Latest news with #UrbanRedevelopmentAuthority
CNN
2 days ago
- Science
- CNN
A low-lying Asian country's defense against rising seas? Its very own ‘Long Island'
Waterlogged parks, submerged underpasses and streets engulfed by knee-deep water — low-lying Singapore is no stranger to what experts call 'nuisance flooding,' which, though burdensome, poses no major threat to people or property. But in a tiny island nation that prides itself on long-term planning, the recent deluges are considered a harbinger of far worse things to come. The Southeast Asian city-state estimates that the surrounding seas could rise by 1.15 meters (3.8 feet) by the end of this century. In a 'high emissions scenario,' they could climb up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) by 2150, according to the latest government projections. Combined with extreme high tides and storm surges, sea levels may sometimes exceed today's by up to 5 meters — higher than around 30% of Singapore. The proposed solution? An 8-mile-long string of inhabitable artificial islands that will double as a seawall protecting the 31-mile-wide country's entire southeastern coast. Dubbed 'Long Island' — a working title, for now — the project will likely take decades and billions of dollars to complete. The plan would see around 3 square miles of land (two and a half times the size of New York's Central Park) reclaimed from the Singapore Strait. The idea dates to the early 1990s, though it has gained significant momentum in recent years. In 2023, Singapore's urban planning agency, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), unveiled an initial blueprint comprising three tracts of land connected by tidal gates and pumping stations. Engineering and environmental studies are underway, meaning the islands' shape and position remain subject to change. But there appears to be little doubt among officials that the plans will, in some form or another, go ahead later this century. 'It's a very ambitious proposal,' said Adam Switzer, a professor of coastal science at the Asian School of the Environment at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU). 'And it's really a testament to the way that Singapore takes long-term planning into consideration for almost everything that it does.' Singaporean officials say they considered a basic seawall but wanted to retain residents' access to the coast. The URA's plan would create over 12 miles of new waterfront parks, with land also likely available for residential, recreational and commercial use. Lee Sze Teck, a consultant at Singapore-based real estate firm Huttons Asia, told CNN via email that Long Island offers the 'potential to build between 30,000 and 60,000 homes' in both low- and high-rise housing projects. Land in Singapore, one of the world's most expensive property markets, is notoriously scarce. As such, creating space for housing ensures the project 'can serve the community in a variety of different ways,' said NTU's Switzer. And there is another geographical vulnerability the proposal helps mitigate: Singapore's water shortage. Despite its tropical climate and heavy investment in desalination plants, the country has long relied on imported water (piped over the border from neighboring Malaysia's Johor River) to meet demand. But amid ongoing disgruntlement among Malaysian officials over the decades-old deal — and with Singapore's water use set to double by 2065 — self-sufficiency is a geopolitical priority. By connecting to the mainland at each end, Long Island would create a huge new reservoir, trapping freshwater that would otherwise be discharged into the sea. Switzer, who advises government agencies but is not directly involved in the project, said the proposal could make a 'major contribution' to Singapore's soaring water needs. 'The government is looking for as many wins as possible,' he added. 'It's not just about coastal defense.' Officials say they expect Long Island to take 'a few decades' to plan, design and implement. Once the land is reclaimed, it will then be years, or even decades, before it has settled enough to build on. Singapore's government is throwing its weight behind Long Island as an illustration of its long-term vision — a common theme in the island's politics. (The country's founding father and first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, famously said, 'I am calculating not in terms of the next election … I am calculating in terms of the next generation; in terms of the next 100 years; in terms of eternity.') Lee's eldest son and later prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, said in 2019 that protecting the country against rising seas could take 100 billion Singapore dollars ($78 billion) over the next century. Earlier this year, his ruling People's Action Party — which has won every election since Singapore's independence in 1965 — featured Long Island prominently in its election manifesto, with the younger Lee's successor, Lawrence Wong, also personally backing the project. Land reclamation has always been central to Singapore's futureproofing efforts. The country's total area is, today, 25% larger than when colonialist Sir Stamford Raffles established it as a trading post for the British East India Company in the early 19th century. Indeed, the coast Long Island will be built off was itself reclaimed during the so-called 'Great Reclamation' of the 1960s and 1970s, when almost 6 square miles of new land, including a long stretch of beach, was created in the country's east. Land reclamation comes with its own political and environmental challenges, however. The process requires huge amounts of infill (Long Island would need 240 million metric tons of it, by one estimate) which traditionally consists of imported sand. But the major Southeast Asian exporters, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam, have all at various times banned sand exports, citing environmental concerns over its excavation. Singapore is currently exploring alternatives that would reduce dependence on its neighbors. Research is currently underway, for instance, to see if ash from incinerated landfill could be used, alongside soil and construction debris, instead. Nature Society Singapore has meanwhile expressed a range of environmental concerns, including the impact of land reclamation on the area's horseshoe crabs, hawksbill turtles and nesting Malaysian plovers. Various other low-lying nations are — or are considering — using land reclamation to mitigate the effects of climate change. Indonesia's proposal for a giant seawall protecting its capital, Jakarta, remains mired in heated political debate more than a decade after the first plans were unveiled. Thailand and the Maldives are among the other countries to have suggested island-building as a response to rising sea levels. In Denmark, construction of a controversial 271-acre artificial peninsula protecting the capital, Copenhagen, from severe flooding began in 2022, though it is still the subject of ongoing protests. By contrast, there has been little significant opposition to Singapore's Long Island thus far. Flood resilience appears to be a priority in a country that has spent 2.5 billion Singapore dollars ($1.9 billion) improving its drainage infrastructure since 2011. The scheme may be the poster child for coastal resilience, but NTU's Switzer said the wider strategy could encompass everything from sediment realignment to 'nature-based solutions,' like building oyster beds or extending mangroves and offshore reefs. 'Long Island is just one part of a much, much bigger picture,' he added. 'As a low-lying nation, incredibly dependent on our coastline, it has to be at the forefront of everybody's thinking.'
CNN
2 days ago
- Science
- CNN
A low-lying Asian country's defense against rising seas? Its very own ‘Long Island'
Waterlogged parks, submerged underpasses and streets engulfed by knee-deep water — low-lying Singapore is no stranger to what experts call 'nuisance flooding,' which, though burdensome, poses no major threat to people or property. But in a tiny island nation that prides itself on long-term planning, the recent deluges are considered a harbinger of far worse things to come. The Southeast Asian city-state estimates that the surrounding seas could rise by 1.15 meters (3.8 feet) by the end of this century. In a 'high emissions scenario,' they could climb up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) by 2150, according to the latest government projections. Combined with extreme high tides and storm surges, sea levels may sometimes exceed today's by up to 5 meters — higher than around 30% of Singapore. The proposed solution? An 8-mile-long string of inhabitable artificial islands that will double as a seawall protecting the 31-mile-wide country's entire southeastern coast. Dubbed 'Long Island' — a working title, for now — the project will likely take decades and billions of dollars to complete. The plan would see around 3 square miles of land (two and a half times the size of New York's Central Park) reclaimed from the Singapore Strait. The idea dates to the early 1990s, though it has gained significant momentum in recent years. In 2023, Singapore's urban planning agency, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), unveiled an initial blueprint comprising three tracts of land connected by tidal gates and pumping stations. Engineering and environmental studies are underway, meaning the islands' shape and position remain subject to change. But there appears to be little doubt among officials that the plans will, in some form or another, go ahead later this century. 'It's a very ambitious proposal,' said Adam Switzer, a professor of coastal science at the Asian School of the Environment at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU). 'And it's really a testament to the way that Singapore takes long-term planning into consideration for almost everything that it does.' Singaporean officials say they considered a basic seawall but wanted to retain residents' access to the coast. The URA's plan would create over 12 miles of new waterfront parks, with land also likely available for residential, recreational and commercial use. Lee Sze Teck, a consultant at Singapore-based real estate firm Huttons Asia, told CNN via email that Long Island offers the 'potential to build between 30,000 and 60,000 homes' in both low- and high-rise housing projects. Land in Singapore, one of the world's most expensive property markets, is notoriously scarce. As such, creating space for housing ensures the project 'can serve the community in a variety of different ways,' said NTU's Switzer. And there is another geographical vulnerability the proposal helps mitigate: Singapore's water shortage. Despite its tropical climate and heavy investment in desalination plants, the country has long relied on imported water (piped over the border from neighboring Malaysia's Johor River) to meet demand. But amid ongoing disgruntlement among Malaysian officials over the decades-old deal — and with Singapore's water use set to double by 2065 — self-sufficiency is a geopolitical priority. By connecting to the mainland at each end, Long Island would create a huge new reservoir, trapping freshwater that would otherwise be discharged into the sea. Switzer, who advises government agencies but is not directly involved in the project, said the proposal could make a 'major contribution' to Singapore's soaring water needs. 'The government is looking for as many wins as possible,' he added. 'It's not just about coastal defense.' Officials say they expect Long Island to take 'a few decades' to plan, design and implement. Once the land is reclaimed, it will then be years, or even decades, before it has settled enough to build on. Singapore's government is throwing its weight behind Long Island as an illustration of its long-term vision — a common theme in the island's politics. (The country's founding father and first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, famously said, 'I am calculating not in terms of the next election … I am calculating in terms of the next generation; in terms of the next 100 years; in terms of eternity.') Lee's eldest son and later prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, said in 2019 that protecting the country against rising seas could take 100 billion Singapore dollars ($78 billion) over the next century. Earlier this year, his ruling People's Action Party — which has won every election since Singapore's independence in 1965 — featured Long Island prominently in its election manifesto, with the younger Lee's successor, Lawrence Wong, also personally backing the project. Land reclamation has always been central to Singapore's futureproofing efforts. The country's total area is, today, 25% larger than when colonialist Sir Stamford Raffles established it as a trading post for the British East India Company in the early 19th century. Indeed, the coast Long Island will be built off was itself reclaimed during the so-called 'Great Reclamation' of the 1960s and 1970s, when almost 6 square miles of new land, including a long stretch of beach, was created in the country's east. Land reclamation comes with its own political and environmental challenges, however. The process requires huge amounts of infill (Long Island would need 240 million metric tons of it, by one estimate) which traditionally consists of imported sand. But the major Southeast Asian exporters, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam, have all at various times banned sand exports, citing environmental concerns over its excavation. Singapore is currently exploring alternatives that would reduce dependence on its neighbors. Research is currently underway, for instance, to see if ash from incinerated landfill could be used, alongside soil and construction debris, instead. Nature Society Singapore has meanwhile expressed a range of environmental concerns, including the impact of land reclamation on the area's horseshoe crabs, hawksbill turtles and nesting Malaysian plovers. Various other low-lying nations are — or are considering — using land reclamation to mitigate the effects of climate change. Indonesia's proposal for a giant seawall protecting its capital, Jakarta, remains mired in heated political debate more than a decade after the first plans were unveiled. Thailand and the Maldives are among the other countries to have suggested island-building as a response to rising sea levels. In Denmark, construction of a controversial 271-acre artificial peninsula protecting the capital, Copenhagen, from severe flooding began in 2022, though it is still the subject of ongoing protests. By contrast, there has been little significant opposition to Singapore's Long Island thus far. Flood resilience appears to be a priority in a country that has spent 2.5 billion Singapore dollars ($1.9 billion) improving its drainage infrastructure since 2011. The scheme may be the poster child for coastal resilience, but NTU's Switzer said the wider strategy could encompass everything from sediment realignment to 'nature-based solutions,' like building oyster beds or extending mangroves and offshore reefs. 'Long Island is just one part of a much, much bigger picture,' he added. 'As a low-lying nation, incredibly dependent on our coastline, it has to be at the forefront of everybody's thinking.'
CNA
3 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Commentary: As Singapore builds up, can it hold on to its memories?
SINGAPORE: When the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) launched its draft master plan last month, most of the conversation focused on how many new homes would be built – at least 80,000 in more than 10 new neighbourhoods over the next 10 to 15 years. It's not surprising. In land-scarce Singapore, housing is one of the most talked about and debated topics. But tucked away in the 47-point media release and stack of annexes was a concept for several so-called 'identity corridors' that were first introduced in URA's Long-Term Plan Review in 2022. What are identity corridors? And how can they help foster Singapore's national and urban identity? CITIES REPRESENT SOCIAL IDENTITY In their 2013 book The Spirit of Cities: Why the Identity of a City Matters in a Global Age, political scientists Daniel A Bell and Avner de-Shalit argue that every city expresses a set of distinctive values or ethos. In that book, Singapore is strongly associated with the ethos of nation-building. This too, is hardly surprising. Singapore's position as a thriving and liveable global city today is very much an outcome of our nation-building efforts. The outcome of these efforts is clear. The IMD World Competitiveness Index 2025 ranks us as the second most competitive economy in the world. But this progress comes with big changes. As Singapore's economy grew rapidly, so too did the changes in its urban landscape. The kampungs that dotted our island made way for high-rise public housing with cleaner and more modern living conditions. The old National Library building, much-beloved by students and readers of that era, gave way for the Fort Canning Tunnel. In some instances, brand new spaces were created to cater to our socio-economic needs. For instance, the Marina Bay district was developed as an extension of the Central Business District (CBD), which had become increasingly crowded as global banks and corporations flocked to Singapore during its rapid growth as a financial hub through the 1990s and 2000s. This is not unique to Singapore. In many cities, rapid economic development can result in equally rapid changes in the urban landscape. These can have implications for a city's social fabric. For instance, Google's entry into Zurich has given rise to extensive gentrification and a spike in housing costs and consequent public unhappiness and protests. Protesters blamed large banks and companies for driving up housing costs and accessibility. In land-constrained cities, heritage sites and buildings can be particularly vulnerable in the face of rapid economic and urban transformation. A 2024 report by the World Monuments Fund identified rapid urbanisation and overtourism as top threats to heritage conservation. At the same time, cities cannot survive without economic growth. The first cities of the world had emerged due to the confluence of economic and human activity within their boundaries. Cities today continue to thrive as key nodes in global trade and finance. Even as Singapore continues to grow as a major economic and financial hub, it will need to preserve aspects of the city that reflect citizens' memories, identity and aspirations. PRESERVING SINGAPORE'S ZEITGEIST In response to a question that was posed to me during the launch of the 2025 draft master plan, I had mentioned that '(w)e want to plan for our future climate needs, our socio-economic needs; but at the same time, we want to preserve some of the spaces that sort of define the zeitgeist of Singapore'. Like Bell and de-Shalit, I too feel that Singapore's identity is very much defined by our nation-building efforts. It is therefore important that we conserve some of the spaces that have played key roles in our nation-building story. The NatSteel building that was recently proposed for conservation is a good example of this. However, Singapore's national identity is much more than our nation-building journey, important as that may be. It comprises a rich tapestry of cultural practices and lived experiences that have accreted over multiple generations. This is where the URA's identity corridors will play an important role in conserving and even enhancing the identity and heritage that already exist in many of our iconic spaces and neighbourhoods. For instance, the Historic East corridor includes culturally rich and ethnically diverse neighbourhoods such as Geylang Serai, Joo Chiat and Katong. By linking up these neigbourhoods, the Historic East identity corridor provides a more cohesive and integrated experience of these neighbourhoods' heritage and identity. This can in turn generate greater interactions between visitors and residents and interest in the traditional crafts and food that continue to be found in these neighbourhoods. Think you know all about Katong-Joo Chiat? There's so much more to discover! From old-school charm to modern experiences, go on an exciting adventure with Toufiq, our urban designer, and local heritage business owner Michael as they reveal the best-kept secrets of the Historic East Corridor. Have ideas to shape the future of our Identity Corridors? Sign up for our visioning workshops at: #DMP2025 #SpaceForOurDreams #IdentityCorridors #Katong #JooChiat #ExploreSG Posted by Urban Redevelopment Authority on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 Cities are much more than just buildings and infrastructure. They are living repositories of the shared memories, stories and traditions of the people who live in them. The two need not be mutually exclusive. Through sensitive urban planning, our built environment can be planned and designed to highlight and enhance our rich cultural heritage and foster a sense of belonging among residents. Even as Singapore continues to experience rapid economic and urban transformation, there remains a need to preserve and grow the Singaporean spirit or zeitgeist. This means ensuring a lived environment that both protects and expands on our rich cultural identity. Dr Woo Jun Jie is Senior Lecturer at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. He researches global cities in Asia, with a strong focus on urban governance, policy design and economic development. He is the author of several books on the emergence and development of global financial hubs in Asia.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Tampines regional centre set to get more homes, offices and public amenities
Based on the draft masterplan, at least two residential plots and four commercial plots could be developed in Tampines regional centre. SINGAPORE – More homes, offices and public amenities are set to be built in the heart of Tampines, latest plans from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) show. Plans showcased at the URA's Draft Master Plan 2025 exhibition state that the added developments will 'future-proof Tampines Regional Centre for new live-work-play trends', such as by bringing offices and leisure facilities closer to homes. These are part of a decentralisation strategy that Singapore has pursued since 1991 that brings jobs out of the city centre and into residential towns. A URA spokesperson told The Straits Times on July 18 that the plans build on previous efforts to rejuvenate the regional centre and optimise land use, such as the development of Our Tampines Hub, which opened in stages from November 2016 and has amenities such as a library, sports facilities and a hawker centre under one roof. Based on the draft masterplan, at least two residential plots and four commercial plots could be developed in Tampines regional centre, which was established in 1992 and is about 37.5ha in size. Of these, three commercial plots are within an area that the authorities have identified for potential mixed-used developments, including a site that is about 5.4ha in size that currently houses the Tampines Bus Interchange, a Housing Board commercial block and a Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board building. Tampines MP Masagos Zulkifli had said in February that agencies were studying plans for a new integrated transport hub in the town centre , and the URA spokesperson said this could involve linking the Tampines stations on the Downtown and East-West MRT lines with the bus interchange. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Mindef, SAF units among those dealing with attack on S'pore's critical information infrastructure Asia How China's growing cyber-hacking capabilities have raised alarm around the world Asia At least 34 killed as tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam's Halong Bay Singapore 1 dead, 1 injured after dispute between neighbours at Yishun HDB block Singapore Vessels from Navy, SCDF and MPA to debut at Marina Bay in NDP maritime display Asia Autogate glitch at Malaysia's major checkpoints causes chaos for S'porean and foreign travellers Asia SIA, Scoot, Cathay Pacific cancel flights as typhoon nears Hong Kong Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore This may be part of a new mixed-use development that is being studied, and could comprise residential and commercial spaces, said the URA spokesperson. Other integrated transport hubs – or developments with integrated bus interchanges that are linked to MRT stations – include Hillion Mall in Bukit Panjang and Bedok Mall. URA's Master Plan sets out the permissible land use and floor area of developments, and the latest draft was unveiled on June 25 and is expected to come into force later in 2025. There are also plans to reduce car usage within the Tampines town centre by making it more pedestrian-friendly. To this end, a 50m stretch of Tampines Central 5, between Tampines Mall and the East-West Line's Tampines station, will soon be pedestrianised. An artist's impression of the pedestrianised stretch of Tampines Central 5. PHOTO: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY The Land Transport Authority had said in March that works could begin later in 2025. Other improvements outlined by the URA include 'green pedestrian streets' and 'community streets' that will cut across the town centre, allowing users to get to its various amenities on foot. A new centrally located public space will also be introduced, said URA. Plans show that this will be sited in front of the CPF building, in an area currently occupied by the bus interchange. Improvements outlined by the URA include streets that will cut across the town centre, allowing users to get to its various amenities on foot. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI The agency's spokesperson said agencies are currently consulting stakeholders and residents to shape plans, and details including the development timeline will be finalised only after ideas and feedback are reviewed. Analysts told The Straits Times that each housing plot in the regional centre that was identified in the draft masterplan could yield more than 300 units, if used for private homes. One plot is about 0.9ha in size and has been assigned a gross plot ratio of 3.0, and is located next to a plot earmarked for a healthcare facility. The other is about 1.1ha in size and has a plot ratio of 2.5. It previously housed an office building that was demolished within the last two years after its 15-year lease ended. Mr Alan Cheong, executive director of research and consultancy at Savills Singapore, said using the land for private housing will unlock the most value, given the premium that buyers would fork out to be close to the area's two MRT stations and surrounding amenities. Ms Tricia Song, head of research for South-east Asia at CBRE, added that given the relatively high concentration of public flats and executive condominiums in Tampines, there is scope to build private condominiums on these plots in the town centre. Analysts told The Straits Times that each housing plot in the regional centre that was identified in the draft masterplan could yield more than 300 units, if used for private homes. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI On the plans for more commercial spaces, both said that there is no immediate need to develop them, with other areas such as Bishan receiving more attention at URA's exhibition, and given the lacklustre response to Jurong Lake District's master developer tender in 2024 . Mr Cheong noted that office rents for Tampines are lower than in other regional centres – Jurong East and Woodlands – owing to the age of buildings and the lack of demand for the area. Ms Song added that continued investment in infrastructure, amenities, and business ecosystems will help to increase the appeal of regional centres such as Tampines, and added that the offices in the town – where rents could be up to half that of prime Central Business District buildings – could attract small and medium-sized enterprises and cost-conscious tenants. He noted that the 5.4ha plot and the 2.6ha plot – both earmarked for mixed-use developments with a plot ratio of 4.2 – are large enough to accommodate more than just commercial developments. Including housing on these plots will draw higher bids than keeping them purely for commercial uses, he said.
CNN
17-07-2025
- Business
- CNN
Singapore's most famous landmark is undergoing an $8 billion expansion
With three 650-foot-tall skyscrapers connected across the top by a boat-like skybridge — and an Instagram-famous infinity pool — Marina Bay Sands has given Singapore one of Asia's most recognizable skylines since opening in 2011. So, when the resort's original architect was invited to design a new, fourth tower for the site, his brief from the country's government was clear: Don't mess with a national symbol. 'The (Urban Redevelopment) Authority repeatedly said, 'This is our icon; our people of Singapore love this, and we cannot do anything that's going to compromise it,' said Israeli architect Moshe Safdie, referencing the country's urban planning agency. 'And that was very much on our minds, as well: How to make something that has its own identity but is very complementary.' The 87-year-old said he only entertained the idea of extending the complex's soaring skybridge to meet the fourth tower 'for a few minutes.' Instead, his new 55-floor skyscraper, which broke ground on Tuesday, sits apart from its famous neighbors on an adjacent plot of land. Connecting the towers would have 'really compromised the existing scheme and spanning across just seemed unwise,' Safdie said, comparing his new high-rise to the dot of an exclamation point. 'It would be just more of the same, whereas we really wanted to create something.' The $8-billion expansion plan is a testament to the commercial success of Marina Bay Sands, which contains a hotel, mall, convention center and one of only two licensed casinos in the southeast Asian city-state. The US hospitality giant behind the resort, Las Vegas Sands, said the property attracted 38 million visitors and 2.19 billion Singapore dollars ($1.7 billion) in business spending last year alone. Safdie's new tower will expand the hotel's capacity by 570 suites, while adding more luxury retail and meeting space. The architect's eponymous firm has also designed an adjoining entertainment venue for the site. When the Massachusetts-based architect unveiled initial plans for the expansion in 2019, this 15,000-seat venue was situated on the far side of the fourth tower. But about a year ago, with progress stalled by Covid-19-related delays, Safdie proposed 'flipping' the scheme, lodging the arena between the new skyscraper and the original three — and in turn extending the distance between them. 'I came to the conclusion that it just didn't feel right, and that there (wasn't) enough space between the towers,' he explained. 'It meant a lot of reworking of the access and transportation … (but it) was a quantum jump improvement.' The architect nonetheless wanted to create a consistent design language for the complex. For one, the new building's boat-like roof — dubbed 'Skyloop,' it will host an observation deck, restaurants and public gardens, as well as cabanas and infinity pools for hotel guests — clearly nods to the original structure's iconic roof. 'The buildings look related,' Safdie said. 'They're in the same family.' At Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong joined Safdie on stage to mark the start of construction with a symbolic shoveling of sand. Addressing guests at the event, Wong said the new structure 'will refresh our skyline.' The final design was, however, met with mixed reviews among Singaporeans online. On social media platform Reddit, the new tower was accused of being 'out of place' and sticking out 'like a sore thumb,' while being compared to a 'huge dehumidifier' or a 'fourth person lurking' next to its three neighbors. Other users were more sympathetic, suggesting that the tower will eventually 'blend in naturally' with the other skyscrapers being planned in the district — which was built on 660 hectares (1,631 acres) of land reclaimed from the Singapore Strait — over the coming decades. 'When it's all said and done, people will feel it's always been there,' Safdie argued. 'And they will love it as much as they love this building, if not more, because I think the sum total of the two together is greater than the individual parts.'
