Punggol Masterplan: The Sustainable Waterfront Town in the Tropics

Envisioned as Singapore’s next great waterfront community, Punggol will be home to over 300,000 people along the island’s northern coast. In 2011, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) launched an international design competition, selecting Urban Strategies Inc. to lead the transformation.

Leading a multidisciplinary team, we created a sustainable framework of mixed-use districts that emphasizes diversity and quality of life. Innovations in urban design, tropical building typologies, and conservation were central to the plan, as was the integration of nature and water with urban living. At its centre, a vibrant hub combines education, research, creative industries, retail, and cultural destinations to create a uniquely Singaporean “heart of Punggol.” The plan sets a new benchmark for 21st-century city-building, balancing social, economic, and environmental goals within a resilient framework.

Collaboration was key. A series of design workshops with HDB, URA, LTA, and National Parks ensured alignment and adaptability, enabling the plan to evolve in response to shifting priorities over time. Implementation quickly followed, anchored by a new MRT station and bus interchange. At the heart of Punggol’s transformation, the Punggol Digital District (PDD) and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) form the vibrant core of a 24/7 community. Together with new housing, amenities, restaurants, a hawker market, and a hotel, they anchor a dynamic hub of 28,000 jobs, 12,000 students, and 2,200 academic staff. Waterfront boardwalks, heritage trails, parks, playgrounds, and lively dining spots complete a destination that’s green, connected, and distinctly Punggol.