LIVING WITH WATER: A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE

Abstract

During the 2019 National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted the urgent need for Singapore to tackle Rising Sea Levels. He mentioned that although Singapore is already making plans for new developments to be at least 4m above the mean sea level, existing buildings are still at risk of flooding, suggesting mitigation measures such as dykes & polders to be implemented.

However as in the Netherlands, while the sea levels keep rising, the dykes have to be raised to keep seawater at bay. As a result, the polders behind them will become relatively deeper, making them more vulnerable and more expensive to maintain. Furthermore, dykes and polders are all built on reclaimed land, which is unsustainable.

This thesis aims to explore the possibility of embracing water, allowing floodwaters into Singapore’s coastal areas, instead of resisting it.

As an alternative to the government’s plan of building dykes and polders on reclaimed land, it reimagines how coastal districts can integrate water into its urban landscape.

With incoming water, there will be a loss in public spaces and greenery, impacting our quality of life. Hence, this thesis focuses on restoring public spaces and greenery as well as enhancing the quality of life through embracing incoming seawater. It aims to create a better living, playing and sustainable environment for all with new forms of water-based public spaces, bringing people and water together.