Abstract
One of the most interesting facet of nation building is correlated to narrative-making. In the exercise of crafting narratives for nation building purposes, Singaporean planners transformed the park system into an urban iconography, with parks’ design resulting in a symbolic display of narratives that address the social, historical, cultural and ecological challenges of the high-rise environment. The ‘Singapore Playground’ consists in a network of parks of varying size—from community to town and regional parks—linked with park connectors and designed around different themes to provide visitors a diversity of recreational experiences. The park system is a reinterpretation of ideas or concepts about ‘history’ and ‘nature’, of the colonial and western conceptions on park-design, as well as the expression of the processes and the actors that shape the built environment. Conceptualization of the system has shifted from the postmodern accent on aesthetics and place making, to an ecologically-based approach that addresses contemporary environmental challenges, including urban mitigation of climate change, by embracing many thematics that are integral to the contemporary concept of ‘green infrastructure’ and ‘biophilic urbanism’.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Anderson B (2006) Imagined communities: reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. Verso Books
Ahern J (2007) Green infrastructure for cities: the spatial dimension. In: Novotny V, Brown P (eds) Cities of the future: towards integrated sustainable water and landscape management. IWA Publishers, London, pp 267–283
Ang I, Stratten J (1995) The Singapore way of multiculturalism: western concepts and Asian cultures Sojourn. J Soc Issues SE Asia 10:65–89
Auger T (2013) Living in a garden: the greening of Singapore. EDM Publishers Singapore
Backhaus A, Fryd O (2012) Analysing the first loop design process for large-scale sustainable urban drainage system retrofits in Copenhagen, Denmark. Environ Plan 39(5):820–837
Baur T, Syariffudin E, Yong M (2012) Kallang River@Bishan—Ang Mo Kio Park. Integrating river and park in an urban world. CUGE CITYGREEN Mag #05:98–107
Burkill HM (1958) The botanic gardens and conservation in Malaya. Gardens Bulletin, S. vol XVII
Burkill HM (1959) Botanic gardens, Singapore. Reprinted from The proceedings of the ninth Pacific science congress, 1957, vol 7
Byrne J, Wolch J (2009) Nature, race and parks: past research and future directions for geographic research. Prog Hum Geogr 33:743–765
Chee Kien L (2013) The Enigma of departure. Remembering Singapore’s railway lines and stations. In: Tan Beng Kiang. Rail ideas. Visions for the rail corridor. CASA, National University of Singapore
Chang TC (1997) From “instant Asia” to “multi-faceted jewel”: urban imaging strategies and tourism development in Singapore. Urban Geogr 18(6):542–562
Chuan Ng MF (2012) A ride to remember: the story of Mount Faber and Singapore Cable Car. Ink On Paper Communications, Singapore
Corlett R (1992) The ecological transformation of Singapore, 1819–1990. J Biogeogr 19:411–420
Corner J (1999) Eidetic operations and new landscapes. Recovering landscape: essays in contemporary landscape architecture, pp 153–169
CUGE (2012) Managing water quality in gardens by the Bay. CITYGREEN Mag #05:68–70
Cullen G (2012) Concise townscape. Routledge
Davey M, Bellew P, Er K, Kwek A, Lim J (2010) Gardens by the Bay: high performance through design optimization and integration. Intell Build Int 2(2):140–157
Dreiseitl H, Grau D, Ludwig KHC (2001) Waterscapes: planning, building und designing with water. Birkhäuser, Basel
Dreiseitl-Ramboll (2017) Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Dreiseitl-Ramboll. http://www.ramboll.com/projects/singapore/bishan-park. Accessed 15 May 2017
Dreiseitl H (2018) The added values of waterscapes in times of climate adaptation. Abstract. In: Urban landscapes in high-density cities international symposium. Politecnico di Torino, 1–2 Feb 2018
Edensor T (1997) National identity and the politics of memory: remembering Bruce and Wallace in symbolic space. Environ Plann D: Soc Space 15(2):175–194
European Green Capital Award 2020. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EGCA_2020_Guidance-Note.pdf. Accessed 20 Aug 2018
Featherstone M (1993) Global and local cultures, pp 169–187. In: Bird J, Curtis B, Putnam T, Tickner L (eds) Mapping the futures: local cultures, global change (2012). Routledge
Fryd O, Jensen MB, Ingvertsen ST, Jeppesen J, Magid J (2010) Doing the first loop of planning sustainable urban drainage system retrofits: a case study from Odense, Denmark. Urban Water J 7(6):367–378
Fung O (1991) Development of coastal parks in Singapore, pp 105–108. In: Chiand LS, Chou LM (eds) Urban coastal area management: the experience of Singapore. ICLARM conference proceedings 25, p 128. International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, Philippines
Giddens A (1994) Living in a post-traditional society. In: Ulrich Bech AG, Lash S (eds) Reflexive modernization: politics, tradition, and aesthetics in the modern social order. Polity Press, Cambridge
Grant Associates (2012) Gardens by the Bay. http://grant-associates.uk.com/projects/gardens-by-the-bay/. Accessed 15 Sept 2017
Halle D, Tiso E (2014) New York’s new edge: contemporary art, the high line, and urban megaprojects on the far west side. University of Chicago Press
Hayden D (1997) The power of place: urban landscapes as public history. The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
HDB (1972) Annual report 1972. Housing and Development Board
HDB (1985a) Curve-setting layout of jogging, bicycle tracks, footpaths. Bishan Park (phase II) 1985. Designed and archived by HDB. Drawing No. HB-2291-86-57
HDB (1986a) Annual report 1986–1987. Housing and Development Board
HDB (1986b) Planting plan for Pond, 1986. Bishan Park Phase II. Designed and archived by HDB. Drawing No. HB-2291-86-14
HDB (1986c) Plans elevations and sections of conc. Table and stool type A, B, C and conc. Cogkak A and B. 1986. Designed and archived by HDB. Drawing No. HB-2291-86-38
HDB (2002) Monograph of landscape architecture. Landscape design portfolio. Housing and Development Board
Hebbert M (2008) Re-enclosure of the urban picturesque: green-space transformations in postmodern urbanism. Town Plann Rev 79(1):31–59
Henderson JC (2013) Urban parks and green spaces in Singapore. Managing Leisure 18(3):213–225
Hobsbawm E, Ranger T (2012) The invention of tradition. Cambridge University Press
Hoyer J, Dickhaut W, Kronawitter L (2011) Water sensitive urban design. Principles and inspirations for sustainable storm water management in the city of the future. Jovis Verlag, Berlin
Ignatieva M, Stewart GH, Meurk C (2011) Planning and design of ecological networks in urban areas. Landscape Ecol Eng 7(1):17–25
Jianli H (2009) Portable histories in mobile city Singapore: the (lack) lustre of Admiral Zheng He. SE Asia Res 17(2):287–309
JTC (1968) Annual report 1968–1969. Jurong Town Corporation
JTC (1970) Annual report 1970. Jurong Town Corporation
Kan G (1993) Protected Khatib Bongsu a natural haven for birds. The Straits Times, 21 Sept 1993, p 17
Kong L, Yeoh BSA (1996) Social constructions of Nature in Urban Singapore. SE Asian Stud 34(2):402–423
Kong L, Yeoh BSA (2003) The politics of landscapes in Singapore: constructions of “nation”. Syracuse University Press
Kwok K (1992) Duxton plain: perceptual analysis of an open space. In: Chua BH, Edwards N (eds) Public space: design, use and management. NUS Press
Kwok KW, Kwa CG, Kong L, Yeoh BS (1999) Our place in time: exploring heritage and memory in Singapore, preface iX
Lai CK (2013) The Enigma of departure. Remembering Singapore’s railway lines and stations. In: Tan Beng Kiang. Rail ideas. Visions for the rail corridor. CASA, National University of Singapore
Lee SK, Chua SE (1992) More than a Garden City. Parks & Recreation Department, Singapore
Lim SJ (1995) Labrador Park to fish for more visitors. The Straits Times, Singapore, 29 Apr 1995
Lynch K (1960) The image of the city (vol 11). MIT Press
Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch) (1990) Master plan for the conservation of nature in Singapore
Massey D (1993) A global sense of place. In: Gray A, McGuigan J (eds) Studying culture: an introductory reader
Miksic J (1989) Archeology in the city: digging at Duxton Hill. In: Tanjong Pagar: Singapore’s cradle of development, p 35. Tanjong Pagar Citizens’ Consultative Committee
MITA (1967) Opening of MacRitchie Park. Covering Date: 04/08/1967. Ministry of Information and the Arts. Archived at the National Archive of Singapore. http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/cb07ebe6-1161-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad. Accessed 15 Sept 2017
MITA (1975) Minister for Social Affairs Othman Bin Wok opens Labrador Nature Reserve Park. Covering Date 10/05/1975. Ministry of Information and the Arts. Archived at the National Archive of Singapore. http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/e112b7d8-1161-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad. Accessed 15 Sept 2017
Mitrasinovic M (2016) Total landscape, theme parks, public space. Routledge
MND (1974) Annual report 1974. Singapore Planning Department, Ministry of National Development
Nathan D (1993) Govt panel earmarks 18 areas for conservation. The Straits Times, 06 Mar 1993, p 26
Nathan D (1995) Singapore’s dream parks of the future. The Straits Times, Singapore, 02 Feb 1995
NHB (2013) Labrador park, educational signage on site. National Heritage Board
NLA (2017) Singapore Survey Map, 1933. Archived at the National Library of Australia, and available for viewing at the on-line Singapore National Archives (Accession Number: SP006740, Media - Image Number: 20140000088-0341_SP006740, Accession Number: SP006740, Source Reference Number: F.M.S.Surveys No. 4-1934 http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/maps_building_plans/record-details/fb3e8295-115c-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad). Accessed 15 Sept 2017
National Library of Singapore (2017) Survey Map, 1932. Accession Number: SP006347; Media - Image Number: 20140000088-0330_SP006347; Source Reference Number: 59.57/24 Sheet Numbers 229/230/249/250 http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/maps_building_plans/record-details/d1bc1d4e-1dcb-11e4-a330-0050568939ad. Accessed 15 Sept 2017
NLB (2017) Tan Kim Seng fountain, 1880s: general view. National Library Board. SG Picture, Singapore Government. http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/pictures/Details/cbed25dc-1265-49b9-826c-d2c050dea9e1. Accessed 2 Apr 2017
NParks (1990) Annual report 1990–1991. National Parks Board
NParks (1992) Annual report 1992–1993. National Parks Board
NParks (1994) Annual report 1994–1995. National Parks Board
NParks (1995) Annual report 1995–1996. National Parks Board
NParks (2003a) Parks and waterbodies plan. National Parks Board
NParks (2003b) Annual report 2003–2004. National Parks Board
NParks (2003c) Sungei Buloh wetland reserve—a decade of wetland conservation. National Parks Board
NParks (2006) Marina City Park. National Parks Board. http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/webarchives/wayback/20061229020230/; http://www.nparks.gov.sg/park19.asp. Accessed 10 July 2017
Nparks (2007) Annual report 2007–2008. National Parks Board
Nparks (2008) Annual report 2008–2009. National Parks Board
NParks (2014a) Parks facts and figures FY 2014. Annual report 2014–2015. National Parks Board
NParks (2014b) Information on each park. National Parks Board. https://www.nparks.gov.sg. Accessed 15 Jan 2015
NParks (2014c) Pulau Ubin media factsheet, 24 Nov 2014. National Parks Board. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/pulau-ubin/the-ubin-project/about. Accessed 10 July 2017
NParks (2016a) Eco-Link@BKE. National Parks Board. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/bukit-timah-nature-reserve/ecolink-bke. Accessed 10 June 2017
NParks (2016b) Community in bloom initiatives, 2016. National Parks Board. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardening/community-in-bloom-initiative. Accessed 10 June 2017
NParks (2016c) Community gardens. National Parks Board. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardening/community-gardens. Accessed 10 June 2017
NParks (2016d) Nature areas & nature reserves. National Parks Board. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/biodiversity/our-ecosystems/nature-areas-and-nature-reserves. Accessed 10 June 2017
NParks (2016e) A guide to Chemperai Trail at the MacRitchie Boardwalks. National Parks Board
NParks (2016f) A DIY guide to labrador nature reserve walking trail. National Parks Board
NParks (2017a) A Guide Wallace Trail at Dairy Farm Nature Park. National Parks Board. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/~/media/nparks-real-content/gardens-parks-and-nature/diy-walk/diy-walk-pdf-files/wallace-trail-at-dairy-farm-nature-park.pdf?la=en. Accessed 10 July 2017
NParks (2017b) MacRitchie Reservoir Park. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/macritchie-reservoir-park. Accessed 10 July 2017
NSS (2010) The green corridor. Nature Society Singapore. https://www.nss.org.sg/banner.aspx?id=fuCxSM0A9zI=&type=2. Accessed 10 July 2017
NSS (2014) History & accomplishments. Nature Society Singapore. http://www.nss.org.sg/about.aspx?id=2. Accessed 10 Feb 2015
Padua MG (2007) Designing an identity: the synthesis of a post-traditional landscape vocabulary in Hong Kong. Landscape Res 32(2):225–240
Pauleit S, Fryd O, Backhaus A, Jensen MB (2013) Green infrastructure and climate change. In: Loftness V, Haase D (eds) Sustainable built environments. Springer, New York, pp 224–248
Pemberton J (1994) Recollections from “beautiful Indonesia” (somewhere beyond the postmodern). Public Culture 6(2):241–262
PRD (1993) Annual report 1993–1994. Parks and Recreation Department
PRD (1995) Annual report 1995–1996. Parks and Recreation Department
PRD (1996) Annual report 1995/1996. Parks and Recreation Department
PUB (1985) Yesterday & today: the story of public electricity, water and gas supplies in Singapore. Public Utilities Board
PUB (2012) Annual report 2011/12. Public Utilities Board
Potteiger M, Purinton J (1998) Landscape narratives. Wiley, NY
Press Holdings (SPH). Media - Image No: PCD0502-0059; NAS. http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/b81ad1d6-1162-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad. Accessed 12 July 2017
Ramboll (2017) Sungei Buloh Wetland Park. http://www.ramboll.com/projects/germany/sungei-buloh-wetland-park. Accessed 25 July 2017
Rottle N, Maryman B (2012) Envisioning a city’s green infrastructure for community livability. In: Wagner F, Caves R (eds) Community livability. Routledge, Abingdon
Savage V (1991) Singapore’s Garden City: reality, symbol, ideal. Solidarity 131(132):67–75
Savage VR, Kong L (1993) Urban constraints, political imperatives: environmental ‘design’ in Singapore. Landscape Urban Plann 25(1–2):37–52
Searns RM (1995) The evolution of greenways as an adaptive urban landscape form. Landscape Urban Plann 33(1–3):65–80
SG (2010) Singapore Government, online News & Events, Enhancing the Visitor Experience at MacRitchie Reservoir, updated on 1 Sep 2010
Shaw G, Williams AM (1994) Critical issues in tourism: a geographical perspective. Blackwell Publishers
SHS (2014) About us. Singapore Heritage Society. http://www.singaporeheritage.org/?page_id=1363. Accessed 10 Feb 2015
Siong NB, Gwee J, Mak C (2013) Growing a city in a garden. In: Gwee J (ed) Case studies in public governance: building institutions in Singapore. Routledge, New York, pp 11–63
SIT (1955) Singapore master plan report of survey. Singapore Improvement Trust
Sorkin M (1992) Variations on a theme park: the new American city and the end of public space. Macmillan
SPH (1978a) Kent Ridge Park, being developed at South Buona Vista Road. Located on a ridge running along the South-Western side of Singapore, the park commands a panoramic view of the sea off Pasir Panjang, Sentosa in the east, Jurong in the West and the city skyline. Covering Date: 1978, Singapore
Tan HY (1995) S’poreans can park hop by 2000 on network of connectors. The Straits Times, Singapore, 21 Jan 1995
Tan KW (2006) A greenway network for Singapore. Landscape Urban Plann 76(1):45–66
Tan LH, Neo H (2009) ‘Community in Bloom’: local participation of community gardens in urban Singapore. Local Environ 14(6):529–539
Tan PY, Wang J, Sia A (2013) Perspectives on five decades of the urban greening of Singapore. Cities 32:24–32
Teo P, Huang S (1996) A sense of place in public housing: a case study of Pasir Ris, Singapore. Habitat Int 20(2):307–325
Thai KL (1991) Future Singapore: an Asian City, Tropical Island. The Straits Times, 19 June 1991
The Straits Times (1992) First nature park here in ’93. The Straits Times, 27 June 1992, p 25
The Straits Times (2011) Park and enjoy. The Straits Times, 1 Oct
Tyers R (1976) Singapore then and now, vol 2. University Education, Singapore
Tyers RK, Siow JH (1993) Ray Tyers’ Singapore, then and now. Landmark Books
URA (1977) Annual report 1977/1978. Urban and Redevelopment Board
URA (1982) Annual report 1982/1983. Urban and Redevelopment Board
URA (1985) Annual report 1985/1986. Urban and Redevelopment Board
URA (1991) Living the next lap. Urban Redevelopment Authority
URA (2001) Singapore concept plan 2001. Urban Redevelopment Authority
URA (2002a) Annual report 2002–2003. Urban and Redevelopment Authority
URA (2011) Singapore concept plan and land use plan. Urban Redevelopment Authority. Retrieved from https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Planning/Concept-Plan/About-Concept-Plan. Accessed 20 Dec 2016
URA (2014a) Master plan 2014. Parks and Waterbodies Plan. Urban Redevelopment Authority
URA (2014b) Master Plan 2014. Key Focuses and Regional Highlights. Urban Redevelopment Authority. https://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/master-plan/View-Master-Plan/master-plan-2014/master-plan/Introduction.aspx. Accessed 10 Dec 2015
URA (2014c) The Southern Ridges. On-Site Educational Board. Urban Redevelopment Authority
URA (2015b) URA announces rail corridor RFP awards and exhibition. Community involvement will continue to shape the Rail Corridor’s future. Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) News Release, 09 Nov 2015
URA (2018). Providing green spaces. Urban Redevelopment Authority. https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Planning/Master-Plan/Key-Focuses/Recreation/Providing-Green-Spaces. Accessed 10 Oct 2018
Waller E (2001) Landscape planning in Singapore. NUS Press
Warren W (2013) Singapore: city of gardens. Tuttle Publishing
Wee YC, Hale R (2008) The Nature Society (Singapore) and the struggle to conserve Singapore’s nature areas. Nat Singapore 1:41–49
WRS (2017) Jurong Bird Park. Where Colour Lives. Wildlife Reserves Singapore. http://www.wrs.com.sg/parks-info-about-parks.html. Accessed 15 Sept 2017
Yuen B (2005) Strengthening urban heritage in Singapore: building economic competitiveness and civic identity. Glob Urban Dev 1(1):1–8
Zukin S (1993) Landscapes of power: from Detroit to Disney World. University of California Press
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Sini, R. (2020). The Singapore Playground: System of Themed Public Parks that Addresses Environmental, Social and Cultural Sustainability. In: Singapore’s Park System Master Planning. Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6746-5_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6746-5_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-6744-1
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-6746-5
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)