The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) have launched “Charmingly Changi”, an ideas competition calling for creative ideas from the public to enhance the rustic charm of Changi Point, the easternmost part of Singapore.
Changi Point is an established recreational coastal district with its holiday bungalows, sea-facing chalets, sports clubs and coastal boardwalk, and it is also the gateway to Pulau Ubin, an idyllic Singapore island with a rich ecosystem. Changi district is known for its rustic charm, rich heritage, such as old colonial bungalows, former Changi Hospital, Changi Chapel, boutique hotels, a plethora of eateries and recreational spaces along the coast. The area is well known for its cluster of buildings constructed by the British as a military base from around the late-1920s. Changi Point is also part of the Greater Rustic Coast, which comprises a 50km continuous and accessible belt of greenery, rich heritage and recreational spaces along Singapore’s northern coast. Being a designated Tree Conservation Area (TCA), Changi Point is also home to numerous heritage trees which makes it popular among nature lovers.
Building on this unique identity, the ideas competition aims to engage the community for creative ideas to enhance the tranquillity of Changi Point as a unique heritage and recreational node along the Greater Rustic Coast, and to create inclusive community spaces in the area. The area for the ideas competition is approximately 42ha within Changi Point, bounded by Loyang Avenue and Changi Air Base (West) to the south and Changi Golf Club to the east, and Straits of Johor, Old Pier Road, and Telok Paku Road. The agencies are also calling for ideas to strengthen connectivity to the coastline to improve public access to the beachfront, and suggestions for the adaptive reuse of State properties such as the Old Changi Hospital and the former barrack buildings along Hendon Road.
Chief Executive of SLA Colin Low said: “There are a number of State properties built from the late 1920s, located in Changi Point which have been tenanted for F&B, recreation, hotel and residential use. Through this ideas competition, we are hoping to get fresh proposals and concepts for the adaptive use of the State properties, and capture public aspirations to enhance the recreational offerings in the area.”
Chief Executive Officer of URA Lim Eng Hwee said: “Input from the public and stakeholders are important ingredients that help us shape and deliver plans that are more relevant and inclusive. The “Charmingly Changi” ideas competition builds on our earlier engagements, and represents another step forward to explore creative and suitable ways to guide the use and activation of buildings and spaces at Changi Point. We look forward to receiving good ideas to enhance the rustic charm of Changi Point and to bring this endearing node closer to people of all walks of life.”
Individuals or teams can participate in the ideas competition. There are two competition topics. The first is a ‘Concept Master Plan for Changi Point’, which challenges participants to formulate a concept master plan to guide the enhancement of Changi Point. Participants must demonstrate the balance between retaining the quiet and laid-back character of the area and at the same time, enabling enhancements that will increase the attractiveness of Changi Point. The master plan shall provide a strategy to differentiate Changi Point from other recreational or lifestyle nodes in Singapore, incorporating concepts for the adaptive reuse of buildings, inclusion of community spaces and improvement of public accessibility and infrastructure.
The second topic is for the ‘Repurposing of Old Changi Hospital’, which seeks innovative ideas for the adaptive reuse of Old Changi Hospital, to give it a new lease of life while retaining the architectural features of the buildings.
Participants will be grouped into two categories. The ‘Tertiary’ category, which is open to students from tertiary institutions in design-related disciplines; and the ‘Open’ category, which is open to participants from all other backgrounds.
The Jury will comprise representatives from the public and private sectors of various related disciplines.
Interested participants can find out more and sign up for the competition at
https://www.ideas.gov.sg/public/Charmingly_Changi. The closing date for submissions is 9 June 2021.
Photo credits: All Changi Point photos courtesy of Suszan Ortega
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