Why the future of our city requires a rethink

THE year 2020 has been a tumultuous year for everyone, to say the least. Not only has the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the economies, businesses and the lives of people all around the world, it has also reshaped urban living in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region.

With remote working and social distancing as the "new norm", and our way of life in the foreseeable future, city planning requires a serious rethink. Beyond managing the age-old issues of spatial constraints, pollution, pressure on transportation and infrastructure and more, city planners now need to accelerate digitalisation and engagement with the community to create cities that can sustain itself and continue to thrive in an uncertain future.

The latest Strategic Plan for 2020-2023 by UN-Habitat further reinforces how cities that engage all of its stakeholders, including local communities, can help to foster sustainable cities in the long run. In the plan, UN-Habitat highlighted that cities and communities that promote inclusive engagement for all segments of society, including vulnerable groups, in their planning and management, can contribute to their overall stability and cohesion to mount an effective urban crisis prevention and response strategy.

As we mark World Cities Day today with the theme of "Valuing Our Communities and Cities", let us take a moment to look at the key building blocks of community building, urban planning and sustainability to chart a clear path towards building a sustainable, thriving city for the future. To navigate some of the new issues that have emerged in recent months as a result of the pandemic, city planners will also have to give these building blocks a good rethink to build a healthy, thriving city for a post-Covid world.

Rethinking community building

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, we witnessed the rise of local communities in facilitating the sharing of information and harnessing of resources to support underserved individuals and groups through this unprecedented crisis. Not only did this help to foster a positive community spirit, but it also brought timely assistance closer to individuals and groups in need, while alleviating the pressure on the city's leaders and the supporting non-profit organisations.

As we transition into the next phase of the Singapore economy's reopening, the city will need to look at how to harness the power of communities through a better understanding of their needs, aspirations, ideas and capacities. When communities are integrated into the city planning processes, as well as design, development and implementation of solutions, the outcomes that emerge will become more representative of the diverse needs of society, and more sustainable in the long run.

The Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town (FSST) in Fujisawa City, Japan, is a prime example of a collaborative approach to urban planning. Since its opening in 2014, FSST has attracted attention as a smart town where community development is being undertaken collectively by the planning consortium, its 2,000-strong resident population and the local government, to ensure the town's continued sustainability for the next 100 years. In FSST, residents get to define the objectives of the town, interact and exchange ideas with other stakeholders to co-create ideas and solutions that ultimately improve the lives of everyone. Town meetings and workshops also provide enabling platforms for businesses and residents to exchange opinions to find positive solutions for the common good.

With remote working and social distancing posing challenges for communities to come together, city leaders will need to leverage technology to build local communities that connect and thrive within themselves. Not only will such communities provide timely support and assistance for individuals and groups in need, but this also presents opportunities for city leaders to harness their insights and ideas to co-create new solutions to address the present and upcoming challenges for the good of the city.

Rethinking urban space planning

Today, many of us have taken remote working in our stride and only go into the office when required. With society settling into the new normal, we have seen how eight in 10 Singapore workers now prefer to work from home or continue with flexible working arrangements.

As telecommuting continues to be the default mode of working for many, the Central Business District (CBD) and commercial buildings will become less crowded, bringing forth the question of whether there is going to be continued demand for the same amount of office space, and if so, in what shape or form should it take to support the needs of businesses and workers in the future.

With this in mind, perhaps business districts can evolve to become more self-sufficient, featuring a greater variety of options for people to work, live and play within them. This may mean decentralising parts of the business districts and moving them closer to residential areas, and building more co-working spaces within the heartlands to serve as workspaces within walking distance to residential homes.

To alleviate pressures on transportation infrastructure while enabling continued mobility within cities, city planners will also need to look at enabling smart transportation to streamline the way we travel. By harnessing big data to ease congestion, optimise traffic flows and improve road safety, this can help to enable more efficient commutes while reducing overall emissions at the same time.

Rethinking sustainability

In recent months, the demand for takeaway food and delivery orders have resulted in growing amounts of waste in individual homes. Not only did Singapore generate an extra 1,334 tonnes of plastic waste - the weight of 92 double-decker buses - during the two-month Circuit Breaker, this issue is unlikely to go away as deliveries continue to be in demand to support remote workers in the near term.

At the same time, with corporates in the driving seat of sustainability initiatives, remote workers may have less incentive to put in place green practices within their homes. Thus, there is a need to extend environmentally-friendly initiatives into communities and homes, so that individuals will learn to be more environmentally conscious and are empowered to adopt sustainable habits and practices for their long-term good.

In addition to the issue of waste, the constant use of air-conditioning systems within the homes of remote workers will also bring about significant environmental impact in the long run. With the necessity of air-conditioning in Singapore's hot and humid climate, perhaps adopting eco-friendly air-conditioning technologies, coupled with green practices of using air-conditioning at home, can pave the way for more sustainable use of air conditioners in the future.

While community building, urban space planning and sustainability all require a serious rethink by the city's leaders and planners with an eye on our post-Covid future, individuals like you and I also have a part to play to help build a healthy and sustainable city that can stand the test of time. With collective effort from the government, businesses, communities and the individual, we can make a difference and create a positive environment for future generations to enjoy and thrive.