Downward angle icon Downward angle icon. Singapore is often hailed as one of the best-designed cities in the world. Martin Puddy/Getty Images Liu Thai Ker, 86, is an urban planner who is often considered the architect of modern Singapore. He’s worked on building public housing and oversaw the development of the city’s land-use plan. But he has two regrets: not building bike paths and not preserving the informal settlements.
Soaring skyscrapers, candy-colored public housing, lush green spaces — Singapore has long been known for its meticulous urban planning.
The city-state is home to 5.9 million people despite covering just 284 square miles, and much of the credit for its planning goes to Liew Tai Ker, the 86-year-old urban planner often credited as the architect of modern Singapore.
Liew Tai Ka is often hailed as Singapore’s modern architect. Courtesy of Morrow Architects and Planners
During his tenure at the Housing and Development Board, Liu oversaw the construction of 20 new townships and more than 500,000 homes in the city. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he also served as Chief Planner for the Urban Redevelopment Authority, where he developed Singapore’s land use plans.
But Liu said he has two regrets about the way Singapore was planned.
Development of bicycle paths within the city
“When I was in HDB, I raised the idea of a bike path for citizens,” Liew told Business Insider. “At the time, my colleagues and I discussed it several times, but we ultimately gave up on it as we felt it was too hot to cycle in Singapore’s tropical climate.”
The Singapore government plans to double the city’s existing bicycle network by 2030. AscentXmedia
However, attitudes of Singaporeans and people around the world have changed today, he said.
Liu said he wished roads had bike lanes and streets had bike paths built into them. “Fortunately, I believe it’s still possible,” he added.
Last year, local newspaper The Straits Times reported that local authorities planned to double the city’s existing bicycle network from the current 530km to 1,300km by 2030.
Thomas Schroepfer, professor of architecture and sustainable design at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, told BI that building more bike lanes would strengthen Singapore’s sustainability efforts and be in line with global trends in urban development seen in cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen.
Shared pedestrian and bicycle paths are common in Singapore’s parks and other recreational areas.
“Creating cycle lanes is crucial for a sustainable city and will benefit Singapore by reducing traffic congestion, reducing emissions and improving public health through increased physical activity,” Mr Schroepfer said.
He also said bike paths could boost local economies because cyclists are more likely to stop at local businesses.
Preserving squatter shacks for younger generations to see
Today, Singapore’s skyline includes some of the world’s most famous landmarks.
There’s the Marina Bay Sands and its infinity pool; the Oasia Hotel in downtown Singapore, nicknamed the “living tower” for the intentional greenery on its 620-foot façade; and the Esplanade Theatres along the Singapore River, nicknamed “The Durian” for its resemblance to the tropical fruit.
However, the landscape of Singapore in the 1960s was very different.
According to the Ministry of National Development, an estimated 300,000 people live in semi-permanent shelters in squatter areas, and a further 250,000 rented cubicles in old shophouses.
There are no more squatter settlements in Singapore, but other structures such as shophouses have been preserved. John Pratt/Keystone Features/Getty Images
Mr Liu said the government, through the HDB, had been able to rehouse about 1.2 million squatters by 1985.
“This is a very welcome achievement, but I regret that no effort was made to preserve a few hectares of the original squatter settlements so that current Singaporeans and future generations can see how much we have changed the city into what it is today,” Mr Liu said.
“No amount of photographs or writing can do justice to the appalling living conditions of those early squatters,” he continued. “As I always say, seeing speaks a thousand words. Unfortunately, today we cannot see the squatter settlements, but this also means that Singaporeans live in much better conditions.”
Most of Singapore’s population lives in high-rise public housing.
In fact, public housing in Singapore currently houses around 80% of the country’s residents.
Singapore no longer has any squatter settlements, but other old architecture has been preserved, including shophouses and black-and-white colonial bungalows.
Rita Padawangi, an associate professor at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, told BI the aim of preservation should be to encourage younger generations to reflect on who they are as individuals and as a society.
“The squatter shacks should serve as a reminder of the need for infrastructure to ensure that we don’t take for granted our near-universal standard of living in Singapore. This is a great achievement,” she said. “But when we preserve old houses, we also need to think about the people who live in them, because preservation only makes sense if people are living in them.”
Pulau Ubin is a small island off the northeast coast of Singapore. It is one of the last remaining rural areas in Singapore. fiftymm99/Getty Images
She said it would be better to protect Singapore’s “kampongs” or villages rather than protect informal settlements where people live in squalid conditions.
She added that this will enable the younger generation to learn about the city’s transformation, what Singapore has achieved and what has been lost along the way.
She said two places in Singapore still come to mind when locals reminisce about the past: Kampung Lorong Buangkok, Singapore’s last traditional village, and Pulau Ubin, a tiny island off Singapore’s northeast coast that is home to about 38 villagers.
“The reason these buildings are still standing is not because they were deliberately preserved; it’s meaningful because these two places are still inhabited,” she said.
Looking to the future
Schrofer said Singapore already has an efficient waste management system and advanced water management strategies, including rainwater harvesting, desalination and wastewater recycling.
At the same time, the city has been criticized for its heavy reliance on air conditioning, which takes a toll on the environment but also provides relief from a hot and humid climate where the average temperature is about 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
The city of Kamakura has been criticized for its unsustainability due to its over-reliance on air conditioning. Taro Hama @ e-kamakura/Getty Images
In recent years, the government has stepped up efforts to improve the city’s district cooling system, which uses a centralized cooling plant to cool multiple buildings through a network of underground pipes carrying chilled water.
But Schroepfer said there were other steps Singapore could take to future-proof the city against challenges such as the climate crisis and population growth.
“Sustainability, inclusiveness and resilience should be a priority in urban planning,” he added. “The integration of green spaces, efficient public transport and renewable energy sources is crucial.”
