Design Good Public Spaces

Public spaces are central to urban life. They connect people, places, and programs – supporting social interaction, community ties, and everyday movement through the city. In Singapore, these spaces range from void decks and pavilions to rooftop gardens and plazas, forming part of the wider urban system. But cities and users are evolving. Demographic shifts, changing lifestyles, digitalisation and climate challenges are reshaping how people live and interact. To remain relevant, public spaces must adapt to reflect how people actually experience and use them.

This project sets out to reimagine public spaces for Singapore’s future. Guided by the philosophy that we need more than “a public space for everyone” – we aim for a future where everyone has a good public space. The research explores how public spaces can be designed and programmed to meet diverse needs and aspirations, through a transdisciplinary, mixed-methods approach. By combining citizen science, scenario planning, and both in-situ and VR assessments within a biopsychosocial framework, we will generate new insights into the relationships between space, people, and community. These insights will inform practical strategies and guidelines to shape resilient, inclusive, and future‑ready public spaces that enhance everyday life in Singapore. A key outcome will be the development of a scenario guided, generative AI tool to assess existing public space designs, and create new designs that meet desired spatial and social objectives.

This multi-institutional project is led by the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), in partnership with University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and Ramboll.