PUB will be commencing work for the laying of a new water pipeline in Q2 2016. Half of the pipeline will run beneath the Rail Corridor. The works will be carried out in phases and is expected to complete by 2019. For public safety, PUB will temporarily close off the stretch of the Rail Corridor south of Holland Road during this period, and progressively reopen sections from 4Q2017 after the pipeline has been laid and the ground reinstated. The rest of the Rail Corridor will remain open to the public.

PUBâ€s Facebook page will provide updates on the Murnane Pipeline Project.

Pls click to view the project information map (updated on 7 Jun 2016).

We got in touch with URA, who shared that they have contacted the event organisers to explain and also sent the following note to them:

“It was a pleasure chatting with yet another person from the community who is passionate about the Rail Corridor. Thank you once again for allowing us to share more about this project.

We have been working closely with the community on the Rail Corridor project. From our past four years of extensive public consultations on plans for the Rail Corridor, one recurring theme that surfaced was to make the Rail Corridor a more inclusive public space for Singaporeans from all walks of life, while retaining its distinctive characteristics.

Far from destroying the Rail Corridor and replacing it with a Park Connector Network, our intention is to strengthen its signature “Green Corridor” experience. The Rail Corridor will be retained as a seamless 24 km-long public space that links nature and heritage. From mid-2016 to 2019, a new water pipeline will be built under the southern-half of the Rail Corridor. This will not only support our future demand for water in the city area, but secure the Rail Corridor as a contiguous space for recreational use because no developments can be built above the pipeline. During this period, parts of the Rail Corridor will be temporarily closed, but will progressively reopen after the pipeline is laid. PUB has also conducted environmental studies and will put in measures to minimise the impact of construction works. More details of the closure and reopening will be made public by PUB in due course which I could also forward you when available.

Regenerating the vegetation with an appropriate natural landscape and planting strategy, and enhancing biodiversity along selected stretches of the Rail Corridor are part of our plans to strengthen the wilderness of this “nature highway”. There will also be sensitive design strategies to heighten the Rail Corridorâ€s sense of memory and heritage.

Lastly, to allow people of all ages and abilities to access the Rail Corridor safely and enjoy what it offers, it is important that we improve the trail using suitable materials, with basic amenities added at suitable locations. These will be complementary and consistent with the character of the Rail Corridor at different stretches.

As we want the Rail Corridor to be appropriate and relevant to all Singaporeans, we are continuing to collect public feedback for the awarded Concept Master Plan for the Corridor which we announced last November. Do drop by http://ura.sg/railrfp to view the proposals and give us your comments.

We hope that you can consider sharing with MOA fans more about the Rail Corridor project, so we can reach out to more people to make this a truly inclusive community space.”

I started the Green Corridor campaign in Nov 2010 to support the Nature Societyâ€s proposal to keep the former KTM railway lands as a continuous green corridor. In 2011, together with various stakeholders and government agencies, I joined the Rail Corridor Partnership Group formed by URA. Over the last 4 years, there is no doubt that URA has been active in conducting many public engagement initiatives to understand the needs and wants of Singaporeans for the Rail Corridor. The feedback and suggestions from the public and community groups were then distilled into design briefs for the Concept Master Plan and Proposals, which was awarded to the winning teams on Monday.

I think the public reaction to the Concept Master Plan and Proposals are mixed. I hear some people liking the proposals and plans, while others worry about the developments and call for the corridor to be left as it is. I would recommend that everyone visit the exhibition at URA Centre (till 28 Nov) or view the plans online, take a closer look at the proposals and then give your honest feedback. These are not the finalised proposals, but are to be refined upon further feedback from stakeholders and the public.

Watch the winning Concept Master Plan below:

My wishlist for the Concept Master Plan goes back to my original reasons for supporting the corridor, which is that it allows more opportunities in preserving our shared memories and creating our shared vision. To preserve our shared memories, the key railway stations and railway bridges should be conserved. There should also be restoration of some railway structures and artefacts, and opportunities to remind users about the railway history. To strengthen our shared vision, there should be opportunities for different groups and communities to come together, create, play and work. Iâ€m pleased that the Concept Master Plan has included these 2 aspects.

There are another 4 aspects in my wishlist for the Concept Master Plan and Proposals:

1) Inclusive and multi-purpose

The corridor is a public space for all Singaporeans to use and enjoy, and not only for specific groups of people. It is long enough to cater to different needs at selected locations, while keeping its identity throughout. Proper signages and suitable amentities can be placed along the corridor (but not too many).

2) Continuous and green

The corridor should be continuous and the broken linkage at some locations has to be restored. The greenery along the corridor has to be kept (and enhanced in some cases) and this is a given. This should not be compromised.

3) A balance of quiet and busy

The corridor needs to balance being busy and being quiet. At the nodes, there can be a state of being “busy”, with activities and community participation to build greater interaction and bonding. However, between the nodes, there should be a state of being “quiet”, where users can walk, run or cycle surrounded by greenery and without too much noise or activities.

The proposals might distract us with activities and developments at the nodes, but remember that between the nodes, the corridor can still fulfill our desire for a quiet place to slow down amidst the greenery.

4) No concrete pavements

The corridor should not be paved with concrete or asphalt. The common feedback from the public is that the corridor should not become another park connector. This means selection of the type of pavement material is very important, and maybe it would be good to “leave it as it is” at some suitable stretches.

Overall, I feel that the announced Concept Master Plan has met most of my wishlist (though points 3 and 4 can be further strengthened).

Not everyone would be pleased with the master plan and proposals, but I hope we can appreciate the value and potential of the corridor, and agree that we should have a public space that all Singaporeans can benefit and enjoy.

Mr Desmond Lee,

Parliamentary colleague

Mr Ng Lang, CEO, URA

Fellow colleagues,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Iâ€m very happy to join you today for the launch of this Rail Corridor exhibition.

A Connected Rail Corridor

For decades, the Rail Corridor served as a transportation line to carry goods and people to and from Singapore. It was a journey of many twists and turns, as those of you who were involved in the process would know, before we finally obtained this stretch of land back in 2011.

The Corridor has outlived its function as a rail line. But in many ways, we have a higher degree of connectivity than before, even though it is no longer a rail line. First, we now have a fully connected Corridor with more contiguous parcels of land, which offer better development opportunities for housing and other economic activities. In time to come, these developments will add to the diverse landscapes of homes, schools and industrial estates which are already along the Corridor today.

Second and very importantly, the Rail Corridor will provide a distinctive community green space for all Singaporeans. The Rail Corridor, north to south, has a length of 24 km. This is more than a half marathon and almost 10 times longer than the New York High Line, which is also a linear park built on a disused railway line. Along the Corridor, people can come together to jog, walk, cycle, or simply enjoy the greenery and appreciate the historic railway buildings and landmarks. In fact, many community activities already take place here, such as the annual Green Corridor Run, and flea markets and community events at the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.

Overall, we have a beautiful Rail Corridor which touches almost 1 million people living in estates along its entire stretch. It connects Singaporeans not just physically, but also emotionally, with the various historical landmarks littered all along the Corridor.

A journey with the community

This is why we actively sought ideas from the public and interest groups to shape our common aspirations for the Rail Corridor, right after the last train plied the former railway line four years back.

Since then, we have consulted extensively, through exhibitions, public workshops and ideas competitions. We have been engaging Singaporeans young and old. On student engagement alone, we reached out to more than 2000 youths. To help us formulate the plans for the Rail Corridor, we also consulted the Rail Corridor Partnership, a dedicated community group comprising passionate individuals, with expertise in areas such as nature conservation, heritage and cycling. I understand that many of them are here with us today, and I would like to thank all of you who have participated in our consultations and your contributions over the last few years. Thank you very much.

We received many useful and interesting ideas from the Rail Corridor Partnership, as well as members of the public. These ideas include using the Rail Corridor as a showcase of our sustainability initiatives, as an attractive commuter cycling route and as a more inclusive and comfortable oasis for recreational activities. We also heeded the call to preserve the heritage of the Rail Corridor by retaining and protecting the remaining railway buildings and artefacts.

From ideas to concept plans and designs

So from many of these ground-up ideas, we put together the concept brief and launched the Rail Corridor Request for Proposal, or RFP, in March this year. This was done to invite design professionals to draw up concept plans and designs based on the ground-up and community ideas we have received. When we received the proposals, we found that many of the design professionals who participated agreed that the Rail Corridor should be sensitively integrated with existing and future developments to benefit the surrounding communities. Many also agreed that we should enhance the landscape of the Corridor to reinforce its identity.

This Rail Corridor RFP saw an overwhelming number of submissions from local and international firms. The proposals that came in were often a combination of an international firm and a local partner. We received 64 submissions in total where eventually 5 design teams, each formed from collaborations between local and foreign firms and experts, were shortlisted for the second stage of the RFP.

Today, we are here to award the winning proposals. Let me announce the winning proposals and share some highlights from their entries.

The awarded Concept Master Plan is from architectural firm Nikken Sekkei, working together with Tierra Design and Arup Singapore. Congratulations to the team. They envision the Rail Corridor as a seamless and comfortable shared space for walking, jogging and cycling. But there will also be specific nodes along different stretches of the Corridor to cater to the different local communities. In particular, the team proposed eight distinctively-themed stretches along the entire Rail Corridor, each embodying a unique characteristic of the Corridor. You can take a look at the exhibition later to see for yourself what these themes are. I will cite one example – at Stagmont Ring which is near the residential community, the Rail Corridor, under this proposal, can provide community oriented amenities such as playgrounds, community farming plots and fishing ponds. They have other proposals for the other nodes all along the Rail Corridor, each designed and conceptualised in a distinctive manner, unique to the local community. It is a wonderful proposal to preserve the entire Rail Corridor, at the same time develop each segment according to its unique characteristics.

Design teams also proposed innovative ways to integrate future developments alongside the Rail Corridor with greenery and water. For the parcel of land at Choa Chu Kang between the Rail Corridor and Pang Sua Canal, the winning design is from Singaporeâ€s MKPL Architects and Chinaâ€s Turenscape. They proposed a housing design which will be integrated with the Rail Corridor, so it will have an extensive public space that allows residents to appreciate the enhanced greenery of the Rail Corridor from various heights through sky links and bridges.

For the area around the historic Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, the winning concept proposal also comes from MKPL and Turenscape. Congratulations to the team again. This particular segment of the Rail Corridor is very important and significant because it is the historic Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. Their proposal is sensitive and befitting to the stationâ€s stature as a national monument and icon of our railway history. It includes a large community space in front of the building for community events and for the public to admire the stationâ€s elegant architecture.

Cementing connectivity and heritage of the Rail Corridor

These are some designs and concepts that have come out from the RFP. I am glad that heritage was one element that came out strongly, so I am pleased to announce that URA has today begun the process for the conservation of two steel truss bridges along the Rail Corridor. The bridges are important landmarks that once facilitated the seamless transport of passengers and goods along the Corridor. They were traditionally used as locational markers for the 7th mile and 9th mile of Bukit Timah Road. They are now beloved railway artefacts that capture Singaporeâ€s railway history, and they will become important connectors for users of the Rail Corridor.

At this exhibition, you will discover how the Concept Master Plan has developed design ideas for the two bridges to provide safer crossings for different users, and to recapture the Corridorâ€s sense of place and memory.

Continuing the next stretch of the journey

Going forward, we intend to conduct a preliminary feasibility study of a 4km signature stretch of the Rail Corridor, which spans the former Bukit Timah Railway Station area to the Hillview area. Why this stretch? Because it is a popular stretch with Rail Corridor visitors and the proposed improvements to this particular area will allow better accessibility to many of the green and heritage landmarks in this area such as the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Old Ford Factory. The learning points from this feasibility study will also help us improve the design and improvements required for the rest of the Rail Corridor.

We will not be limited to just this first portion of the Rail Corridor. We will also be exploring how some of these ideas from the feasibility study can be introduced along other stretches of the Rail Corridor to improve its usability, and to better integrate the Corridor with adjacent developments in the near future. For example, in Buona Vista, we plan to introduce more economic and commercial activities in the vacant land next to the Rail Corridor, as an expansion of the Biopolis. At the same time, we can create public spaces amidst this economic node along the Rail Corridor so that the community in this area can enjoy a vibrant live-work-play proposition. For instance, some of these public spaces can hold events such as outdoor movie screenings where workers from one-north and residents from Buona Vista and Queenstown can all enjoy.

The RFP exercise that we have done has allowed us to transform your ideas and aspirations into quality concept plans and designs. But, these are still not the finalised plans. This is a broad concept plan that design professionals have worked with from the ideas which came from the community. What we want to do is to hear ideas from Singaporeans on these proposals. So in addition to this exhibition, we will be organising a roving exhibition to key local community nodes along the Rail Corridor. We would like all residents to work closely with us to study the stretches near your community. So please share your suggestions on how to further improve the proposals, and how you can play a part in volunteering and planning activities for the various nodes along the Rail Corridor. Do visit the exhibitions and tell us what else you would like to see and how we can all contribute to making the Corridor even more exceptional.

Next month, weâ€ll be launching the “Future of Us” exhibition to launch the next chapter of the Singapore story. This is our final SG50 event. As part of this exhibition, we will be having a series of conversations on how we can build our future together. One of the conversation topics will be on the Future of Greening, and the Rail Corridor project is one of many projects which will see us co-creating a more liveable environment for Singaporeans. So there will be more opportunities for Singaporeans to continue this dialogue on your aspirations for the Rail Corridor, and for other green, community spaces in Singapore.

Finally, I would like to thank all of you for taking the time and effort to share your invaluable ideas for the Rail Corridor. So much can be achieved when we work together. So letâ€s all continue to do our part to create something really special for the Rail Corridor and make Singapore a more liveable and endearing home for all of us. Thank you very much.

Source credit: URA

Developing proposals for an inspiring and extraordinary Rail Corridor

URA launched the ‘Rail Corridor – An Inspired and Extraordinary Community Space†RFP on 18 March 2015, inviting design professionals to develop a Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals for the Rail Corridor. In May 2015, based on the strength of their Statement of Design Intent for the Rail Corridor and quality of their team composition, organisation and track record, five teams were shortlisted for Stage 2 of the RFP.

Stage 2A required the five teams to each develop an overall Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals for the Rail Corridor. This includes the Concept Designs for two special interest areas – an urban-green-blue tapestry at Choa Chu Kang, and the adaptive reuse of the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. See Annex A [PDF, 148kb] for the scope of the Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals.

The five teams†proposals were assessed by a 12-member Evaluation Panel on the quality and strength of their design principles and concept designs towards achieving the Planning and Design Goals for the Rail Corridor. Besides assessing the robustness and feasibility of their design methodologies and proposals, the Evaluation Panel also paid particular attention to the effectiveness and creativity of the proposals in integrating the 24 km Rail Corridor with its diverse surroundings to benefit the surrounding communities and offer differentiated experiences to Singaporeans.

At the same time, the Evaluation Panel focused on how the proposals strengthened the Rail Corridorâ€s unique identity as a seamless and connected ‘green corridor†and how they celebrated Singaporeâ€s railway heritage while transforming the Rail Corridor into an inclusive community space for shared experiences. The successful teams were selected following a rigorous evaluation process which included interviews and presentations.

Mr Ng Lang, Chief Executive Officer of URA and Chairperson of the Evaluation Panel, said, “The RFP is an important exercise for us to explore new ideas to integrate developments with open spaces and greenery. While we are committed to keeping a continuous green link throughout the Rail Corridor, there are land parcels along the Corridor that will eventually be developed. This RFP have given us a rich range of ideas to better integrate the continuous ‘green corridor†with future developments on adjacent land parcels. We thank the participating teams for their tremendous effort and contributions.”

Awarded Concept Master Plan

The Concept Master Plan is awarded to the design team comprising Japanese firm Nikken Sekkei Ltd and local landscape firm Tierra Design. The teamâ€s proposal, themed Lines of Life, features a strong vision and robust Concept Master Plan for the Rail Corridor supported by well-thought-out design strategies to create extraordinary community-centric spaces and experiences throughout the length of the Corridor.

Lines of Life adopted a very well-structured and methodical design approach, with its concept designs thoroughly addressing all aspects of the RFP brief and relating strongly to the Planning and Design Goals. The concept proposals were creative and sensitive to the site context. They were able to strengthen the Rail Corridorâ€s identity, connectivity, landscape and heritage, while providing a more inclusive and vibrant public space that offers a great variety of quality experiences and activities for different segments of the population. For example, the concept proposals include enhancing the natural vegetation along most stretches of the Rail Corridor to create places of respite and enrich the ‘green corridor†experience. At the same time, activity nodes are proposed all along the Rail Corridor where nearby residents and workers as well as visitors can enjoy various activities ranging from nature-based recreation, arts and cultural events, to community activities. See Annex B [PDF, 83kb] for more details on Lines of Life.

Lines of Life features eight distinctively-themed stretches along the 24 km-long Rail Corridor and 10 community nodes offering differentiated experiences (Photo credit: Nikken Sekkei)

Evaluation panel member, Prof Wulf Daseking of the University of Freiburg, commended the awarded Concept Master Plan for its far-sightedness. “It presents visionary ideas for the former train line to be planned and integrated seamlessly with its diverse surroundings, over many years. The plan is a wise guide with brilliant ideas that is also flexible in terms of implementation. Green areas, footpaths and bicycle paths as well as surrounding developments along the Rail Corridor are woven together in a very convincing way,” said Prof Daseking

Awarded Concept Designs for an urban-green-blue tapestry at Choa Chu Kang

The Concept Designs for an urban-green-blue tapestry at Choa Chu Kang is awarded to the team from MKPL Architects Pte Ltd and Turenscape International Ltd. The proposal successfully capitalised on the unique site context and presented innovative concept designs to create an attractive and ecologically-richer environment along the Rail Corridor that can be merged with future housing. A highlight of the plan involves transforming a stretch of the Rail Corridor into a linear forest that can be integrated with future housing using a range of sensitive architectural and landscape design strategies. The plan demonstrated how careful planning and design can contribute to a great living environment where nature, development and a green, porous and vibrant public realm coexist. The proposal will also serve as a useful design concept should housing be developed on the site or similar sites in future. See Annex C [PDF, 76kb] for more details of the awarded proposal.

The awarded Concept Designs for an urban-green-blue tapestry at Choa Chu Kang presents innovative concept designs for an attractive and ecologically-richer living environment along the Rail Corridor (Photo credit: MKPL/Turenscape Team)

Another evaluation panel member, Mr Raymond Woo, Principal Architect with Raymond Woo and Associates Architect, said, “The awarded proposal for Choa Chu Kang features a very strong and sensitive concept where the housing blocks are positioned to engage with the varying heights of ‘forest greens†that follow the ascent of the building heights. It is a daring scheme that allows residents at all blocks and levels to enjoy the linear forest, with sky bridges for those on the higher floors and communal farming decks for the lower floors. The integration of Pang Sua Canal as part of the public realm also complements the mid to high rise ‘forest neighbourhoods†to create an extremely pleasant environment.”

Awarded Concept Designs for the adaptive reuse of the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station

The Concept Designs for the interim adaptive reuse of the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station is also awarded to the MKPL Architects Pte Ltd and Turenscape International Ltd team. The proposal effectively positioned the stationâ€s use as a highly-accessible and vibrant multi-functional community building in the next 20 years by introducing creative and appropriate community uses vis-à-vis sensitive design interventions. At the same time, the proposal is effective in reinforcing the stationâ€s identity as the most prominent landmark and gateway into the Rail Corridor.

The awarded Concept Designs for the adaptive reuse of the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station features a green community space – The Station Green, in front of the building where larger events can also be held (Photo credit: MKPL/Turenscape Team)

With a future Circle Line MRT station to be built under the former railway station site, the proposal presented concept designs that gave a modern interpretation to the historic railway station, while at the same time retaining the sense of place and heritage of the railway station.

The proposal also features an additional entrance/exit for the future Circle Line Cantonment MRT station, that gives the former railway stationâ€s platform space a new lease of life, contributing to the former railway stationâ€s use as a multi-functional community building in the next 20 years (Photo credit: MKPL/Turenscape Team)

Agencies are in discussion with members of the heritage community regarding the possible options to address the impact of the Circle Line MRT stationâ€s construction on the former railway stationâ€s platforms. The RFP required the design teams to propose suitable design solutions for the affected platforms in the event they may need to be recreated in the future. The design solution of the awarded team is one of a few options under discussion, among which include the full reinstatement of the existing platforms. See Annex D [PDF, 22kb] for more details of the awarded proposal.

Cementing heritage and connectivity along the Rail Corridor

URA also announced that the two steel truss bridges along the Rail Corridor have been proposed for conservation. The two bridges span across Bukit Timah/Dunearn Road, near the conserved Bukit Timah Railway Station; and Upper Bukit Timah Road, near the Rail Mall, respectively. They are endearing local landmarks and identity markers that capture Singaporeâ€s railway history and heritage, and provide seamless connectivity for Rail Corridor users today.

With their conservation, the two bridges will continue to feature as prominent landmarks that connect the Rail Corridorâ€s history, present and future. As part of the Concept Master Plan, the teams were required to propose strategies to re-establish and enhance connectivity along the Rail Corridor, as well as retain and celebrate the Corridorâ€s rich heritage and identity. This includes considering design solutions for the two bridges to facilitate safer crossings for different users and recapture the Rail Corridorâ€s sense of place and memory.

Members of the public can provide their comments to the proposal to conserve the bridges, for one month. The bridges will thereafter be gazetted as conserved structures. Refer to Annex E [PDF, 64kb] for more information on the two steel truss bridges.

The steel truss bridges are endearing local landmarks that provide seamless connectivity along the Rail Corridor

Celebrating the communityâ€s contributions in shaping the Rail Corridor

With the RFP awards and proposed conservation of the steel truss bridges, an important milestone has been reached for the Rail Corridor project. Key to this achievement is the communityâ€s contributions over the past few years, where their input and feedback have guided the plans for the Rail Corridor.

“Developing constructive dialogue with the community is an integral part of the planning and conservation process. We are pleased to have worked with the Rail Corridor Partnership and the wider community to arrive at this milestone for the Rail Corridor project, and are excited to continue this conversation to create delightful spaces for Singaporeans. The Rail Corridor is a long stretch that will take us many years to develop, and we are certainly not rushing to develop it. We look forward to continuing this collaboration with the community to shape the future of the Rail Corridor”, said Mr Ng Lang.

Continuing the journey together

The exhibition showcases all the awarded proposals. It will be held at the URA Centre Atrium from 9 to 28 November 2015. The master plan and design concepts have incorporated many ideas that surfaced through the consultation process. These are not the finalised proposals, but are to be refined upon further feedback from stakeholders and the general public. Local communities can also look forward to a roving exhibition near their neighbourhoods in the first quarter of 2016. Throughout this period, the public is invited to give their feedback on the awarded proposals at the exhibition and online at http://ura.sg/railrfp.

Stage 2B and 2C of the RFP exercise will be held from the second quarter of 2016. The awarded teams will work with URA to refine the Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals, taking into account the feedback received.

The team for the awarded Concept Master Plan will also carry out a preliminary design and feasibility study for a selected four kilometre-long signature stretch of the Rail Corridor.

More information on the RFP exercise and exhibition is available at http://ura.sg/railrfp. The public can also find out more about the Rail Corridor at http://ura.sg/railcorridor.

Source and images credit: URA

Two iconic steel bridges along the Rail Corridor are up for conservation and could be gazetted by the end of the year or early next year.

One bridge is located near the Rail Mall at Upper Bukit Timah Road, and the other is near the Bukit Timah Railway Station on Bukit Timah and Dunearn Road. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has proposed that the two bridges be conserved.

Click here to read the full article

Source: TODAY

From community farms and fishing ponds near Stagmont Ring and Pang Sua Canal, to a yoga spot and climbing wall near a Pan Island Expressway viaduct near Mayfair Park, the future Rail Corridor will offer a variety of recreation options to the estimated one million people living nearby, as well as other leisure seekers.

As for a 16ha site in Choa Chu Kang that falls along the stretch of former Keretapi Tanah Melayu railway line, it will be the testbed for a future housing concept — providing 3,000 units — that is integrated with a forest-type environment. The former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, meanwhile, will be a multi-functional community building for the next 20 years.

Click here to read the full article

Source: TODAY

Strong interest in the Rail Corridor project

The URA launched the ‘Rail Corridor – An Inspired and Extraordinary Community Space†RFP on 18 March 2015, inviting design professionals to develop a Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals for Singaporeâ€s Rail Corridor.

64 teams responded with their submissions in the Stage 1 Pre-Qualification exercise that closed on 15 April 2015. The teams comprise local and international landscape architectural and architectural firms, including tie-ups between local and international firms.

The 64 submissions were assessed by an Evaluation Panel on whether they had a clear and compelling narrative and a rigorous design approach towards achieving the planning and design goals for the Rail Corridor, as well as whether they demonstrated a good and realistic understanding of the constraints and opportunities that exist along the Corridor.

As a significant part of the Rail Corridor experience will be defined by its landscapes, the Evaluation Panel also paid particular attention to the landscape architectural strength of the design teams in addition to their architectural capabilities. Following a rigorous evaluation process which included interviews, five teams were shortlisted.

See Annex A for the five teams which each comprise a lead landscape architect and a lead design architect, and (if the leads are not from local firms) their Singapore partners.

“We want to thank all participating teams for the tremendous effort put into their submissions. The quality, diversity and creativity of the participating teams and their proposals are very impressive. While we are regretfully limited to choosing five teams, the effort put into each submission is very much appreciated. Collectively, they have enriched our journey to make the Rail Corridor an extraordinary and inclusive space for the community,” said Mr Ng Lang, Chief Executive Officer of the URA and Chairperson of the Evaluation Panel.

“The five teams chosen demonstrated a clear understanding of the design issues and considerations for the project. They showed originality and creativity in their approaches, but yet were sensitive to the local context and relate strongly to the planning and design goals,” he added.

Evaluation panel member Dr Malone-Lee Lai Choo, Director for the Centre for Sustainable Asian Cities at National University of Singapore, who is also a member of the Rail Corridor Partnership, said, “The Rail Corridor is a special and precious community space that many Singaporeans have fond memories of. The selected schemes must be able to distinctively articulate its inherent environmental, social and cultural values.”

She added, “We were looking for schemes that are particularly strong in responding to the ecology of the site, that respect its natural qualities, while introducing sensitive design interventions to enhance them. They must demonstrate understanding and appreciation of the needs, sentiments and collective aspirations of users and residents. We would also want the Corridor to be an outstanding urban asset, and are therefore open to innovative concepts, particularly in and around the nodes; ideas that demonstrate freshness of approach and potentially exceptional design qualities that will enhance our urban landscape.”

Another evaluation panel member, Mr Raymond Woo, Principal Architect with Raymond Woo and Associates Architect, said: “The response to the RFP is impressive. The selected teams were thorough in their design approach. They have different emphases yet were able to demonstrate a common intention, which is to provide a longitudinal green lung through the centre of Singapore. The shortlisted teams have also included possibilities of sensitive design interventions where potential opportunities exist to enhance the Rail Corridor experience.”

“The five teams clearly demonstrated a good understanding of the site and the aspirations of the population in relation to the site’s heritage. We look forward to receiving exciting concepts and proposals that are ecologically sustainable and forward looking in the final submissions. The plans for the Rail Corridor will provide opportunities for community building and for Singaporeans to bond as a nation.”

Public invited to give feedback at year-end exhibition

Stage 2A of the RFP exercise will commence on 22 May 2015.

In this stage, the five design teams will develop the overall Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals for the Rail Corridor, including two special interest areas for the urban-green-blue integrated concepts at Choa Chu Kang, and the concept designs for the adaptive reuse of the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.

Stage 2A will culminate in a public exhibition held from October to November 2015, when the successful design team(s) will be announced. The exhibition will showcase the submissions of all participating teams, and the public will be invited to give their feedback on the Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals.

Stage 2B will then commence where the successful design team(s) will work with URA to refine the Concept Master Plan and Concept Designs for the Rail Corridor, taking into account the public, stakeholders and agencies†feedback received during the exhibition period.

See Annex B for details of the phases in Stage 2, and Annex C for the scope of the Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals.

Preliminary design for 4 km signature stretch

The successful team for the Concept Master Plan will carry out a preliminary design and feasibility study for a selected four kilometre-long signature stretch of the Rail Corridor in Stage 2C. The preliminary design exercise will provide us an opportunity to better understand the feasibility of the proposals when concepts are translated into preliminary design details, and to make improvements such as to the choice of material, types of planting and landscape, as well as provision of services and infrastructure like cycling tracks, shelters and toilets.

The signature stretch spans the former Bukit Timah Railway Station area to the Hillview area. This is a popular stretch of the Rail Corridor that presents a unique sense of place – a ‘green gateway†into the Rail Corridor – one where nature and greenery, celebration of heritage, and connectivity are hallmarks of the Rail Corridor experience.

Notable landmarks and landscapes along the route include:

• The conserved former Bukit Timah Railway Station and its idyllic natural surroundings;
• Views of Bukit Timah Hill;
• The nearby former Bukit Timah Fire Station and quarters that will become another gateway node into the Rail Corridor;
• The two steel truss bridges across Bukit Timah/Dunearn Road and Upper Bukit Timah Road next to Rail Mall; and
• A former train crossing over Hindhede Road.

See Annex D which highlights the 4 km signature stretch.

More information on the RFP exercise is available at http://ura.sg/railrfp. The public can also find out more about the Rail Corridor at http://ura.sg/railcorridor.

Source: URA

The Rail Corridor: A unique community space of exceptional possibilities

The 24 km-long Rail Corridor spans north to south of Singapore. It threads through diverse landscapes such as housing, business, industrial, and recreational areas, and key landmarks that are rich in nature and heritage. See Annex A for the current uses along the Rail Corridor.

Over the past three-and-a-half years, the URA has engaged different segments of the community extensively through various platforms to gather feedback on their aspirations for the Rail Corridor. The URA has taken on-board the communityâ€s input and distilled them into a set of Planning and Design Goals that now forms part of the RFP brief, to guide participating teams†proposals for the Rail Corridor. See Annex B for this set of goals.

Mr Ng Lang, Chief Executive Officer of the URA, said, “The return of the former railway land presented a unique opportunity for us to shape the future of the Rail Corridor and its surrounding areas together with the community. The Corridor has the potential to become an extraordinary cross-island green artery and an inclusive community space that provides an exceptional experience for Singaporeans from all walks of life. We have taken the time to engage the community widely, and their input will now guide the development of the RFP proposals. Our intention is to continue to sensitively stage the development of this project with the community, and not rush into developing the whole stretch at one go.”

The RFP will be looking for design professionals to develop an overall Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals for the Rail Corridor. The proposals should have nature and greenery, celebration of heritage, and connectivity as hallmarks of the Rail Corridor experience. They should be sensitive to the local context so that the Rail Corridor will become more accessible and comfortable for the wider community to enjoy. Retaining and enriching the signature ‘green corridor†experience is also one of the key requirements. In addition, the proposals must be robust to accommodate the evolving needs of the community.

The RPF calls for an overall Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals for the Rail Corridor. These include concept designs for four key activity nodes as well as smaller community nodes. There will also be Concept Designs for two special interest areas.

(1) The Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals should create a unique and endearing Rail Corridor experience. The Concept Master Plan should be embedded with a strong identity and clear design approach that includes proposals for a community connector, amenities, and programming for community use. It should also include landscape, heritage and urban design strategies. Teams should also propose innovative design strategies to sensitively integrate developments with nature and greenery along the Rail Corridor.

In addition, participating teams are to propose creative concept designs for four key activity nodes along the Corridor that can support a range of activities, namely:

(i) Buona Vista (near one-north)

This can become a vibrant community space for the nearby business park and research community, as well as residents of the Queenstown neighbourhood. Its design should consider integrating the Rail Corridor with surrounding developments using appropriate urban design strategies. As it is located next to the Buona Vista MRT interchange station and is easily accessible by the public, the space could be designed to accommodate mass activities and events. Formerly the site of the Tanglin Halt Railway Station, teams can also look at recapturing the railway heritage of the area in a creative way.

(ii) Bukit Timah Railway Station area

This is the green heart of the Rail Corridor. This midway point of the Corridor can become its green gateway with supporting visitor facilities. The planning and design of this node should be complementary to its idyllic natural setting anchored by the conserved Bukit Timah Railway Station. The Station itself should be repurposed for uses that complements the vision for this node. This is where occasional community events can be held. At most other times, it can be a place of retreat and where one can enjoy the serene, green landscape.

(iii) Former Bukit Timah Fire Station

The former Bukit Timah Fire Station and quarters will become a new gateway into the Rail Corridor. A new pedestrian link will be provided from the Fire Station site directly into the Rail Corridor where visitors could explore the parks fringing the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve such as Dairy Farm Nature Park and Bukit Batok Nature Park. The buildings within the Fire Station site will be retained and should be repurposed for uses that complement its function as a gateway into the Rail Corridor.

There could also be suitable linkages from the former Fire Station to nearby heritage sites such as the Old Ford Factory and site of the Battle of Bukit Timah, which are steeped in World War 2 history.

(iv) Kranji (opposite Kranji MRT Station)

This is envisioned to become the northern gateway into the Rail Corridor. Located across from the Kranji MRT station, it is highly accessible as a major gathering place for the community to hold events and start the journey south towards the city. Its design should complement and be sensitive to key landmarks in the area such as the Singapore Turf Club, Kranji War Memorial, and Mandai Mangroves.

The successful team for the Concept Master Plan will also be required to carry out a preliminary design for a selected 4 km signature stretch of the Rail Corridor. More details of this selected stretch will be provided to shortlisted teams.

(2) Special interest area 1: Concept Designs for the adaptive reuse of the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.

This National Monument located at the edge of the city will become the most prominent and important gateway into the Rail Corridor. Participating teams should consider how the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station can be put to adaptive reuse as a community building for the next 20 years, pending the development of the Greater Southern Waterfront. They are to propose suitable uses that will give the building a new lease of life. The space should allow for multi-functional community activities that supports its position as the anchor node into the Rail Corridor. The public should have unfettered access so that they can appreciate the heritage of this building and its surroundings.

(3) Special interest area 2: Concept Designs for an urban-green-blue tapestry at Choa Chu Kang

The stretch of the Rail Corridor at Choa Chu Kang that is adjacent to the Sungei Pang Sua Canal provides an opportunity to weave a unique urban-green-blue tapestry in the precinct. Currently, that stretch has low plant biodiversity, while the Sungei Pang Sua is fully canalised.

Participating teams are to come up with innovative design concepts to enhance and integrate that segment of the Rail Corridor with Sungei Pang Sua to create an ecologically richer and more vibrant natural environment, and merge it seamlessly with future housing design in the area.

See Annex C which highlights the Rail Corridor, the four key activity nodes, and the two special interest areas.

Request for Proposal process

The RFP exercise comprises a 2-stage Tender Selection Process. Participating teams†submissions will be assessed by a distinguished 11-member Evaluation Panel. Collectively, the panel members have deep and extensive experience and knowledge in urban planning and design, architecture, landscape architecture, building heritage, nature conservation, sustainable development, and park management. See Annex D for details of the RFP process and Annex E for the list of Evaluation Panel members.

The successful team(s) of consultants will be announced in October 2015. There will be a public exhibition of all shortlisted submissions from October to December 2015.

Continued community involvement

To ensure that the Rail Corridor lives up to its vision as an outstanding and inclusive public space for the community, the URA will continue to engage the community to gather further feedback on the proposals during the public exhibition. Following that, URA will work closely with the consultant(s) to refine the awarded Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals, taking into account the publicâ€s input.

The implementation will be studied carefully, taking into consideration various factors including the broader development plans for surrounding areas, the laying of underground services below the Rail Corridor, and the needs and aspirations of the community.

More information on the RFP exercise is available at http://ura.sg/railrfp. The public can also find out more about the Rail Corridor at http://ura.sg/railcorridor.

Source: URA

After three and a half years of engaging the public to gather feedback, the Urban Redevelopment Authority is ready to launch a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Rail Corridorâ€s concept master plan and design concepts.

Announcing this during the second day of the Ministry of National Developmentâ€s Committee of Supply debate today (March 11), MND Minister of State Desmond Lee said the RFP will firm up the overall plan and design, which will guide developments in the coming years.

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Source: TODAY