The next stage in Marina Bay’s evolution

IN PRIME Minister Lawrence Wong’s National Day Rally speech this year, he outlined plans to advance Singapore’s vision for Marina Bay. By adding more than 10,000 new homes at Marina South and Marina East, the government aims to create a vibrant day-to-night and environmentally-friendly Marina Bay where people can live, work and play. As the Central Business District (CBD) transitions from a commercial district to one with more live-in community, Marina Bay stands as a living lab for the urban future. This vision is a work in progress.

In addition to the introduction of more mixed-use developments, such as the newly-completed IOI Central Boulevard Towers and the upcoming redevelopment of AXA Tower, city planners have also offered carrots to draw private owners to redevelop their functionally inefficient office blocks that come alive only during work hours. Incentivising renewal could create more activity-generating amenities that would spawn a captive night population. Such projects, which are more representative of urban necessities, are aligned with the CBD Incentive Scheme, which is in its fifth year and up for possible renewal.

As Marina Bay continues to evolve as a vibrant and attractive urban precinct, stakeholders will have to actively address dynamic issues. These include economic uncertainties, shifting demographics, diverse societal needs, and climate change. An open mind for experimentation and adaptation alongside ongoing community dialogue through the various Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) will allow firm planners and stakeholders to collectively ensure the success of this transformation.