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When the gates close – designing the resilient city
Each crisis – including the current conflict in the Middle East – has shown how global supply chains buckle. Will Singapore rethink its urban planning and design?
Published Thu, Apr 16, 2026 · 05:06 PM
FOR decades, cities have operated on a simple premise: What they need will arrive.
Food arrives. Energy arrives. Water arrives.
It was not always so. Ancient cities were planned with siege in mind. Gates could be sealed. Granaries and wells were built within the walls. Food was grown nearby, but there were gardens, orchards and sometimes livestock within.
Smart buildingsEnergy securitySupply chainsFood supplySingapore urban planningDesignArchitectureSingapore