Urban Green Provision and Constructions of Nation: Western and Eastern Policies

Abstract

For various reasons, Singapore is a relevant case study for elucidating planning and design of public parks and open green spaces. As in western planning policies, Singapore’s public parks and open green spaces have been progressively organized into a structured ‘open space system’, ‘green belt’, and recently as ‘green infrastructure’. With regards to sustainability, the Singaporean model is said to lead contemporary conceptualizations of urban greening, including notions of ‘green urbanism’ and ‘biophilia’. The park system situates within Singapore’s political agenda—the ‘garden city’ concept manifested in the development of the physical environment—as well as the Influence of evolving western ideals of nation building and sustainability. Impacted by western policies, Singapore’s urban green-provision addresses cultural, social, environmental and economic sustainability, and the building of a recognizable nation identity.