Dominance of vehicular traffic, particularly in fast-paced cities, has become prevalent over the years and Singapore is no exception. Hence pedestrians become subservient to motorised vehicles, resulting in spatial fragmentation that compromises the accessibility of public spaces for pedestrian activity. Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) have numerous upcoming development plans for public spaces to “humanise the urban environment by promoting life outside of buildings” .

The thesis seeks to explore an alternative approach to designing public spaces for a more active and personalised urban environment, suited for the tropical environment and site characteristics – The Tropical Plaza.

A plaza, an open urban public space, is more widely common in Western countries than in Asia, a place where pedestrians are able to spontaneously move about with ease. Plazas in Singapore are usually smaller and formed from the leftover outdoor spaces of shopping complexes, furnished with seating areas. The thesis proposal pushes the notion of a central tropical urban node, equipped with public facilities to catalyse various urban events and festivals while still accommodating the circulation of motorised vehicles.

Located in central Dhoby Ghaut-Bras Basah precinct, the site was chosen for its high vehicular and pedestrian traffic and proximity to major cultural institutions, each with its own series of cultural events that occur throughout the year. Challenging site parameters include designing around existing underground MRT tunnels and the Stamford canal. The site presented a suitable opportunity for architectural development that is in line with the objectives of the thesis.