[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: Residents of future public housing can expect more greenery, facilities to promote physical and social well-being, as well as smart infrastructure in their homes.
This is part of the new Housing and Development Board (HDB) roadmap for designing cities over the next decade.
Speaking at the launch of the Designing for Life roadmap on Thursday (October 15), Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat noted the importance of providing quality homes and living environments for Singaporeans.
Artist’s impression of a network of sky gardens connected by sky bridges, offering comforts close to home and connecting residents throughout the development. (Image: HDB)
“As the lifestyles and aspirations of Singaporeans evolve, we must continue to provide a quality home and living environment for Singaporeans at every stage of their lives,” he said.
The roadmap addresses new challenges, including an aging population, climate change, evolving social aspirations, and residents’ desire to participate more in shaping their living environment, HDB said.
Future plans will be guided by three pillars: Living Well, Living Smart and Living Connected, which form the backbone of the renewed roadmap.
PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, MENTAL WELL-BEING
A key objective of the “living well” pillar is to encourage active lifestyles.
“For example, stairs, which are often considered functional structures, will be attractively designed to push residents to use stairs on a daily basis, or incorporate stair climbing as part of their exercise routine,” said HDB.
Artist’s impression of a characteristic staircase in the multi-story car park at Parc Residences @ Tengah. (Image: HDB)
To build a more inclusive environment, directional signs will have larger pictorial symbols and font sizes.
For older residents, there will be dementia-friendly features, such as looping trails in the parks to help them navigate, as well as colored grab bars in the houses to enhance indoor safety.
HDB said it will continue to include community spaces for residents to network and network.
Larger spaces, such as large covered plazas, will be able to host mass events, while smaller spaces, such as links, can serve as spaces for community interaction, he added.
Neighborhood centers will be conceptualized as social and wellness centers. They will include playgrounds for children, community spaces, exercise facilities and restaurants. When feasible, there will also be health care facilities, HDB said.
Artist’s impression of the rooftop garden above the multi-story parking lot at Parc Residences @ Tengah, which will feature landscaping designed to promote the well-being of residents. (Image: HDB)
Rooftop gardens, ground-level enclosure, and pocket gardens will be the norm.
“These green spaces will allow residents to enjoy a moment of tranquility and experience the restorative benefits of nature,” said HDB.
READ: Tengah’s Park District to feature Singapore’s first ‘car-free’ city center, apartments to launch in August
READ: Tengah’s First HDB Flooring Lot From ‘Forest Town’ To Launch In November
Some of these features have already been incorporated into the plans for new developments such as Tengah.
These urban design strategies will also apply to precincts undergoing the Neighborhood Renewal Program.
INTELLIGENT LIFE
There will be increased use of technology at various levels to improve the living environment.
In wealth management, sensors can help issue alerts when maintenance is required, while common areas could have smart lighting that adjusts lighting levels based on human traffic patterns, HDB said.
At home, some flats in Punggol Northshore have infrastructure such as smart plugs and smart switchboards that monitor energy consumption and support the adoption of compatible smart home solutions.
READ: All new HDB projects to feature nature-centric designs
Punggol Northshore, to be completed later this year, is the first district with smart and sustainable initiatives, Heng noted.
HDB said it is looking to implement these initiatives beyond Punggol.
READ: HDB to launch 6,000 digital display panels in housing estates
READ: HDB to Explore Cooler Home Building, 3D Printing for Future Floors
To address climate change, HDB noted that the 10-year Green Cities Program was introduced earlier this year. It seeks to improve the quality of life for residents by implementing green features in three areas: reducing energy consumption, recycling rainwater, and cooling HDB cities.
RESIDENTS HELPING TO SHAPE PUBLIC SPACES
HDB said it will continue to engage residents to better understand their needs and aspirations. This is part of the third pillar of the new roadmap.
Artist’s impression of the Rainforest Walk at Parc Residences @ Tengah. (Image: HDB)
“Beyond building houses and towns, HDB aims to build homes and communities, where people bond with each other, live together and grow together,” Heng said.
Residents in the new developments will have common spaces that they can design and build collectively, and those in four existing cities (Bukit Merah, Queenstown, Choa Chu Kang, and Ang Mo Kio) can participate in focus group discussions to get involved in rejuvenating their lives. cities.
An initiative called the Lively Places Challenge will be rolled out in all HDB cities by 2024. Residents can team up to develop and implement solutions, and obtain funding and training to support their effort.
Artist’s impression of Sky Sports Park in an upcoming development in the Park District. (Image: HDB)
“Through careful planning backed by science and data, we will advance the sustainability of our cities and leverage technology to help residents live more comfortably and more comfortably,” said HDB CEO Cheong Koon Hean.
“We will also find more ways for people to connect with each other and empower them to play a bigger role in designing and activating their shared spaces.”
