Runway for Your Imagination

Organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), in partnership with the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) and the Singapore Institute of Planners (SIP), this competition invited members of the public to share their ideas on how the area can be transformed into a highly liveable and sustainable new town that builds on its unique aviation heritage.

A total of 104 entries were received under the three competition topics (including 35 student entries). The jury has selected 14 entries as winners in various categories which have been made available for viewing online. 

Participants were invited to submit proposals under the following topics:

Topic 1: Concept Master Plan

Participants had to come up with a broad concept master plan and ideas for the redevelopment of the airbase and the surrounding industrial area. The concept master plan was to illustrate the vision of what the community of the future can be like in the next 20 – 30 years, with residents living in a highly liveable and sustainable town. It was to also include ideas on how the future Paya Lebar Town can develop its own distinct identity and unique sense of place anchored on its rich heritage and history.

Open Category Winners

First Prize
The ‘S’ City - Shared, Small and Sensitive
Flexel Studio

Second Prize
The Runway “Kris”
MIX Design Studio

Honorary Mention
Future's Forest
Farrells

Honorary Mention
Future Ready for Humanity, Environment, Technologies and Crisis
Morrow Architects & Planners Pte Ltd

Honorary Mention
The Wooden City
Jon Carlo M. Alivio 

Tertiary Category Winners

First Prize
Paya Lebar Tomorrow
The University of Hong Kong

Second Prize
PLAB Smart Communities
National University of Singapore 

Third Prize
Indus ++
National University of Singapore 

Topic 2: "Transforming the Runway"

Participants were to develop concept proposals for the use of significant stretches of the runway, which was about 75m wide and 3.8km-long, as a multi-functional community space for people of all ages and abilities. The ideas should illustrate the programming of activities along the runway and how these relate to possible developments next to the runway in future. The design strategies for re-purposing the runway will help to retain the memory of this significant infrastructure of the past and transform it into a major community landmark to serve the future residents in the area. 

Open Category Winners

First Prize
The Horizon
Formwerkz Architects, ID Architects, AWP Architects 

Second Prize
Participatory Runways
Eugene Ong
 

Honorary Mention
Paya Rambla Airfield Park
Jon Carlo M. Alivio

Honorary Mention
Monument to Water
l'AUC, CENDES+TENarchitects Pte Ltd

Tertiary Category Winners

First Prize
The Duty of Swamp
University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City

Topic 3: “Rejuvenating Paya Lebar Airport”

Participants were to develop design strategies to re-purpose and give a new lease of life to a group of former airport buildings and structures that will be retained as part of the history of the site. These buildings and structures, including new infill developments, will collectively form a unique precinct identity as an integral part of the future town. 

Open Category Winner

First Prize
The Runway "Sheds"
MIX Design Studio

Jury

The jury comprised a multi-disciplinary team of urban design, architecture and landscape professionals:

• Mdm Fun Siew Leng (Chairperson), Chief Urban Designer / URA 
• Mr Wilfred Loo, President / SIP
• Mr Melvin Tan, Council Member / SIA, and Deputy Managing Director / LAUD Architects
• Mr Khairudin Saharom, principal of Kite Studio Architecture, and member of URA’s Heritage and Identity Partnership panel
• Dr Chong Fook Loong, Group Director / Housing and Development Board
• Mr Damian Tang, Senior Director / National Parks Board, and Immediate Past President / Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects
• Mr Tan See Nin, Senior Director / URA

Related Items

Find out more about the former Paya Lebar Airport below, where we have details on Singapore's former international airport.

Separately, pre-tertiary students taking part in the annual Challenge for the Urban and Built Environment workshop and competition that we organised in November 2019 also proposed ideas for the former airport buildings and reimagined how the area can be transformed. Explore their ideas below.