Singapore is expanding. And that is to be taken literally. The world's metropolises are growing. Whether it's Munich, London, or Shanghai, they are expanding into their surrounding areas. Islands don't grow naturally. Unless you lend a hand. For this reason, Singapore has been reclaiming land from the sea by depositing large amounts of sand for decades.
Overall, the land area has expanded by approximately 100 square kilometers, from just under 600 square kilometers to around 700 square kilometers today. Some experts predict another 100 square kilometers by the year 2030.
The international airport of Singapore is located on reclaimed land. The entire southern coast as well as the new Central Business District are also on reclaimed land. Even Marina Bay, the district where Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay are located, is reclaimed.
In the past, the Singapore River flowed directly into the sea. The river mouth has always been popular among the population, and people started bathing here shortly after the founding of the city-state. Instead of the river mouth, Marina Bay is now located here.
From 1969 to 1992, a total of 360 hectares of land were reclaimed in Marina Bay. As a result, the Singapore River now flows into the bay instead of the sea. The long-term visions for the Marina Bay area were formulated in the 1983 Master Plan by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). In 1988, the draft plan for Marina Bay was presented to the public in a two-week exhibition, outlining the goals for its development.
In the metro station of Gardens by the Bay, I found some maps that I found fascinating as an urban planner. I'm excited to share them with you. The year of each map is indicated in the top right corner.
📷 the maps of more years you will find in the photo album
The urban planning goals of this district are very diverse. Singapore did not have a distinctive landmark and was considered boring. With the Marina Bay Sands, an unmistakable image with international landmarks (Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay) was created. After its independence, Singapore set a goal to become an ecological and green city. The waterfront areas were deliberately made accessible to the public. It has become a central recreational area for both the local population and tourists.
Optimizing the waterfront location also brings economic benefits as the city can market the newly reclaimed land. Through the Marina Barrage, the dam between the bay and the sea, floods can be prevented and drinking water can be obtained.
Use of the island
Landmarks
Marina Bay Sands
Gardens by the Bay
Marina Barrage
-> We have published separate posts about the three points of interest. On the map below, I have marked the locations.
However, the island is still not fully developed. There is ongoing construction behind the Gardens by the Bay. When I am back home, I will do some research to find out what is planned for that area. In the foto album you will find one picture from the bird's eye view of Gardens of the Bay. There you can see that the area behind the park towards ths the sea are currently being developed.
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