
Mega Integrated Developments and Sustainable Growth
Cities are expanding and a new generation of mega mixed-use developments could help shape sustainable growth.
Mega integrated developments are large-scale and mixed use developments that combine residential, office, commercial and civic components with a seamlessly connected major transportation node.
Because of their massive scale and complexity, mega integrated developments have long-term effects on the environment and communities. A successful integrated project, however, holds a lot of promise and opens up exciting possibilities for humans, the built environment, green spaces, transportation and technology to be intricately linked in ways that improve a city’s liveability.
SUSTAINABLE URBAN GROWTH WITH CONNECTED AND “MIXED” CITIES
As the world’s urban population continues to grow, reshaping cities for a more sustainable future has emerged as a major theme in global discussions about urban densification.
Gensler’s 2021 urban design forecast recommends a few trends and initiatives that can help cities become healthier, more equitable and sustainable places to live. These include diverse and inclusive land use, improved access to essential services, the development of urban parks and flexible streetscapes, and the reintroduction of the ‘20-minute city’, in which school, work, and leisure “can all be found within a 20-minute walk or short bike ride [from homes]”.
The concept of the ‘20-minute city’ shares some ideological similarities with Peter Calthorpe's ‘Transit-Oriented Development’ (TOD) planning strategy that was introduced in 1993.
TOD advocates for more residential, business and leisure spaces to be planned within walking or biking distance of public transportation nodes. This, Calthorpe believes, would better accommodate urban growth sustainably, foster vibrant communities and increase accessibility, while also intensifying land use.
In addition to TOD, Calthorpe advocates for ‘mixed cities’, with mixed income, mixed demographic, and mixed land use. This should go hand in hand with well-connected streets, varied alternative routes, human-scale neighbourhoods, the preservation of natural ecologies, and the conservation of heritage sites — all planned in tandem with a good public transportation network.
Together, these principles form a ‘whole systems design’, resulting in textured neighbourhoods that bring people closer to mass transit, jobs, housing, amenities and one another.
The up-and-coming Guoco Midtown is an innovative, game-changing development that will re-energise Beach Road in the downtown area of Singapore.
Following this successful project, GuocoLand is also bringing its experience in transit-oriented mixed-use developments from the city centre to the tranquil residential enclave in Lentor Hills. Envisioned as a mixed-use development of three 25-storey towers with 600 residential units and a double-volume sky terrace in each tower, the Lentor Hills development will be integrated with the upcoming Lentor mass rapid transit (MRT) station.
CONNECTING ALL ASPECTS OF CITY LIVING
Many cities around the world have long experimented with Transit-Oriented Developments, each with its own set of circumstances. Mega developments are not a new concept either, but urban planners, architects and designers have been reimagining more sustainable and integrated mega development models that are capable of meeting future needs.
A more sustainable integrated mega development model is one that provides greater connectivity, accessibility and diversity. It would help contribute to a sustainable city’s goal of serving various needs to welcome the coexistence of different groups of people, and in becoming a multi-experiential realm for all.
All in all, the term “mega” now connotes a holistically planned and interconnected network of housing, offices, infrastructure, urban green and recreational spaces. The objective is to give the city a sense of belonging, a higher standard of living and the ability to adapt to future changes.

What will life in the city look like in the future? With more sustainable urban design efforts underway, living in the city centre will most likely look very different than it did a decade ago. Both Guoco Tower and Guoco Midtown envision the future of city living as a place where communities live in harmony with both the built environment and nature, while benefiting from super-connectivity at their doorsteps.
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