SINGAPORE – In line with the vision for Pasir Ris to be a “resort town by the sea”, a Build-To-Order (BTO) project will incorporate coastal elements and a street will get a river-themed makeover.
These themes, inspired by the town’s history as a popular seaside destination, were set out in a design guide that outlines a town’s overall planning vision and distinct theme.
The design guides for 13 out of 24 Housing Board towns have been completed since such guides were introduced in 2018, HDB said on Sept 7. These towns include Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Merah, Pasir Ris, Punggol, Tengah and Woodlands.
The design guide for Pasir Ris was completed in 2020 and updated in 2024.
These guides help to guide new developments within a town, as well as upgrading and rejuvenation efforts for existing spaces and common areas, said HDB’s chief town planner, Dr Chong Fook Loong.
“The guide ensures consistency in design across the town’s life cycle and helps to retain the place identity and distinct characteristics of our HDB towns,” he added.
In Pasir Ris, housing blocks in Pasir Ris Street 13, which were built in the 1990s, have circular porthole openings along their facade like those in cruise ships, HDB said. Other blocks in Pasir Ris Street 11 have corners designed to look like lighthouse turrets.
The town’s design guide builds on this identity, it added.
For instance, the Costa Grove BTO project in Pasir Ris Drive 3 will have mangrove-themed playgrounds in line with the coastal theme, and wayfinding motifs of mudskippers and kingfishers. The project is estimated to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Pasir Ris Street 53 will feature a new 200m-long path that mimics a stream weaving through undulating terrain and trees, in an effort to introduce river-themed elements under the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme.
Mr Terence Chua, a partner from LG Architects and Associates, which is consulting on the project, said the upgrading works were inspired by the nearby Sungei Api Api and Sungei Tampines.
“This holistic approach balances aesthetic, environmental and social considerations to create spaces that are truly integrated into the neighbourhood,” he added.
The guide offers design principles on three scales: the town, neighbourhood and precinct.
The town layer provides the overall vision, the neighbourhood layer sets out sub-themes and concepts, and the precinct layer guides the detailed design of individual projects.
Over in Queenstown, its urban living theme was inspired by how various estates have the convenience of being close to many amenities and facilities, HDB said. The town’s design guide aims to ensure each estate in Queenstown has a unique character and that it ties in with its heritage, it added.
For instance, the theme of Tanglin Halt as a “charming heartland by the rail” references the former Keretapi Tanah Melayu railway in the area, which closed in 1983.
The barrel vault structure of Tanglin Halt Market and several mature rain trees in the courtyard space of the former Commonwealth Drive Food Centre will be retained as part of the upcoming Tanglin Halt Courtyard integrated development.
Mr Julian Chia, director of Kyoob Architects, which is working on the development, said the design guide for Queenstown spurred the firm to retain these features and reimagine them for a new generation of residents.
In Queensway, the theme Villages by the Rail – the area is located on the Rail Corridor – has guided the design of upcoming BTO projects such as Queensway Canopy.
The project, designed by HDB architects, will have bridges linking each block to form an 800m jogging track. The link bridges were designed after truss bridges – a nod to the Rail Corridor’s history as a former railway line used for commuting and transporting goods between Singapore and the rest of the Malay Peninsula.
Dr Chong said HDB hopes these guides will assist HDB’s partners, such as other government agencies and design consultants, to create a cohesive town with a strong identity for residents.
The guides for the 11 remaining towns will be progressively completed over the next few years. They include towns such as Bishan, Jurong East, Marine Parade, Sembawang and Sengkang.
