(IM)MOBILE! ACTIVE AGEING-IN-PLACE: ENHANCING BUKIT MERAH THROUGH EVERYDAY LIFESTYLE

Abstract

This thesis envisions a plausible insertion for universal accessibility and safety in a residential estate built over challenging terrain, giving heavier emphasis to older housing estates and neighbourhood precincts. This insertion would enable safe inter-connectivity from homes to a variety of amenities and healthcare services for all ages. The aim being to equip the estate with a desirable environment to age-in-place. Current statistics show an exceptionally high elderly population of 24% in the mature estate of Bukit Merah View, at almost twice the national average of 10.5%. This could very well reflect the projected future scenario in most public housing estates by 2030. The site houses several schools, parks, community centre, as well as a market and hawker centre, along with site research, showed significant pedestrian movement, highlighting the need for universal or barrier-free accessibility and safety in the area. The site has challenging terrain where several high-rise housings were built upon, roads further compound the issue, increasing the barriers between amenities and housing. The barriers refer to the lack of universal accessibility and safety. Thus, these barriers pose an issue for the pedestrians, especially residents with mobility issues in accessing nearby facilities such as clinics, food centre and markets, all essential for everyday life. Covering a distance of over 600m, this thesis proposes an elevated footbridge for pedestrians, bridging different levels with a common platform and to several essential nodes where different ages and lifestyles can congregate.Such nodes include bus-stops, kiosks, shops, kindergartens, elderly centres and community centre. The market and hawker centre, fitness and recreation park, along with an events plaza were conceived as major nodes, inline with a thematic active learning journey. Activity spaces, shops, kiosks and public toilets will also be scattered along the footbridge, adding to the richness of the experience. In addition, this thesis shall attempt to address the increased plot ratio, as seen in the new URA masterplan, by proposing several new residential blocks. These blocks would have denser units while offering several unit types equipped with elderly-friendly features to suit most lifestyles. The addition would include a 5-storey high communal podium, linking to the elevated footbridge, while not interrupting views from the existing low-rise flats. This thesis seeks to demonstrate ways in which new high-rise housing could co-exist with the existing older urban fabric, meeting future needs while improving accessibility, safety, and our heartland way of life.