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Co-Creating Our Lovable City
URA works closely with community and business groups to support ground-up ideas that enhance local precincts and neighbourhoods.
Last updated 25 June 2025
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Showcasing possibilities
In the early years, demonstration projects were carried out to spark curiosity and inspire the public to reimagine public spaces.
The simple act of providing seats encourages people to rest and relax!
Bringing the young and old together through play...
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What if our streets were designed for people instead of cars?
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Improving public spaces together
Events and competitions were organised to involve the public and design professionals in creating better public spaces.
Activating streets with the public
Enlivening our public spaces with designers and public
Incubating new ideas with stakeholders
"We were so happy to see complete strangers coming together & bonding over music. And to see that our pianos are able to meet the needs of a diverse group of people, ranging from children who absolutely enjoy playing in public, to adults simply looking for a quiet place to play."— Yan Chang, Co-founder of Play it Forward
Nurturing ground-up spaces
With the help of residents, businesses, developers and members of the public, public spaces in Singapore have truly transformed into the heart of our city over the past decade.
Welcome to Our Backyard (WOBY!)
Initiated by Geylang East Home for the Aged, designed by Participate in Design
Cable Spool Playstreet @ Parkland Green
Initiated and designed by Singapore Wellness Association
In a dense urban environment, public spaces serve as the most important breathing spaces among crowded buildings and busy roads. They encourage us to pause and enjoy a place, to interact with others, rejuvenate our minds and heighten our spirits. They are probably what makes us fall in love with a city.
— Dr Chong Keng Hua, Associate Professor, Architecture and Sustainable Design, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) “More public spaces in Singapore getting spruced up”, The Straits Times, 22 April 2017.
Staircase along Upper Thomson Road
Initiated by Yew Lian Park Residents’ Association, designed by Muhammad Izdi
Ang Mo Kio Viaduct
Initiated and designed by Zoe Lin
"There were elderly people reading newspapers on benches, people rushing to work and others jogging. It was also a beautiful space with greenery nearby. I thought to myself that more could be done to the space to engage people using it."— Zoe Lin
Tree Hugging Benches
Initiated by LopeLab, designed by LopeLab and Touchwood Pte Ltd
Lively Benches @ Potong Pasir
Initiated and designed by Anne Neo
Archifest @ Kampong Gelam
Initiated by Singapore Institute of Architects, designed by Jezamine Chua and Kendrick Tay; Syazwan Hanif and Syafiq Jubri
Bencoolen Benches
Initiated and designed by the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
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Creative Hoarding at Kampong Gelam
Initiated by One Kampong Gelam, designed by various artists
Under the Gelam Trees
Initiated by Johari Kazura of One Kampong Gelam Designed by Starlight Alchemy, Sultan Arts Village resident artists and The Black Book.
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In the days of the kampung, our lives spilled out to the streets. Today, we are a much more private and organised people, keeping to ourselves in our cloistered enclaves.
Yet, we need to go back to the basics — giving life to our public spaces is the way to go in fostering a community spirit and play spaces for our living needs, for variety and energy within our city. Creating community spaces gets people to come out to play and gather, especially in land-scarce cities like ours.
— Mindy Tan, Photographer
What’s next? Your idea.
Share how you think public spaces near your home or workplace can be enhanced!