Singapore artist, architecture firm win HDB design competition to refresh Bukit Merah Town Centre
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The winning design by local firm OWAA Architects and visual artist Toby "Tobyato" Tan drew inspiration from the town’s hilly terrain.
PHOTO: OWAA ARCHITECTS
SINGAPORE – A collaboration between a Singapore artist and an architecture firm has won a design competition for Bukit Merah Town Centre, and their ideas may be incorporated into the rejuvenation plans for the town by the Housing Board.
The winning design by visual artist Toby “Tobyato” Tan and OWAA Architects drew inspiration from the town’s hilly terrain and features elements such as a swordfish art installation to pay homage to a folk tale about how Bukit Merah got its name.
This is the first time HDB has held a competition to call for design ideas for the upgrading of a town centre. The contest was organised with the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA).
Launched in May, the competition called for submissions that incorporate elements representing the town’s history and heritage.
Ideas must follow the theme, The Tale of The Swordfish, based on a folk tale about a young boy who thwarts an attack by schools of swordfish along the coast.
Jealous of his cleverness, the king had the boy killed. His blood flowed down the hill and stained the soil red, giving Bukit Merah its name.
HDB said on Nov 17 that the winning entry received nearly half of the 2,000 public votes from all over Singapore. Over 70 per cent of voters from Bukit Merah and neighbouring Queenstown selected the design.
HDB received 61 eligible submissions. Three designs were shortlisted by a judging panel comprising representatives from HDB, SIA and grassroots organisations, before being put to a public vote.
The winning design proposes several community bonding features, such as a playground with walking nets, a cycling path and shelters with seats.
This is the first time HDB has held a competition to call for design ideas for the upgrading of a town centre.
PHOTO: OWAA ARCHITECTS
It also proposes a pavilion featuring brickwork for an activity hub, and cargo container-style spaces to house amenities such as a book cafe and shops.
Mr Lee Wah Fong, co-founder of OWAA Architects, said the team studied old maps of Bukit Merah and was inspired by seven lesser-known hills in the town. These include Sugar Loaf Hill, which links Henderson Waves and Telok Blangah Hill Park, and Queen’s Own Hill, which is now the Telok Blangah Heights HDB estate.
Different areas in the team’s proposal – such as the playground and book cafe – are named after the seven hills.
Mr Lee added that the team hopes residents will learn more about these hills and the swordfish folk tale through its design proposal. The winning team will receive $15,000.
HDB said it will work with agencies to study how to incorporate ideas from the winning design into the rejuvenation plans for the town centre.
Mr Thomas Seow, deputy chief executive officer of estate at HDB, said the competition showcased the creativity of the local architectural community, and encouraged residents to actively shape their neighbourhood’s identity.
The upgrading initiative comes under HDB’s Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme, which aims to renew older estates to make the heartland more sustainable and vibrant.
The winning design proposes several community bonding features, such as a playground with walking nets, a cycling path and shelters with seats.
PHOTO: OWAA ARCHITECTS
Bukit Merah, which consists of Redhill, Tiong Bahru, Telok Blangah, Mount Faber and Tanjong Pagar, is one of four towns that will be refreshed under the latest edition of the programme. The other three are Ang Mo Kio, Queenstown and Choa Chu Kang.
Under the ROH programme for Bukit Merah, residents can also expect new pedestrian and cycling paths and sheltered linkways from the town centre to Redhill MRT station.
HDB said in September 2023 that these plans will be implemented progressively within the next five to 10 years.
