The Concept Master Plan for the Rail Corridor has been awarded to a design team comprising Japanese firm Nikken Sekkei and local landscape firm Tierra Design.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority on Monday (Nov 9) announced the winners of the Rail Corridor Request for Proposal (RFP) awards.
The winning Concept Master Plan is themed “Lines of Life”. It plans to create community-centric spaces and experiences throughout the length of the Corridor. The concept proposals include enhancing the natural vegetation among 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 the public can enjoy various activities ranging from nature-based recreation, arts and cultural events, to community activities.
The Concept Designs for an urban-green-blue-tapestry at Choa Chu Kang as well as the interim reuse of the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station were awarded to the team from MKPL Architects and Turenscape International.
At Choa Chu Kang, the proposal was to create an attractive and ecologically-richer environment along the Rail Corridor. This would mean widening a part of the Rail Corridor and transforming it into a 50 metre-wide linear forest and ecological corridor by introducting new landscapes and planting. The linear forest will also be seamlessly integrated with existing greenery, water bodies and future housing.
There are also plans to turn the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station as a multi-functional community building over the next 20 years. This includes creating a new green community space in front of the building, named Station Green, as well as other amenities such as a heritage gallery, auditorium and commercial spaces.
URA also launched an exhibition of the awarded proposals, which will be held at the URA Centre Atrium from Nov 9 to 28. Throughout this period, the public is invited to give their feedback on the proposals.
URA also announced the proposed conservation of the two steel truss bridges along the Rail Corridor in Bukit Timah. The bridge across Bukit Timah/Dunearn Road spans 45 metres, and is the only Baltimore truss bridge in Singapore. It is a popular spot for photo-taking and is widely used by Rail Corridor users. The bridge across Upper Bukit Timah Road spans 60 meters and is the only Pratt truss bridge in Singapore.
Source : Channel NewsAsia – 9 Nov 2015