Singapore’s famed Marina Bay precinct is one of six international parks selected as finalists in the 2015 Urban Open Space Award competition.
Organised by the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the annual competition recognises outstanding large- and small-scale public spaces worldwide.
Designed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the 3.5km long Marina Bay waterfront promenade features two pedestrian bridges that encircles a 48ha waterbody. It generates a ‘water piazza’ that becomes a meeting place and focal point for celebrations and activities.
This year’s other finalists are the Thousand Lantern Lake Park System in Foshan, Guangdong, China; Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois; Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square in Santa Monica, California; and Washington Canal Park in Washington DC.
While landscape architecture and urban design were factors in the judging, the jury selected finalists based on a broader set of criteria, including overall project design and how each impacted or revived their surrounding areas.
“The submissions from this year are representative of how quality urban space has become more than just an amenity for cities,” said jury chair Michael Covarrubias, chairman and chief executive officer of TMG Partners in San Francisco, California.
“The international diversity of the projects is reflective of how developers continually work to meet global demand by the public for the inclusion of healthy places in cities,” he added.
The winner is scheduled to be announced in October this year. A $10,000 cash prize will be awarded to the individual or organisation most responsible for the creation of the winning project.
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Singapore Editor at PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact him about this or other stories email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
