTy aCTiViTies, CommunaL bonding, aCTing as a CommuniTy hub bringing peopLe from aLL WaLks of Life To Learn and undersTand eVerydayindusTriaLWorking Life

deVeLop good Working eThiCs, good aTT Tude, soCiaL VaLues and physiCaL and menTaL WeLL - being pLaTformforThetraNsfErofkNowLEDGE

aND iNformatioN beyond The siTe and ineViTabLy, The region

broaDEN thE paraDiGm of CoasTaL LandsCape/mangroVesfromTheporTTooTher parTs of The WorLd

MITIGATING MICROCLIMATE IN THE INDUSTRIAL AREA

Gao Chenchen

With the increasing world population and urbanization, the need for reducing urban temperature and their related health consequences is becoming more critical. The design of pandan road aims to investigate the magnitude and the potential of street space cooling to mitigate the heat caused by urban heat island effect. It is an attempt to reduce the impact of industrialisation on the surrounding environment for the future climate change.

The temperature in the site is relatively higher than its surroundings and the cause of the phenomenon is due to high hardscape percentage and reliance in drainage conventions to allow efficient discharge of surface runoff. The wall between the street and factory area creates a barrier that makes the streetscape fragmentized where there is inadequate space for tree planting to provide more shade to cool the area. In addition to the heat and barrier, the design of connecting public space is also required to be addressed.

Three strategies are used in creating a design solution and a plan for the site, the project aims to mitigate specific development impacts and compensate lost ecological functions.

Firstly, by integrating the fragmentized green space and removing of existing barrier between the street and factory. The design will implement movable landscapes, private planting spaces and private car parking spaces to create a more continuous green space within the urban environment. Secondly, based on the topography and the precipitation, the design of bioswale is applied to slow down the rainwater while providing evaporation from plants to cool the area.

Lastly, the simplex structure of trees in the site is redesigned to provide more shade for the thermal comfort of people while enriching the biodiversity of the site, cooling the place for workers to commute and rest outdoors.

With these interventions, the design fully utilises the potential space in the street and change the existing impermeable area into a more resilient green space.

MICROCLIMATE CONDITION

SITE CONDITION

The climate in the urban canopy layer, below the roofs in the spaces between building can vary significantly within a distance of even a few metres. This means that the starting point will be the small scale level of the street.

Shadow study 9:00a.m. 40%

Shadow study 13:00a.m. 15%

Shadow study 16:00a.m. 70%

The temperature differences can get 3 degree at one time in a day

Based on the existing topography and soil condition, the design strategy is to utilize stormwater management to cool the area and increase the habitat condition of the area. Through the design of bioretention swale, rain garden for infiltration, lawn for purification and activities through these areas. The design of storm water system based on the process of rain water stream can effectively cool the area because the evaporation of the water and vegetaion can cool down the temperature. Meanwhile, the areas are designed combined with urban trees planted in consideration of the breeze wind.

eVaporaTion of WaTer and VegeTaTion

seCTion of rain garden

1.Shade street trees for thermal comfort

2.Cool esplanade

3. Rest area in rain garden

4. Bioretention swale

5. Waterscape

6. Pond and seatings

7. Rain garden and wooden platform for activity

8. Permeable paver

9. Purification lawn for roof water(grey water)

10. Raised lawn for infiltration

11. Parking area to reduce impermeable surface

STRATEGY2

pLanTing sTraTegy

Canopy trees

Acacia cincinnata

Pellacalyx axillaris

Peltophorum pterocarpun

Nephelium lappaceum

Calophy putcherrimum

Mid-canopy trees

Planchonella obovata

Acacia auriculiformis

Sea hibiscuis

Understorey trees

Agerstroemia speciosa

Hymenaea courbaril

Syzygium zeylanicum

Undergrowth trees

Plumeria obtusa

Leea indica

Mimosa pudica

Trees are planted to provide more shade for the area, and in consideration of the wind corridor. The wind speed will up because of the open space and topography. The area will have more shade and cool breeze through.

Structure of urban forest

Simulation of wind direction and speed

NEW INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE AS A LIVING MACHINE

Wang Hanfeng

In Singapore, the 42% of coastline, which is occupied by the industrial area, is covered with man-made vertical seawall. In Sungei Pandan’s industrial area, there are lots of factories, including many seriously polluted shipyards. The contaminants flows into the sea with rainwater, causing a negative impact on the natural environment. The pollution analysis indicates that the factories along the Pandan River, which are shipyards and manufacturing industry, have the most serious pollution level. The project aims to propose a new prototype of industrial landscape that is beneficial for improving the ecological and environmental quality through biological purification system while serving recreational activities for the public.

Four strategies are used during the design process. Firstly, ensuring the space for water treatment plant by replacing the current factories in the site; secondly, establishing of water treatment process based on the principles of wetland ecology to purify the water sequentially from sedimentation pond to heavy metal treatment then pathogen treatment and nutrient treatment. The treated water will be used for plant nursery before flowing into the sea. Thirdly, increasing of public engagement by combining the water treatment process with education, enriching people’s space experience; fourthly, creating aquatic habitats by modifying the coastline and creating an inter-tidal zone for mangroves and other plants and animals.

The project envisions this new kind of prototype of the industrial landscape will be duplicated along the entire coastal industrial zone in a long-term plan to create an ecological coastline for purification, restoration and education.

SITE ANALYSIS

poLLuTion

fLoW anaLysis

SITE ANALYSIS

open spaCe anaLysis

RESIDENTIAL AREA

Building: 107510m2

Area: 515064m2

Percentage: 20.9%

The residential area is mainly occupied by HDBs. The precentage of openness is about 79% , just the same as that in industrial area. However, the buildings in this area are smaller and more seperated. So, compared to the industrial area, the open space here is more evenly distributed, which means that it is more fragmented and hard to be used.

INDUSTRIAL AREA

Building: 137103m2

Area: 684350m2

Percentage: 20.1%

This industrial area is mainly occupied by shipyards. The precentage of openness is about 80% and the buildings in this area are bigger but more concentrated. So it has a larger and more integrated open space for redeveloping.

indusTriaL anaLysis

Phase I(1959-1965) Phase III(1970-1980) Phase V (1998-2017)

Singapore is regarded as a distribution center. Entrepot trade as a single economic form occupied the dominant position of the Singapore economy.

Computer, computer accessories manufacturing and other electronics industry become the leading industry, developing high-tech, high-value precision industry.

import substitution period rapid growth period economic transition period export-oriented period industrial upgrading period

The government introduced and developed life sciences and environmental protection industries, the water industry and educational industries.

Singapore government introduced a large number of foreign investment and the technology and promote the development of capital-intensive manufacturing.

Singapore established the manufacturing and the industrial structure that took capital and technology-intensive industry as the center of the structure.

The industries along the Pandan River, which almost are shipyards and manufacturing industry, have the most serious pollution level. And the contaminants from the factories finally flows into the sea with stormwater, causing a negative impact on the natural environment.

SITE ANALYSIS STRATEGY I

The site is in the industrial area that is beside a canal and opposite the west coast park. Also, the site is located at the river mouth,. It is like the gate at the center of the cross.

Ensure the space for water treatment plant by replacing the current factories in the site.

STRATEGY I

The average rainfall(monsoon): 25.8mm/d

The whole site area: 1777908m2

The whole rainfall : 46164m3/d

The potential treated area: 173308m2

The potential treated rainfall: 4500m3/day

The site area: 34407m2

4500m3/day

The current building area: 7016m2

The current industrial type: shipyard

The new designed building area: 3000m2

The new designed industrial type: water industry

A small patch of freshwater mangrove habitat in west coast park that near the canal.

WATER POLLUTION SOURCE

1.heavy metals(Zinc)

2.chemicals(Alkalies, cleaning and paints stripping solvents)

3.organics(oil, organic solvents)

3.Suspended particle(paint chips)

Marine pollution caused by ships and the polluted water from canal flows into Pandan river with high tide.

This area is surrounded by factories that have serious air pollution and noise pollution. These negative impacts can be found representively in the site.

STRATEGY II

polluted clean

Water treatment process

Pathogen treatment

Area: 4000m2

The third stage to treat the water by mostly using emergent plants to remove the pathogen when water flows through their roots.

SURFACE FLOW CONSTRUCTED WETLAND

Plant nursery

Area: 750m2

The fifth stage is to use the treated water and it is also a comprehensive treatment.

water from drainage aerating

Sedimentation pond

Area: 2000m2

The first stage to treat the water, letting the suspended solids settle down.

Nutrient treatment

Area: 1500m2

The forth stage to treat the water by using various types of plants to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from water.

Heavy metal treatment

Area: 2000m2

The second stage to treat the water by mostly using submergent plants to absorb the heavy metal in the water.

Establish a water treatment process based on the principles of wetland ecology to purify the water sequentially from sedimentation pond to heavy metal treatment then pathogen treatment and nutrient treatment.

Cat-tail Lythrum salicaria Salvia coccinea Aloysia citrodora Scirpus validus

pumping up

Ottelia alismoides Myriophyllum spicatium

Najas Duckweed

Potamogeton octandrous

Pontederia cordata Juncus effusus

Nutrient treatment process

STRATEGY II

VERTICAL SUBSURFACE FLOW CONSTRUCTED WETLAND

STRATEGY III

Increase public engagement by combining the water treatment process with education, enriching people’s space experience.

In this area, people can see the process of pathogen treatment and have a aerial view to see the coastline.

In plant nursery, people will find some kinds of herbs that has beautiful flowers or comfortable smell. It is like an ornamental garden. The water used in here is comes from the polluted water after purification. Also, it has indicated the water quality.

The area is a part of mangrove area. People in here can see different kinds of mangroves and they can learn the knowledge about how the mangrove grows, its growing habits and its functions.

Main road

Secondary road

Potential animal corridor

Interaction area

Here is the place for people to rest. People can lie on the grass and see the process of nutrient treatment and the flowing stream, even small animals. This area is also a inter-tidal area but it is more for other aquatic plants and animals. People can observe and even touch the plants or the small animals in the water. It is a good place for people to experience.

Pathogen treatment process

STRATEGY III STRATEGY IV

Create aquatic habitats by modifying the coastline and creating a inter-tidal zone for mangroves and other plants and animals.

PLANTATION STRATEGY

STRATEGY IV

PLANT NURSERY

STRATEGY IV

INTER-TIDAL AREA

Current channel is made of concrete.

Change the bank into a terracing for bioengineering, slowing down the water.

Change the degree of bending and create more gentle slope for species to settle down.

Current coastline is man-made vertical seawall.

Change the seawall into a gentle slope for the accumulation of mud.

Create revetments to retain water and species.

Crab-eating frog Crab-eating frog

Malayan water monitor

Enigma

Enigma

Fiddler crabs

Fiddler crabs

Whitespot

Malayan water monitor

Estuarine catfish

Stone/Thunder crab Stone/Thunder crab

Spotted scat

Striated heron Little egret

Sea bass Mullets

Clams

NATURING URBAN: RESOLVE THE TENSION BETWEEN URBAN AND NATURE HABITATS, LEVERAGING ON NATIVE HABITAT STRUCTURES IN SUNGEI PANDAN

In the highly industrialized area of Sungei Pandan, there are two narrow patches of mangrove/ coastal forest habitat remnants, one at the upper stream of Sungei Pandan river is preserved from the original Pandan Forest Reserve, the other is the rejuvenated mangrove at West Coast Park. However, their conditions are compromised by the urbanized context, with constrained space for establishment and disconnected from external ecological connections. To tackle the increasingly intensive relationships between urban and nature, the existing ecosystem of Marsh Garden and the neighbouring concretized canal - Sungei Pandan Kechil - and adjoined urban park space of West Coast Park are chosen for intervention. The design intention is to dissolve and transform the edges between urban and nature, modify barriers and thresholds hindering human-nature interactions, ultimately creating new urban-nature relationships and reforming the interconnection between nature ecosystem and human social system.

Existing urban attributes (landform, drain line, edges) would be utilized through feasible treatments to create conditions for nature to thrive. Leveraging on the established habitat structure of Marsh Garden, more diversified habitats are planned to be developed in phases. Toning between these different habitats is strategized for amplifying nature process and improving the resilience of the ecosystem, meanwhile enabling nature to be woven into urban fabrics.

The thriving ecosystem also function as sustainable landscape infrastructure. Multi-layered and multi-functional spaces serving as transitions between urban and nature improve people’s access and spontaneous interaction with nature. Dynamic programmes are integrated to cater to the needs of surrounding community (particularly urban workers, residents, schools, research institutes, etc.) and further create opportunities for social practice of ecosystem service value articulation. The narratives of new human-nature relationship are conveyed through design, for reshaping regional human ecosystem and morphing new sense of place and sense of nature. Retrofitted into vibrant space for coastal habitat research, learning and recreation where a new identity for West Coast Park is to be derived.

This project is envisioned to realize wider regional impacts through reviving of nature, both ecologically and socially. The co-existence and mutual benefit between urban and nature is to be addressed in a broader sense.

SITE CONDITION & ISSUE

Land use and VegeTaTion densiTy in sungei pandan

The existing land use condition in Sungei Pandan resulted in isolatons of urban environment and nature habitats, with narrow patches of coastal habitat patches and sparse vegetation in urbanized context.

A Sungei Pandan Mangrove Habitat (Unmamaged man grove & coastal habitat)

B Urban Habitat (managed vegetation)

C West Coast Park (mixed managed and unmanaged habitat)

EXISTING HABITAT CONDITION

Investigation into the coastal habitat condition of the three key areas, A) Sungei Pandan Mangrove; B) Pandan Urban Habitat; C) Marsh Garden at West Coast Park

Habitat Structure for A)

Tidal Mangrove Freshwater Mangrove Coastal Forest

Habitat Structure for B)

Land Use Map. The segregation of different land use areas

Source: URA Masterplan 2014

impaCTs from CurrenT forms of Land use

Sungei Pandan Vegetation Density Map

Freshwater Mangrove Brackish Swamp Park & Garden

Habitat Structure for C )

Habitat Map of Sungei Pandan

Roadside Plantation Canal vegetation

Sungei Pandan Mangrove

Biodiversity Potential Map. Habitat suitability analysis based on 5 birds and 5 mammals. (Purple indicating lower potential for biodiversity).

Dr. Abdul Rahim Hamid

Source:

Temperature Map: High temperature in industry areas.

Source: Chen Chen

boundary CondiTion for The TWo major naTuraL habiTaTs

Peak Surface Runoff Coefficient: High runoff rate in urban are.

Source: PUB

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

Species Map of Sungei Pandan

Area 4

Area 1:

Rhizophora Mucronata

Avicennia officinalis

Rhizophora apiculata

Acacia avriculaformis

Area 2:

Bruguiera Cylindrica

Sonneratia alba

Rhizophora apiculata

Avicennia Alba

Leucaena leucocephala

Area 3:

Rhizophora apiculata

Avicennia rumphiana

Avicennia officinalis

Nypa fruticans

Talipariti tiliaceum

Marsh Garden Mangrove

Area 4:

Bruguiera cylindrica

Rhizophora mucronata

Nypa fruticans

Rhizophora apiculata

Sonneratia caseolaris

Avicennia officinalis

HISTORICAL CONDITION

FAUNA HOSTING CAPACITY AT WEST COAST PARK

Inspite of the small area, West Coast Park is hosing 35 bird species, using mangrove, wetland, park or urban habitats. Some birds detected here are also using other coastal / mangrove habitats or nature reserves.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION OF SITE CONDITION

Open park space ourside Marsh Garden

Park map elaborated based on URA Masterplan 2014

Map of Coastal Condition and water depth, 1989 2009 Elaborated based on historical map, National Archives

Park footpath bordering Marsh Garden Concretized Water Canal bordering dense vegetation

Sungai Pandan Kechil Canal mouth and Seawall

Brackish water pond of Marsh Garden

Rhizophora and magrove fern established at pond bank Pond bank vegetation

Brackish / freshwater swamp at Marsh Garden pond bank

PHASAL ESTABLISHMENT

Design interventions are strategized for mitigating the disruption of existing habitats, meanwhile creating spaces and conditions favoring the emergence of new habitat and nature process to take place.

EXISTING CONDITION

Marsh Garden pond waterbody: consistent water height 3m

The height of tidal gate would gradually decreae to create tidal conditions

Lower topo area 1: central turf, water ponding happen after the rain, utilize for the creation of riverine habitat

STAGE 1 - PREPARE FOR OPENING

Lower topo area 2: area around carpark, where drainlines are intensively constructed, this site bordering marsh garden forest is chosen for Constucted Wetland

First start with new habitats establishment in the urbanized context

Freshwater Mangroves are identified towards the sea direction

IN LONG TERM - POND BEING TRANFORMED TO TIDAL ESTUARINE

Ultimately, the height of tidal gate is 1m, the brackish pond would be transformed to tidal estuarine

Riverline establishment towards the park sapce

HABITAT EMERGENCE

Existing Habitats

Designated tidal zone 30-50m wide

With the established urban habitat in earlier stage, nature habitats development is to be improved

River line flowing into park space, creating transitioning habitat conditions

Establishment of back mangrove forest as transitioning habitat

Stage 1

Completely established

Canal Mounth is widen for improving sedimentation formation

Tidal Gate of 2.9m height is built to continue maintain the water level at Marsh Garden

Introducing seawall mangrove habitat and canal bank mangrove by transform the impermeable canal bank to condition feasible for mangrove and other coastal vegetation to thrive

Tidal condition is also introduced into urban

Surface runoff collected in the extensive drainline would be collected in the nearby Constructed Wetland

In conjuction with Constructed Wetland, Bio-swale are designed, leveraging on existing topography, to prapare the furture establishment of Back Mangrove (which requires salinty gradient created by tidal and freshwater input)

Treatment Methodolgy of concretized canal bank to create habitats for mangrove:

The habitat of Constructed Wetland is designed as a transition from Coastal Forest, which also could function as a buffer, protecting conserved habitat from urban context

Forest Park & Garden Seawall

Freshwater Mangrove Brackish Swamgp

DESIGNATED HABITAT CONDITION AFTER ESTABLISHEMENT

Length 150m / width 6m

Elevation range: 1.5-3m

Seawall / Canal Bank

Mangrove: Length 530m width 4-14m

Elevation range: 0-4m

Tidal Mangrove: Mangrove zone width of 58m

Elevation range: 1m – 3.5m

Slope 2.8°

Tidal Swamp:

Area: 1,127msq

Elevation Range: 1.5-3m

STRATEGY 1

COASTAL NATURE TO THRIVE IN CONTROLLED SETTINGS OF URBAN CONTEXT

STRATEGY 1

COASTAL NATURE TO THRIVE IN CONTROLLED SETTINGS OF URBAN CONTEXT

SECTION

- EXISTING & DESIGNATION

DESIGNATION

A-A’

SECTION B-B’ -

Park & Garden Canal Bank Mangrove

(Nature thrival is chonstrained) (Mangrove establishement in compromised condition)

Tidal Mangrove Back Mangrove Bioswale Coastal Forest Constructed Wetland (Bio-swale provides freshwater input for Back Mangrove)

Coastal Forest Freshwater Mangrove

Coastal Forest Brackish Swamp Park & Garden

Seawall Mangrove Coastal Forest Back Mangrove Tidal Mangrove

Tidal Mangrove Back Mangrove Brackish Swamp Mangrove Nursery

(Dense vegetation forms threshold between urban & nature)

(Transitioning into urban space, and provides buffer for Coastal Forest)

Proposed Habitat Map for Marsh Garden

STRATEGY 2

INTEGRATED NATURAL SPACE BETTER ENGAGE AND BENEFIT REGIONAL SOCIETY

STRATEGY 3

COASTAL URBAN SPACE BE TRANSFORM WITH THE THRIVING NATURE

AN INTEGRATED WATERFRONT BASED ON BROWN EARTHWORK

Singapore is facing the impacts of high-density urban development. One of these impacts is the contamination of residues in urban brownfields. Being an important node of Sungei Pandan, Pandan river mouth’s waterfront is a nexus of river-based industry, transportation, commerce and maritime activity at the current stage. The site is located in Pandan waterfront industrial area, which is working as a shipyard with a high level of soil contamination, a mixture of organic and inorganic contaminants. Thus, this project seeks a comprehensive way to restore the waterfront area by pollution treatment process and reshape the relationship between ecology and urban system.

The surface runoff in current situation brings contaminants from factories, urban traffic and residential areas to the waterfront area where there is no hardscape to prevent the bare ground from being polluted by these contaminants. The contaminants in the soil are hard to be filtered or degraded with a very low level of vegetation density in the site. While treating the polluted soil, we need to dig out the hot spot and cap the polluted soil. It is a chance to generate a new landform by fully utilizing the brown earthwork.

There are three main strategies in this project, namely, mitigating soil pollution, utilizing nature succession, providing potential for habitats and social programs. The strategy of mitigating soil pollution happens on the whole site with the application of two tactics for this strategy: cutting and filling brown earthwork and using phyto-techniques. On the cut shoreline, the strategy utilizing nature succession is aiming to generate a new shoreline by sediment baffles, which will be set in the water edge and cutting out area for the tide to work for it. Additionaly, the project provides potential habitats and social programs that locate in different types of elevation, slopes of the new topography that is generated by the new brown earthwork.

By introducing these strategies, the proposal integrate Pandan waterfront to a vibrant and active place by dealing with the brown earthwork, so that it can provide the potential for both habitats establishment and people’s need for safe and stable waterfront space, and additionally adapt to the extreme weather.

GENERATE

LANDUSE ANALYSIS

exisTing Landuse neW deVeLopmenT Landuse

hoW To deCide size of The neW park

In new development, residential area: 1750793 m2

Residential FAR: 2.8; Ratio of green space: 26%

Total green space area: 1750793 * 26% = 45.52 ha

Existing green space area: 31.4 ha; So the new park need to be 14 ha

SOIL CONDITION ANALYSIS

hoW To deCide Lo of The neW park

soiL ConTaminaTion eVaLuaTion soiL ConTaminaTion eVaLuaTion

From the historic map, we can know that this area has the potential to become habitat.

Comprehensi V

soiL ComprehensiVe eVaLuaTion siTe biodiVersiTy eVaLuaTion

The area with worst soil condition and lowet biodiversity level is chosen to be the design area, which is working as a shipyard in current stage

The storm runoff brought the mixture of contaminants to the shoreline area, we need to modify the landform thoughtfully by cutting and filling brown-earthwork.

FRAMEWORK

frameWork of ConsTruCTing LandsCape based on broWn-earThWork

STRATEGY 1: MITIGATE SOIL

CONTAMINATION

STRATEGY 1: MITIGATE SOIL

CONTAMINATION

remediaTe soiL poLLuTion by managing sTorm runoff

Rainfall: mm

The annual rainfall: 2700mm

Potential treated area: 30ha

Depth of wetland: 2~3m

Goal: Control 80% of annual rainfall

The dimension of wetland need to be: 2.1 ha.

Source: Data.gov.sg

STRATEGY 2: UTILIZE NATURE SUCCESSION

STRATEGY 3: PROVIDE HABITATS& PROGRAMS

The park will work as an eco-connector between the two patches, and provide ecological services for the surrounding areas.

B. Observing and being educated from purification process

A. Wandering in coastal habitats, and playing with nature

West Coast Park

Eco-Connector

Eco-Connector

Mangrove Site

C. Nursery transformed from industrial building to show soil remediation process

RESHAPING COASTAL EDGE LANDSCAPE IN A HIGH-DENSE TROPICAL CITY

Yao Haomu

Due to urbanization and land reclamation, Sungei Pandan, once the largest mangrove habitat in Singapore, has witnessed a dramatic change of shoreline condition, which caused intertidal habitat loss and fragmentation. With current land use function and edge condition, the lifestyle around Sungei Pandan is detached from the original coastal characteristics, which leads to lack of public awareness for coastal habitats conservation. The project aims to revive coastal habitats under high-density urban context, by shaping a more diverse coastal edge along the Pandan River at the most representative and critical site of the whole area, the middle part between two canals, as a coastal park to benefit the whole community.

The project applies three strategies to reshaping the coastal edge landscape. Firstly, to diversify landform and shoreline, a shallow branch of water is introduced into the site where both shoreline and waterfront are redefined into natural forms. This creates a heterogeneous hydro condition such as brackish pond and riverine estuaries which expands the intertidal zones.

Secondly, by accommodating various habitats, the whole site is divided into active/passive recreation and restoration zone. Coastal, freshwater and urban habitats are then placed to accommodate the hydrological conditions which engage urban with natural area.

Lastly, the project integrates development into coastal habitats with both education and recreation activities that are arranged closely with nature based on habitats distribution. Community activities happen mostly in the northern part of the site, while housing and passive recreations are placed in the southern part. Mangrove restoration project is mainly placed on the new island. Jogging and biking tracks connect the whole site and implementation of boardwalks, treetop walk and aerie tower allow people to go through these coastal habitats.

The project provides a showcase of coastal habitat for public, in which human activities and coastal landscape are integrated together. A biophilic lifestyle would become widespread while people are unconsciously influenced here.

BACKGROUND

HOW TO ARRANGE SPREAD IMAGE

STRATEGY 1

Diagram for edge treatment

Mean

Mean

Mean sea level(sea level:1.7m)

Mean low water neap(sea level:1.2m)

STRATEGY 2

aCCommodaTing Various habiTaTs

Habitat Map A

Zonation Map 25 m N

seCTion b

Ardisia elliptica

Callisia repens (Jacq.) L

Diospyros blancoi

Acacia avriculaformis

Avicennia alba

Avicennia officinalis

Talipariti tiliaceum

Lumnizera razemosa

Calophyllum inophyllum

Cerbera odollam

Excoecaria agallocha

Eryngium maritimum

Hibiscus tiliaceus

Lumnitzera recemosa

Lumnitzera littorea

nummularia cultivar tectorius cordata amazonica

mudflat mangrove coastal forest riparian scrub

Cyrtostchys lakka

Homalomena

Licuala spinosa

Ardisia elliptica

Callisia repens (Jacq.) L

Diospyros blancoi

Ficus Lyrata

Mangifera indica

Tetragonia tetragonioides

Grevillea baileyana

Pentadesma butyracea Sabine

Habitat Condition

seCTion a

Lysimachia nummularia

L Nymphaea cultivar

Pandanus tectorius

cultivar

Pontederia cordata

Victoria amazonica

Acacia avriculaformis

Avicennia alba

Avicennia officinalis

Talipariti tiliaceum

Lumnizera razemosa

pool lawn riparian scrub riparian scrub pond stream mudflat mangrove coastal forest riparian scrub

Rocky shore intertidal area with solid rock strech up to spray zone narrow and steep in nature

Sandy beach formed by loose deposits or artficial 0~4.5m 50-100m

Sea grass meadow muddy, rocky or sandy sadiment minus10 - 0.8m up to 1km

Mudflat coastal water front/ gentle slope 0.8m - 1.3m 41m

Freshwater marsh wet muddy area with low oxygen level non-tidal area 10-30m

Seasonal wetland saturated with water, low topographic relief non-tidal area 20m

Riparian scrub interface between land and river,on floodplain 30-53m

Pond closed or more steady waterbody varies

Albizia saman

Cassia surattensis

Livistona Chinensis

Medinilla speciosa

Pandanus sanderi

Veitchia merillii

Avicennia rumphiana

Avicennia marina

Leucaena leucocephala

Rhizophora apiculata

Talipariti tiliaceum

Aegiceras corriculatum

Metrope angulate

other urban green roof lawn rocky shore sea grass mangrove

Acacia avriculaformis

Avicennia officinalis

Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lam

Cocos nucifera

Lumnizera razemosa

Nypa fruticans

Rhizophora apiculata

Rhizophora mucronata

Talipariti tiliaceum

Shrub:

Acanthus ebracteatus

Pluchea indica

Groundcover:

Chaetomorpha

Salicornia europaea L.

Tetragonia tetragonioides

other urban green roof lawn rocky shore sea grass mangrove mangrove mudflat salt-marsh coastal forest

pool

Acacia avriculaformis

Avicennia officinalis

Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lam

Shrub: Acanthus ebracteatus

STRATEGY 3

inTegraTing

School with wetland and rain garden

Community centre with tidal pool and green roof

TraffiC

This semester’s studio gave me a new perspective when approaching design. We were taught about the importance of site research and how it helps and informs the progress of our design. Detailing the issues about the site helps to make the project more personal, in my opinion. That is why tackling the problems I saw on site encouraged me to make a change in the urban fabric. I had enjoyed being on site and studying the faunas and their behaviours. It was an eye-opener for me, as previously birds and other animals were never taken into consideration as part of the landscape. Although it was a struggle at first, I loved how the studio encouraged each other and pull it through until the end. It was a bittersweet victory, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us in the future.

Nur Azilla

The studio has been a fruitful and memorable experience as my first learning exposure through the design process of landscape architecture. Thanks to all the teamwork, guidance, and sharing from studio colleagues, experts and practitioners, I was enabled to derive more comprehensive and consolidated perspectives concerning coastal habitats and their compromised condition incurred by high-dense urban development, simultaneously, exploring into ecological potentials that we could leverage on for resolutions of such tensions. Through this studio, I start to be inspired by dealing with diversified opportunities and challenges, as our role of being landscape architects, in creating social and ecological impacts in progressive ways, and to really think critically for achieving the optimisation of both sides (urban and nature) of values, through design interventions.

Though it is not an easy journey understanding the phenomenon of our depleting coastal landscape of Singapore, it was fulfilling to discover, investigate and imply on our gained knowledge to create different solutions that tackle critical issues of the site which other parts of the tropics are potentially facing. The importance of landscape architecture is apparent particularly on how we strive in balancing the ecology, economics and social aspects of Sungei Pandan, in both the existing and new development conditions to create various design proposal that serves as alternatives which our highly-advanced country can adopt when responding to such valuable sites with great ecological attributes. Overall, this experience has taught me to be courageous in exploring new landscape design ideas, pushing my creativity and analytical skills which is an essential attitude that I will carry throughout my design education and career.

Victor Kuan

This module aims to restore the coastal landscape in a future high-dense residential area by following the natural process which is an important concept for landscape architects to learn. Since uprising spread of hard surface in the modern urban area, the natural resource like the lake, soil, grassland, mudflat, marshland are all replaced by the concrete and steel, where natural succession is no longer familiar to urban dwellers and the species habitats are disappearing dramatically. It’s the call of duty for landscape architects to remind people what’s the natural environment looks like by mimicking the natural process. And meanwhile, dealing with environment issue and mitigate the conflict between human and nature is exactly what we are doing. I hope I can find more innovative way to build more ecological, vibrant and safety urban environment in the future.

Kong Lingchang

This module gives me a vital experience in engaging issues related to landscape architecture in super urban cities. It pushed me to learn the land, people and vegetation in this dense environment. It helps me to know how intensive site research is and how it forms our design. Also, I have gained a new perspective on landscape design by learning to design ecologically.

Liu Xiaolei

Fan Lei Helen

This first MLA studio gave me a quite different learning experience, and I have learned a lot. Firstly, this studio taught me the importance of the way of thinking. Critical thinking was needed during the whole design process and keep asking myself why made my design more logical. Secondly, this studio focused on ecology, which I did not pay much attention before. It was meaningful to learn how to coordinate the relationship between nature and human, and it is also a new angle for me to see problems. Thirdly, I tried to use geodesign method during the design process and learned lots of knowledge about the constructed wetland with the push of the tutors. Also, I think my presentation skill still need to be improved, and I believe that everything I learned will be useful for me to explore in the future study.

Wang Hanfeng

The first studio in MLA is quite different from what I learned during my undergraduate period, and it really gives me a new way of thinking and designing.Moreover, this studio mainly focuses on ecological landscape design, which is a new field for me, and I found it is quite tricky in the beginning. Facing the conflicts of habitat loss and high-density urban development, I learned to find out the most suitable strategies based on site researchers. What I focused on in this studio is brownfield restoration. As I attempted to utilise the remediated brown earthwork to manage storm runoff while to provide potentials for habitats and recreation programs, I began to know that landscape does not just mean beautiful things, we should add more values and functions to it. Lastly, I believe these gains will help me explore more knowledge in the landscape field in the future.

Xu Lin Xin

This is the first design studio in MLA program, which mostly focuses on ecology. After we found our issue, we tried our best to find a new harmonious relationship between human and nature, with a hope of contributing to Sungei Pandan. In this studio, I learned how to fully utilise the existing resource in our hands, how to make full use of the data we have and how to think critically, then we can turn the constraints into opportunities and do a more innovative design. Not only in Singapore, we need to do like this, but also in the world with an increased acute contradiction between human and nature, we still need to do this, this is the responsibility of a landscape architect.

Wang Zhe

Undergoing the very first MLA Ecological studio which is very relevant in today’s’ Singapore context, gave me a wider scope of lens on how I could view, think, process and design landscape critically in a holistic manner. was intrigued by how important our coastal landscape is in Singapore, on how it has morphed and depleted. Most importantly how we as landscape designers could do our part to preserve, enhance and enrich our evolving coastal landscape which is in the phase of depletion. The site visits were beneficial and refreshing as it allowed myself to experience the coast, get immersed in the atmosphere and environment and stay connected with the people in the district. The process of this studio was the most important to me as it showcases the consistency, progression and development through the various mediums such as specific research, site study and essay reading. I would apply what I’ve learned to the upcoming studios in the next few semesters.

Raymond Yong

This semester’s experience was to me a definite ‘culture shock’. It has broadened my horizon by letting me peek into the world of landscape. It is mind-blowing to me regarding how much intricate details and data go into the whole planning process. Previously thought that landscape was all about design and that having the artistic sense would be fundamental to its success. Having gone through one semester, however, realised that the logical and practical aspects of it matter so much more. Its multi-faceted thinking required for a thorough planning stretched me beyond what would have imagined. I have come to appreciate and respect the fact that humans do not lord over nature. In fact, the wildlife is very much an essential part of the ecosystem, and hence we should take special care to share the same space in harmony, and this is precisely where landscape design can play such a vital role in finding that delicate balance in dividing the area between wildlife and human.an.

Swan

Lam

This studio gave me a new understanding of ecological design. The completion of the design does not mean that the project is completed, whether it achieves the desired goal and the ecological evolution in the process is also something that we need to focus on. The ecological design should be a process of science, and science is to find the characteristics of a general rule, so regarding design results, a reasonable design should include a complete set of ecological design evaluation standards. Also, our design should adapt to the site over time. Therefore, the ecological design should be based on the site, not just stay on the papers.

I’m glad that survived since there were so many challenges throughout the studio. It’s the first time that nature becomes the main priority where green spaces are no longer simply labelled as green visual like my previous learning experience of urban planning. By understanding the site condition in numerous dimensions, we learned how the natural process works in the high-density urban context. Based on these analyses, we formed individual narratives in imagining a new Pandan Coast. It’s quite tricky to implement measures to coastal landscape due to its dynamic tidal conditions and changes. As I try to prove with my design that it’s possible for us to accommodate with the natural process and blurred boundary rather than separating the coastal nature and our daily life by putting a solid seawall everywhere. In all, this studio expanded my understanding towards nature and design, I’m expecting to explore more detailed environmental issues in the following semesters.

Yao Haomu

The first MLA studio is a challenge for me, and it gave me an entirely different view towards landscape architecture. We started with the research of the site by kayaking in the pandan river, and I never feel such close to the nature like this before. think it is a good experience from which we can learn the natural process, the animals, the vegetation and feel the relationship between them in ourselves. What I also learned from the studio is that ecosystem must be emphasised and considered when we start our design because even a small area can affect the system and people are also as a part of the system. Moreover, the critical and logical thinking has always been emphasised during the studio process, I try to express myself in every presentation, and through this, I become a little confident to express myself. All in all, although the study process may be a hard challenge for me, will keep on going.

Gao Chenchen

Xu Yuexin