Singapore’s going green in a big way, and it’s not just about pretty parks. This city’s transformation is all about our deep-rooted connection with nature finally unfolding in its urban landscapes.
Biophilia, as the face of this transformation, has become the guiding force behind Singapore’s urban renaissance. Architects, planners, and design practitioners share an understanding of our innate affiliation with the natural world and are dedicated to seamlessly weaving nature into the fabric of our cities, to breathe life into our spaces.
Singapore’s recent transformation from a “Garden City” to a “City in a Garden” captures the spirit of this evolution. Thanks to the city’s Land Replacement Policy that mandates buildings to replace the nature lost at ground level through ecological rooftops, urban forests, and linear parks. This has led to the growth of green pockets with nature as an integral part of urban design rather than a mere afterthought, to create vitality amidst the monolithic skyscrapers of the concrete jungle. Biophilia does wonders for our cognitive abilities by uplifting moods and rekindling spirits, also acting as a remedy for chronic stress experienced by urbanites, to create healthier, liveable cities and societies.
"Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves, evoking emotions and kindling the spirit." - Julia Morgan
But here is the catch, amid this green transformation, the challenge of fair distribution and equitable access to these natural experiences persists. The city’s lush landscapes tend to be endemic to wealthier urban neighbourhoods, absent of minorities or older residents. Recent cautionary tales like New York City’s High Line, which was initially a well-intentioned greening project that led to the dislocation of the existing population, draw attention to the perils of ecological gentrification. This indicates how overly commercialised green infrastructures lead to skyrocketing property prices thus, inadvertently displacing long-term residents.
This highlights the fundamental truth that sustainability must be inclusive and not a privilege. The fruitification of biophilic urbanism should be accessible and affordable, without forcing people to settle for cheaper, less biophilic localities. While Singapore’s green transformation is exciting, it’s also a reminder that we need to keep inclusivity at the forefront. One should not be forced to compromise on their connection with nature for the sake of economic functionality.
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Janani Ganeshkumar
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