Belinda Yuen – författare

Two hundred years ago, Sir Stamford Raffles established the modern settlement of Singapore with the intent of seeing it become ‘a great commercial emporium and fulcrum’. But by the time independence was achieved in 1965, the city faced daunting problems of housing shortage, slums and high unemployment. Since then, Singapore has become one of the richest countries on earth, providing, in Sir Peter Hall’s words, ‘perhaps the most extraordinary case of economic development in the history of the world’. The story of Singapore’s remarkable achievements in the first half century after its independence is now widely known. In Planning Singapore: The Experimental City, Stephen Hamnett and Belinda Yuen have brought together a set of chapters on Singapore’s planning achievements, aspirations and challenges, which are united in their focus on what might happen next in the planning of the island-state. Chapters range over Singapore’s planning system, innovation and future economy, housing, biodiversity, water and waste, climate change, transport, and the potential transferability of Singapore’s planning knowledge. A key question is whether the planning approaches, which have served Singapore so well until now, will suffice to meet the emerging challenges of a changing global economy, demographic shifts, new technologies and the existential threat of climate change. Singapore as a global city is becoming more unequal and more diverse. This has the potential to weaken the social compact which has largely existed since independence and to undermine the social resilience undoubtedly needed to cope with the shocks and disruptions of the twenty-first century. The book concludes, however, that Singapore is better-placed than most to respond to the challenges which it will certainly face thanks to its outstanding systems of planning and implementation, a proven capacity to experiment and a highly developed ability to adapt quickly, purposefully and pragmatically to changing circumstances.

Two hundred years ago, Sir Stamford Raffles established the modern settlement of Singapore with the intent of seeing it become ‘a great commercial emporium and fulcrum’. But by the time independence was achieved in 1965, the city faced daunting problems of housing shortage, slums and high unemployment. Since then, Singapore has become one of the richest countries on earth, providing, in Sir Peter Hall’s words, ‘perhaps the most extraordinary case of economic development in the history of the world’. The story of Singapore’s remarkable achievements in the first half century after its independence is now widely known. In Planning Singapore: The Experimental City, Stephen Hamnett and Belinda Yuen have brought together a set of chapters on Singapore’s planning achievements, aspirations and challenges, which are united in their focus on what might happen next in the planning of the island-state. Chapters range over Singapore’s planning system, innovation and future economy, housing, biodiversity, water and waste, climate change, transport, and the potential transferability of Singapore’s planning knowledge. A key question is whether the planning approaches, which have served Singapore so well until now, will suffice to meet the emerging challenges of a changing global economy, demographic shifts, new technologies and the existential threat of climate change. Singapore as a global city is becoming more unequal and more diverse. This has the potential to weaken the social compact which has largely existed since independence and to undermine the social resilience undoubtedly needed to cope with the shocks and disruptions of the twenty-first century. The book concludes, however, that Singapore is better-placed than most to respond to the challenges which it will certainly face thanks to its outstanding systems of planning and implementation, a proven capacity to experiment and a highly developed ability to adapt quickly, purposefully and pragmatically to changing circumstances.

In the last four decades, Singapore’s urban development has gradually received an international reputation. From a city of just under two million people in 1960, we replaced squatters and slums with mostly high-rise, high-density public housing as well as industrial estates, commercial centres and parks and gardens. We dem- strated to our earlier well-meaning critics that a high-rise housing programme need not be automatically doomed to failure. Indeed Singapore now serves as an ex- ple of shaping successful residential communities to the massive population of Asia. Our city is now at nearly 4. 5 million people. It is green and clean, with fl- ing traffic, functioning infrastructure and proper space allocated for every urban need. It is no longer as clinical as it was in the 1970s, as we can afford to go beyond the basic needs and have added finer and more colourful things to our cityscape. Yet, when people ask me for books to provide an overview of the experience of our urban transformation, there are sadly very few. Singaporeans are more workers than writers. Not enough people have recorded how we did it, or shared the expe- ence with people in other countries, or even with our own younger urban planners and administrators who are less familiar with the historical perspective. This matter is becoming very pressing as most pioneers who went through the start up process of transformation have retired by now.

As urbanization progresses at a remarkable pace, policy makers and analysts come to understand and agree on key features that will make this process more efficient and inclusive, leading to gains in the welfare of citizens. Drawing on insights from economic geography and two centuries of experience in developed countries, the World Bank’s World Development Report 2009: Reshaping Economic Geography emphasizes key aspects that are fundamental to ensuring an efficient rural-urban transformation. Critical among these are land, as the most important resource, and well-functioning land markets. Regardless of the stage of urbanization, flexible and forward-looking institu- ons that help the efficient functioning of land markets are the bedrock of succe- ful urbanization strategies. In particular, institutional arrangements for allocating land rights and for managing and regulating land use have significant implica- ons for how cities deliver agglomeration economies and improve the welfare of their residents. Property rights, well-functioning land markets, and the management and servicing of land required to accommodate urban expansion and provide trunk infrastructure are all topics that arise as regions progress from incipient urbani- tion to medium and high density.

This book contains a collection of studies that have been conducted among older residents in Singapore. Different methods, from surveys to crowd sourcing, have been used to investigate the older adults’ lived experiences and social participation in the residential environment. The findings reveal that older residents interact with the built environment in ways that reflect their changing capabilities and lifestyles. Since the built environment – where we live and go – can have an important impact on our daily lives, especially among older people, understanding these experiences and perceived needs is important to help older individuals age within their community.

This book brings together the emerging body of work on age-friendly neighbourhoods in Singapore, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and North America.

This bibliography offers valuable annotated references on housing for older population for those interested in these initiatives and discussions. This is followed by an annotated bibliography featuring published and unpublished work, spanning recent decades, pertaining to housing for the older population with emphasis on Singapore.

This book combines in a single volume numerous studies concerning the use of arts and culture to enhance quality of life, health and wellbeing among older people, especially in Singapore. The bibliography covers not only research conducted in Singapore (both published and grey literature), but also a global body of work encompassing the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and North America. In addition to the annotated bibliography, the opening chapter introduces the current state of policy, practice and research on arts and culture for older people in Singapore. The book offers a valuable point of reference for all readers interested in the use of artistic and cultural development as creative and non-pharmacological approaches to providing support throughout the ageing process. It will be particularly useful for anyone interested in research advances in participatory arts therapies and recreational activities for older individuals.

This book contains a collection of studies that have been conducted among older residents in Singapore. Different methods, from surveys to crowd sourcing, have been used to investigate the older adults’ lived experiences and social participation in the residential environment. The findings reveal that older residents interact with the built environment in ways that reflect their changing capabilities and lifestyles. Since the built environment – where we live and go – can have an important impact on our daily lives, especially among older people, understanding these experiences and perceived needs is important to help older individuals age within their community.

Not enough people have recorded how we did it, or shared the expe- ence with people in other countries, or even with our own younger urban planners and administrators who are less familiar with the historical perspective.

This book is intended to fill a knowledge gap in the study of contemporary high-rise living. While there has been much documentation on the engineering and technological aspects of tall buildings, relatively little has been written about the social and livability of high-rise. Much less is written about Asian cities even though Asia is the current hotbed of high-rise development.Even though traditional discourse of high-rise housing is not always positive, new forces are redefining its place in 21st century urbanity. Many cities around the world are reembracing high-rise in urban agenda under current narrative of sustainable development. High-rise is fast becoming a priority area in international research agenda. The quest is for livable and sustainable high-rise development. Against the background of current trends--globalization, urbanization, mixed-use development, and new-built taller buildings in inner city areas in both developed and developing countries, this book examines the software: design, economics, estate management, legal and property rights, physical environment, planning, community development, and social dimensions of high-rise living. Analysis is with the widely acclaimed successful high-rise public housing in Hong Kong and Singapore to understand the advantages and worries of high-rise living, and to distill the key points and lessons in the making of a ‘good’ highrise living environment. Hong Kong and Singapore have been constructing high-rise for more than four decades each. The majority of their population has moved to live in high-rise, selecting to live high-rise, and registering consistently high residential satisfaction. The height of apartment buildings in both cities continues to rise. The tallest is anticipated to be 70-storey. It is the contention of this book that contrary to earlier common negative discourses on public high-rise living, the high-rise environment may yet offer urban residents a satisfying dwellingexperience. Leading housing academics, researchers and practitioners in the two cities have contributed to this book. This book presents a timely contribution to our understanding of a widening urban phenomenon that will affect a growing number of the world’s  population.

This book is about African and Asian cities. Illustrated through selected case cities, the book brings together a rich collection of papers by leading scholars and practitioners in Africa and Asia to offer empirical analysis and up-to-date discussions and assessments of the urban challenges and solutions for their cities. A number of key topics concerning housing, sustainable urban development and climate change in Africa and Asia are explored along with how policy interventions and partnerships deliver specific forms of urban development. It is intended for all who are interested in the state of the cities and urban development in Africa and Asia. Africa and Asia present, in many ways, useful lessons in dealing with the burgeoning urban population, and the problems surrounding this influx of people and climate change in the developing word.

Eco-city planning is a key element of urban land use planning in perspective and of ongoing debate of environmental urban sustainable development with a spatial and practical dimension. The conceptual basis of ecological planning is that we can no longer afford to be merely human-centred in approach. Instead, the interdependency of human and non-human species has forced us to appreciate the ‘rights’ and ‘intrinsic values’ of non-human species in our pursuit for a sustainable ecosystem. This volume has as approach an emphasis on environmental planning policies whereby, for example, energy saving, anti-pollution measures, use of non-car modes, construction of green buildings, safeguarding of nature and natural habitats in urban areas, and use of more renewable resources are promotional norms. Their aims and leading outcome serve to protect the Earth from adverse effects of global warming and different sources of pollution threatening the quality of life of human societies.

This book is about African and Asian cities. Illustrated through selected case cities, the book brings together a rich collection of papers by leading scholars and practitioners in Africa and Asia to offer empirical analysis and up-to-date discussions and assessments of the urban challenges and solutions for their cities. A number of key topics concerning housing, sustainable urban development and climate change in Africa and Asia are explored along with how policy interventions and partnerships deliver specific forms of urban development. It is intended for all who are interested in the state of the cities and urban development in Africa and Asia. Africa and Asia present, in many ways, useful lessons in dealing with the burgeoning urban population, and the problems surrounding this influx of people and climate change in the developing word.

As urbanization progresses at a remarkable pace, policy makers and analysts come to understand and agree on key features that will make this process more efficient and inclusive, leading to gains in the welfare of citizens. Drawing on insights from economic geography and two centuries of experience in developed countries, the World Bank’s World Development Report 2009: Reshaping Economic Geography emphasizes key aspects that are fundamental to ensuring an efficient rural-urban transformation. Critical among these are land, as the most important resource, and well-functioning land markets. Regardless of the stage of urbanization, flexible and forward-looking institu- ons that help the efficient functioning of land markets are the bedrock of succe- ful urbanization strategies. In particular, institutional arrangements for allocating land rights and for managing and regulating land use have significant implica- ons for how cities deliver agglomeration economies and improve the welfare of their residents. Property rights, well-functioning land markets, and the management and servicing of land required to accommodate urban expansion and provide trunk infrastructure are all topics that arise as regions progress from incipient urbani- tion to medium and high density.

Eco-city planning is a key element of urban land use planning in perspective and of ongoing debate of environmental urban sustainable development with a spatial and practical dimension. The conceptual basis of ecological planning is that we can no longer afford to be merely human-centred in approach. Instead, the interdependency of human and non-human species has forced us to appreciate the ‘rights’ and ‘intrinsic values’ of non-human species in our pursuit for a sustainable ecosystem. This volume has as approach an emphasis on environmental planning policies whereby, for example, energy saving, anti-pollution measures, use of non-car modes, construction of green buildings, safeguarding of nature and natural habitats in urban areas, and use of more renewable resources are promotional norms. Their aims and leading outcome serve to protect the Earth from adverse effects of global warming and different sources of pollution threatening the quality of life of human societies.

This book is intended to fill a knowledge gap in the study of contemporary high-rise living. While there has been much documentation on the engineering and technological aspects of tall buildings, relatively little has been written about the social and livability of high-rise. Much less is written about Asian cities even though Asia is the current hotbed of high-rise development.Even though traditional discourse of high-rise housing is not always positive, new forces are redefining its place in 21st century urbanity. Many cities around the world are reembracing high-rise in urban agenda under current narrative of sustainable development. High-rise is fast becoming a priority area in international research agenda. The quest is for livable and sustainable high-rise development. Against the background of current trends--globalization, urbanization, mixed-use development, and new-built taller buildings in inner city areas in both developed and developing countries, this book examines the software: design, economics, estate management, legal and property rights, physical environment, planning, community development, and social dimensions of high-rise living. Analysis is with the widely acclaimed successful high-rise public housing in Hong Kong and Singapore to understand the advantages and worries of high-rise living, and to distill the key points and lessons in the making of a ‘good’ highrise living environment. Hong Kong and Singapore have been constructing high-rise for more than four decades each. The majority of their population has moved to live in high-rise, selecting to live high-rise, and registering consistently high residential satisfaction. The height of apartment buildings in both cities continues to rise. The tallest is anticipated to be 70-storey. It is the contention of this book that contrary to earlier common negative discourses on public high-rise living, the high-rise environment may yet offer urban residents a satisfying dwellingexperience. Leading housing academics, researchers and practitioners in the two cities have contributed to this book. This book presents a timely contribution to our understanding of a widening urban phenomenon that will affect a growing number of the world’s  population.

Age-Friendly Neighbourhood Planning and Design Guidelines: A Singapore Case Study provides evidence-based research and examples of existing good practices on health-enabling, age-friendly neighbourhood provision. These relate to the planning and design of outdoor spaces and enabling opportunities for active, healthy ageing. Importantly, our research prioritises the need to engage with older people when creating neighbourhood environments that contribute to healthy ageing in place.The book and its supplementary toolkits touches on 3 main stages of age-friendly neighbourhood project — planning (environmental audit), implementation (planning and design guidelines) and evaluation of progress made (post-implementation review). We hope that these materials will contribute to the ongoing discourse of how to (re)envision urban neighbourhoods to enhance health and quality of life as people age. Needless to say, they do not supersede but support existing guidelines or regulations to improve everyday neighbourhood environment for healthy ageing in place.Co-creation with older people is a central tenet of our research on ageing urbanism at the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities. The Lee Li Ming Programme in Ageing Urbanism conducts applied research on built environment and health of ageing population, arguing for a more integrated environmental, social and spatial approach to identify the connection between the built environment, health and quality of life that can inform the design for age-friendly neighbourhoods and communities.

The Smart Sustainability Transformation Playbook aims to demystify the socio-technical systems and processes of sustainability transitions through the study of 12 smart cities — Auckland, Boston, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Medellin, Melbourne, Milan, Seoul, Tokyo, and Vancouver, selected from the IMD-SUTD 2021 Smart City Index. The selection encompasses a range of smart cities and developments on selected critical areas in economic prosperity, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. The analysis draws on literature review, secondary data, interviews with city officials, and case studies of smart city projects in the 12 cities to better understand how people, organisations, and technologies interact to achieve the city's smart vision for sustainability. Attention is pivoted towards clarifying the characteristics and conditions that help smart cities formulate their visions and strategies on selected issues of economic prosperity, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability; unpacking the processes and outcomes of smart city innovations and transformations with case examples; developing a checklist of critical success factors and pitfalls when implementing smart city innovations; and consolidating a micro-foundation of good practices on success factors and pitfalls in smart city development for long-term change.

This book discusses smart city implementation in 11 smart cities — Auckland, Boston, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Melbourne, Milan, Seoul, Tokyo, and Vancouver. The cities encompass a range of smart city development on selected critical issues in economic prosperity (future digital economy, smart retail, smart tourism), social inclusion (digital inclusion, digital placemaking, smart health service, smart youth empowerment), and environmental sustainability (climate resilience action, circular economy, smart climate action). The focus is on their challenges and course of action in and around the socio-technical systems and processes of sustainability transition. The chapters focus on emerging issues, enabling technologies, practical approaches, policies and case studies. The analysis recognises that smart city development takes place in a social context that, to some degree, will influence the adoption and effectiveness of technologies and ultimately, determine whether they meet end-user satisfaction. Smart city development is pivoted on technological changes, connectivity, and data, but also on people and government involvement and the transformation of urban living practices and conditions. This book aims to deepen dialogues on possible smart city strategies from the perspective of how people, organisations (e.g., processes, communication networks), and technologies interact to achieve individual, organisational, or societal goals.

How does a city make sound policy decisions on sustainability and governance while simultaneously promoting economic growth and development excellence? This book focuses on the major challenges that world cities are facing in such key areas as governance, social inclusiveness, infrastructural development, financial solvency as well as environmental and ecological sustainability. Based on case studies from cities in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific, this collection of essays brings together some of the top academics, professionals and policymakers from the world over and presents their views on how to best strike the balance between growth and sustainability. The range of perspectives, ideas and depth of information makes this an invaluable resource for researchers, city planning professionals and policymakers in environment, urban development and urban economic planning.

With more and more of the world's population projected to live in urban areas, the life and death of cities has become a key factor in urban development considerations. This book attempts to bring an original contribution on the analysis of creating living cities. It advances the concept and framework of a “living city” and also explicates the key attributes of a “living city” that are increasingly critical to the reinvigoration and sustainable growth of cities.The book also seeks to document and compare Singapore's development as a “living city” with other cities around the world. Contributed by researchers and practitioners across different disciplines, the book provides first-hand insights on the development choices that cities can make and expertly draws on case studies to illuminate how innovative cities have a comparative advantage. Written in a simple and accessible manner, this book will appeal to people interested in urban planning, policy and sustainability.