BRIDGE SCAPE

Abstract

This thesis strives to pursue an alternative in tackling the land shortage issue in Singapore by using existing negative spaces that are formed due to the presence of the expressways. With around 60% built up area on its 716km2 land, Singapore has applied and envisioned some strategies in anticipating its even greater land need in the next 20 years. They include area reclamation, increasing built density (higher plot ratio), building underground. The grade separation between expressways and normal roads often resulted in a huge loop of negative spaces. With over 119 flyovers currently existing in Singapore, there are some residual spaces to be utilized. By employing these plots of land, the thesis attempts to not only maximize the utilization of land in the land limited Singapore, but also to reconnect the areas that were previously divided by the presence of the expressways. Exploring a prototype that could be applied in the many different flyover sites, the programme is of a mixed-use complex that mainly feature a residential tower with opportunities for retail, commerce, recreation, and greeneries. The proposal demonstrates how this prototype could work on a chosen site over the Buona Vista Flyover. The proposal not only reveals the viability of these spaces to be considered when doing urban planning, it also connects the outlying areas previously segregated by the grade separation and transforms negative space into an urban spot.