Sustainable and Advanced Built Environment-a Singapore Experience

摘要

Under this paper's SWOT (strengths,weaknesses,opportunities and threats) and urban sustainability assessment methodologies,the SWOT analysis examines the constraints and opportunities that Singapore faced in shaping her built environment.Key issues and delivery system are covered for attaining a desirable built environment.A distinct urban assessment model is developed to predict when Singapore will reach its population of 6.5 million,and with a desirable and sustainable built environment.A systemic and interactive investigation of present standards of living,under this predictive model assesses key aspects of the sustainability.Factors like endo-dynamics and exo-dynamics provide some evidences of sustainability-threatening threshold-like effects beyond which Singapore will not be able to sustain a decent quality of life for its residents.The implication for vision planning is a recommended set of five specific visions related to the Singapore's built environment: Vision 1 is to accommodate a population of 6.5 million with better standards of living than the present and to enable Singapore to be in the league of the World's best; Vision 2 is to regularly rejuvenate Singapore's built environment,adding new innovative ideas to make it vibrant,progressive and competitive; Vision 3 is to fully utilize our limited resources for higher value-added usages; Vision 4 is to regularly bring in innovation and creative ideas to the built environment.; and Vision 5 is to achieve a truly first world cosmopolitan eco-city with room for nature and heritage.In land scarce Singapore,land is a major dilemma since these basic needs compete for our finite land area.Our current population density of 6,208 per sq.km can accommodate a resident population of 4.5 million; the environmental quality is similar to what we have today.If the population was to be increased to 6.5 million,the population density will reach 9,300per sq.Km,far above Hong Kong's present population density of 6,320 per sq.km.Will this density support a pleasant living environment or will it exceed the ultimate carrying capacity of total destruction .Land use policies and development efforts must be geared towards making Singapore an attractive destination for trade and new investments.Singapore needs to adopt a pro-business approach and ensure flexibility in land use to accommodate changing trends and new needs.Introduction of new land sale mechanisms to facilitate innovative and exciting concepts that create value,is a good step.