PICTURES

Vote for locally-designed benches like The Kallang Wave, see it at a spot near you

Full Circle by NUS student Terence Tang. The Urban Redevelopment Authority has launched a contest to get the public to vote for their favourite bench designs and where they would like to see them installed. -- PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORIT
Full Circle by NUS student Terence Tang. The Urban Redevelopment Authority has launched a contest to get the public to vote for their favourite bench designs and where they would like to see them installed. -- PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The To-gather Bench by DP Architects. The Urban Redevelopment Authority has launched a contest to get the public to vote for their favourite bench designs and where they would like to see them installed. -- PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Shelter Bench by Lanzavecchia + Wai Design Studio. The Urban Redevelopment Authority has launched a contest to get the public to vote for their favourite bench designs and where they would like to see them installed. -- PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The Kallang Raw by Chang Yong Ter from Chang Architects. The Urban Redevelopment Authority has launched a contest to get the public to vote for their favourite bench designs and where they would like to see them installed. -- PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
(The) Coil by Look Architects Pte Ltd. The Urban Redevelopment Authority has launched a contest to get the public to vote for their favourite bench designs and where they would like to see them installed. -- PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The Kallang Wave by Ministry of Design. The Urban Redevelopment Authority has launched a contest to get the public to vote for their favourite bench designs and where they would like to see them installed. -- PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

A bench in the form of the Kallang Wave. Another that features back support and is "invitingly" named A Tropical Torture Rack.

These are just two of the 24 locally-designed benches which may soon be part of the "furniture" at public spaces such as Ang Mo Kio Town Centre, in a move by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to get the public to vote for their favourite bench designs and where they would like to see them installed.

URA has also launched a photography contest called My Favourite Space, to get people to share snapshots of their favourite public spaces such as parks and rooftop gardens.

These two projects are part of PubliCity, a series of initiatives launched in November to involve the community in the improvement of aesthetics of public spaces. "Our public has also shown good appreciation for well-designed public spaces and we hope to see strong participation in these two projects. We hope that buildings and owners will be inspired to create good public spaces for the community to enjoy," said Mr Ng Lang, chief executive officer of the URA.

In the Pick A Bench, Pick a Place scheme, the public is invited to choose from 24 locally-designed benches and the same number of local places to install them. These designs were winners of a bench design competition in 2012.

The public spots that can soon boast of a new, stylish bench are spread out across the island at locations such as Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Tampines Community Plaza, Punggol Promenade. These were chosen as they are places where the community congregates, URA said. To vote, please visit www.ura.gov.sg/ms/pickabench by March 31. The nominated bench designs will also exhibited at The URA Centre's first-storey Atrium during the voting period.

Members of the public are also invited to visit www.ura.gov.sg/ms/URAphotocomp to take part in the My Favourite Space competition. The competition ends on March 28.

Winners of both competitions will take home prizes including shopping vouchers.

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