Paya Lebar Air Base up for ideas competition to re-imagine area

Members of the public will get a chance to re-imagine the future of Paya Lebar Air Base and the surrounding industrial estates as part of the “Runway for Your Imagination” ideas competition. Organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), in partnership with the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) and the Singapore Institute of Planners (SIP), the competition encourages members of the public to share their ideas on how the area can be transformed into a highly liveable and sustainable new town that builds on its unique aviation heritage.

“The future relocation of the Paya Lebar Air Base presents an exciting canvas of possibilities for us to create an attractive and sustainable township with inclusive public spaces in Singapore. Through the ideas competition, we hope that members of the public can let their imagination take flight and join us in painting a new vision for this future space – one that is filled with boundless opportunities,” said Mr Lim Eng Hwee, Chief Executive Officer of URA.

In the 1950s, Singapore’s second international airport was built on the site, given its proximity to the town centre. Operating between 1955 and 1981, the former Paya Lebar Airport bore witness to supersonic Concorde flights that flew between London and Singapore in the late 1970s. Many former airport buildings remain today, standing proof of Singapore’s past aviation heritage. After the airport moved to Changi, the site was converted to the Paya Lebar Air Base.

In future, the Paya Lebar Air Base will also relocate.

After the relocation of Paya Lebar Air Base, there is scope to comprehensively redevelop the 800ha site and its surrounding industrial estates into a highly liveable and sustainable new town with amenities for future residents, as well as a major employment node in the area.

Interested participants can submit proposals for one of three topics in the competition. For the first topic “Concept Master Plan”, participants are to develop overarching ideas and concepts to illustrate the vision of how the air base and the surrounding industrial areas can be redeveloped into a distinctive, highly liveable and sustainable community in the 2030s and beyond. In the second topic “Transforming the Runway”, organisers are looking for concepts that transform the runway into a multi-functional community space for people of all ages and abilities. The third topic “Rejuvenating Paya Lebar Airport” requires participants to design a unique precinct with ideas to re-purpose the former airport buildings, including the terminal, control tower and hangars, for new uses and activities to give them a new lease of life.

“The ‘Runway for Your Imagination’ ideas competition is the start of an exciting journey for our local fraternity to partake in the reimagination of a major asset of our city – one rich in heritage, filled with immense transformative potential, and endless possibilities. It is SIA’s pleasure to partner URA and SIP in this grand endeavour to share stories, dreams, and hopes through the design of future of Singapore for Singaporeans in both physical and psychological forms.” said Mr Seah Chee Huang, President of SIA.

Mr Wilfred Loo, President of SIP added, “We look forward to receiving fresh ideas for Paya Lebar Air Base which will elevate to new heights our ways of living, working, recreating and connecting.”

“We hope participants will explore soaring possibilities which will inspire, build and nurture vibrant and resilient communities for future generations in Singapore and the world.”

Members of the public can take part in either the ‘Open’ or the ‘Tertiary’ category, with attractive cash prizes to be won for winning entries.

Participants can choose from one of the following topics.

Topic 1: “Concept Master Plan”
Participants are to come up with a broad concept master plan and ideas for the redevelopment of the air base and the surrounding industrial area in future. The concept master plan should illustrate the vision of what the community of the future can be like in the 2030s, with residents living in a highly liveable and sustainable town. The plan should include ideas for exciting new ways to live, work, play, learn and move. It should also include ideas on how the future Paya Lebar Town can develop its own distinct identity and unique sense of place anchored on its rich heritage and history.

Topic 2: “Transforming the Runway”
In order to commemorate the aviation heritage of the future new town, significant stretches of the 3.8km runway are proposed to be retained and transformed into a new public space for everyone to enjoy. Participants are to develop concept proposals for the use of the runway as a multifunctional community space for people of all ages and abilities. The ideas should include types of activities along the runway and how these relate to possible developments next to the runway, as well as design strategies to transform the repurposed space into a significant landmark that retains the memory of it as a former runway.

Topic 3: “Rejuvenating Paya Lebar Airport”
Participants are to develop concept proposals for the cluster of former airport buildings comprising the terminal building, control tower offices and hangars. These buildings are distinguished by their distinctive identity and architecture related to their former airport functions. Participants can propose a precinct master plan and design strategies for the re-purposing of the former airport buildings and structures to give them a new lease of life. Proposals can include the injection of new buildings and public spaces that integrate with the retained buildings to create a unique precinct identity within the future town.

Interested parties can find out more and sign up for the competition at the Government’s ideas portal. The closing date for submissions is 27 March 2020.