Lincoln University Alumnus Receives Singapore’s highest design accolade
Leonard Ng and Singapore President Halimah Yacob. Photo credit: Gan Jia Jun, courtesy of DesignSingapore Council and Urban Redevelopment Authority
Henning Larsen Country Market Director, Leonard Ng, has been recognized by Singapore’s president, Halimah Yacob, as Designer of the Year, for his passion and commitment to combatting climate change and environmental degradation.
““We humans tend to think of nature as being here to provide for us. But we need to ask what we can do for nature, because we rely on it to survive.” ”
Leonard began his design career with a desire to protect and enhance the natural world, at a time when the threat and consequences of climate change were not publicized or understood. His projects and initiatives throughout his career – such as the water sensitive design for Singapore’s popular Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park - demonstrate a commitment to this original intention, striking a harmonious balance at the intersection between nature, humanity, and environment. Leonard completed his BA in Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University, followed by an MA in Landscape Urbanism through the Architectural Association in the United Kingdom.
The implementation of the Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters program, in particular the pilot project Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, was a significant milestone in Leonard’s work. He was part of the design team that transformed Singapore’s water bodies beyond their functions of drainage and water supply, into vibrant, new spaces for community and recreation.
Completed in 2010, Bishan Park, located in Singapore's heartlands, underwent a much-needed upgrade that improved the capacity of the Kallang channel transforming it into a naturalized river. This project had a significant impact on the public’s relationship with water and its potential to transform cities. Works were carried out simultaneously to transform the utilitarian concrete channel into a naturalized river, creating new spaces for the community to enjoy.
In the context of recent flooding events in Auckland and elsewhere, this is a poignant example of successful adaptation of concrete canals into vibrant climate resilient waterways using nature-based solutions to improve urban environments.
Leonard recently helped launch Henning Larsen’s new office in Singapore, marking a commitment to focusing on nature in balance with urban development; an important step in the evolution of the global practice. Jurong Lake Garden, the Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park & Kallang River, and Kampung Admiralty are among the portfolio of critically acclaimed projects, demonstrating the values shared by the team.
Feature: Jurong Lake Garden
Grassland . Photo credit: Henning Larsen
Completed in 2019, the 53-hectare Jurong Lake Gardens restores the landscape heritage of the lowland freshwater swamp forest as a canvas for recreation and community activities. Complementing Singapore’s two flagship national gardens – Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay – Jurong Lake Gardens is designed to be a people’s garden accessible to all segments of society.
The effort to bring back nature unique to Jurong connotes a shift towards environment- and community-building in the country’s most heavily industrialised region. Henning Larsen’s expertise in water-sensitive urban design and approach to ecosystem regeneration manifests a restored swamp forest and wetlands as a public attraction, supported by allotment gardens and other communal components such as a nature-themed play area, lifestyle and sports facilities. Design elements like a meandering boardwalk seek to enhance visitor connection to Jurong Lake by weaving close to the water edge.
Lone Tree. Photo credit: Henning Larsen
The garden’s primary ecotones are freshwater swamps, woodlands and grasslands, and refined into various habitats of unique characteristics and species.
Alstonia Island & Freshwater is impacted by changing water levels of the lake. Intertidal species were introduced to adapt to the water-logged conditions resulting in the development of unique flora-fauna intertidal habitats. The Neram Stream is a naturalised braided waterway that carries rainwater from the surrounding areas to the lake. The banks were carefully planned and reinforced using bioengineering techniques to maintain their incline and hydraulic stability.
As part of the intertidal habitat, the Grassland undergoes a shift from arid to moist conditions along the lake edges. The 3.5 hectares serve as a refuge, sustenance source and nesting grounds for the avian population. At dusk, the birds seek shelter among the vegetation or flock playfully in the sky. Using salvaged rebars from the site, the Lone Tree has emerged as one of the popular photo-worthy spots.
Rasau Walk. Photo credit: Henning Larsen
Winding through the intertidal boardwalk, the Rasau Walk offers visitors the opportunity to get close to the natural surrounding at the water's edge. Meandering through native species of sealing wax and nibong palms, moments of the tranquil grasslands and serene lakeside scenery are revealed at various viewpoints.
At Forest Ramble, children are encouraged to mimic the motions of freshwater swamp animals, encouraging imagination, role-play and to find their own path to an adventure. The Clusia Cove is an interactive water attraction that enables kids to experience tidal patterns and surface ripples of coastal shores. Children have the opportunity to build sandcastles and feel the currents tickle them – an experience that comes close to being at the beach. The water source from Jurong Lake is cleansed using closed-loop systems of eco-ponds and natural phyto-remediation plant beds before circulating back to the play area.
Frog Play. Photo credit: Henning Larsen
A hidden infrastructure of nature-based drainage elements was introduced to improve the stormwater capacity of the garden and to convey and detain run-off. 12km of existing concrete drains were converted to approximately 4.7km of swales, streams, and re/detention ponds. 100% of the site catchment is conveyed through natural drainage before being released to Jurong Lake.
Jurong Lake Gardens is a park where infrastructure requirements, vibrant and well-loved green public spaces, and ecological-sensitive solutions are integrated and benefit each other. It has received accolades from the SILA SEMEC Outstanding Award of Excellence 2022, the 2021 ULI Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence and the 2021 IFLA APAC Outstanding Award for the parks and open space category.
It has helped Singapore to evolve into a biophilic City in Nature where landscapes, urban spaces and infrastructure are informed and inspired by nature.
Rasau Walk Aerial. Photo credit: Henning Larsen
This article is reprinted with kind permission from Leonard Ng and Henning Larsen.