This appealed as Singapore is Singapore (believe it or not!) … I've never been – but would love to visit sometime …
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Outline of Singapore with its surrounding islands and waterways |
They only became independent in 1965 … and as they were in the 20th century realised protecting their resources were essential.
The article compares Hong Kong with Singapore … interesting variances as both countries developed … Hong Kong under British colonisation from 1840s …
… while Singapore in the same era as a British Crown Colony, believed after WW2, in the 1960s, that its future lay with Malaysia; ...
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1825 Survey Map - showing the free-trade port on the Singapore River |
… but talks broke down, then Malaysia expelled Singapore, when it had no choice but to reluctantly become a newly independent country.
The charismatic prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, is known as the founding father of the nation. He was described as the philosopher king … he also had a nickname “ Chief Gardener” …
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Lee Kuan Yew (1923 - 2015) |
… so the new government set out to transform the city into a tropical garden city … giving the citizens pride in their new freedom and ...
… it was realised that tiny Singapore needed to be self-sufficient within its own compact footprint … Malaysia was known to consider threatening to turn off the water …
Lee, chose the month of November, as it is when saplings need the least amount of water, to hold the first annual Tree Planting Day to beautify Singapore … in 1974 they had over 150,000 trees, by now they've planted over 1.5 million.
With this in mind as development continued … water cleansing and capturing were essential elements to be integrated into the cityscape …
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Lee's first choice of tree 'Cratoxylum Formosum' |
… water is captured in mini reservoirs, rooftops, parks, roadways and sidewalks … an elaborate system of channels, tunnels and pumps then moves the water to treatment plants …
Lee also realised that if citizens owned their own homes – they'd be more responsible with their properties. The Housing and Development Board built low-cost housing, which tenants could rent … ultimately purchasing with their pension funds. (Interesting idea, I thought).
The development continues … parks, rivers, ponds co-exist in the urban centres and high-rises … while authorities encourage developers to include plants with a higher leaf-area index.
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Vernonia Elliptica - one of many creepers promoted within the city (curtain creeper) |
There's more … I leave you to read … I found it fascinating … the city's newly planted trees and green walls will help cool buildings, provide shade, and reduce outdoor temperatures … encouraging more exercise – walk to work etc …
I loved the idea that floors and walkways were built with deep planting beds for drainage, absorbing water during times of tropical downpours. Encouraging growth of tropical plants to drape and over time cascade around the building/s …
The book, accompanying the article, 'Supertall: How the World's Tallest Buildings are Reshaping Our Cities and Our Lives' … sounds really interesting …
Stefan Al, one of the authors, is a TED Resident – this is an incubator group for breakthrough ideas … each resident has a talk … see more here … again I found this interesting, as I hadn't heard about this concept.
The article opened my mind to many aspects – about how architects, engineers, hydrologists, planners, designers, and data scientists are all influencing and working together to build more sustainable, resilient and equitable environments within our city scapes.
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Panoramic view of the central business district - the 'funny' skyscrapers - are linked 500 feet in the air - available for joggers and walkers in a green oases of calm |
It's the sign of our times … as we need to remember planet earth … yes please to green oases within our urban landscapes …
Big Think - the present: SuperTall Singapore ...
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