rejuvenating our home _ brightsparks e-magazine

7/18/2016 Rejuvenating Our Home | BrightSparks EMagazine

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HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD CLUSTER FEATURE

HTo improve the lives of Singaporeans, HDB responds to the changing timesby remaking heartlands and planning for eldercare facilities.

ome is where the heart is and to many Singaporeans, the acronym HDBis synonymous with home. It is thus no wonder that remaking theheartlands has recently become a priority – all part of the government’s

e�orts to shape the Singapore of tomorrow. In line with these e�orts, towns andestates will be remade so Singaporeans can delight in having better homes andcommunities. This is all done in anticipation to usher in rejuvenatedneighbourhoods like Toa Payoh, Woodlands and Pasir Ris.

Due to Singapore’s ageing population, facility planning for eldercare has alsoemerged as a key concern amongst HDB urban planners. One such planner isHDB Overseas Undergraduate Scholar Benjamin Chia. In HDB’s Physical PlanningDepartment, Benjamin contributes to HDB’s urban planning e�orts with hispassion for improving the lives of Singaporeans.

What sparked your interest in urban planning and design?

Benjamin Chia: I had no idea that urban planning as a profession existed untila�er my IB Examinations, when I stumbled upon it while trying to find disciplinesof study that would interest me. Although urban planning is concerned with thebuilt environment, I knew that it has a real impact on improving people’s lives.Since then, I have been intrigued by the possibilities that planners explore inshaping the environment.

Why did you choose to pursue your degree in University College

Rejuvenating Our Home

By Sharon Fah

BRIGHTSPARKS JULY 2016

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http://brightsparks.com.sg/

http://brightsparks.com.sg/magazine/july-2016/cluster-feature/gardens/cultivating-seeds-of-passion.php

http://brightsparks.com.sg/magazine/july-2016/cluster-feature/npark/energising-singapore-green-spaces.php



Chia Mingjie, Benjamin HDB Overseas Undergraduate Scholar

Planner, Physical Planning Department, Research &Planning Group

“The prospect of havingmy plans developed andrealised in Singapore’surban landscape spurs meon to plan better livingspaces for Singaporeans.”

London (UCL)?

Benjamin: In the field of Urban Planning, the Bartlett School of Planning at UCLis amongst the best globally. The Bartlett places a strong emphasis ondeveloping skills in urban policy and design, and helps students betterappreciate the urban environment that they would eventually plan for.

How did living and studying overseascontribute to your holistic development?

Benjamin: One of the first few questions that Iam asked whenever someone learns that Istudied abroad is, “Can you cook?” While I’m noGordon Ramsey, I can in fact cook a simple meal!Living and studying abroad has made me moreindependent, disciplined and confident to takeon life’s challenges.

Tell us a bit more about your roles andresponsibilities at work.

Benjamin: As a planner in HDB, I work withagencies to assess the suitability of proposeddevelopments in HDB estates and towns. Thisincludes planning for eldercare and childcarefacilities. My colleagues and I discuss therequirements for these facilities with variousagencies and devise a plan to provide for them.

Besides planning for new sites, I am also part of the team that revitalises HDBtowns. Under the Remaking Our Heartlands programme, new ideas are proposedto build on the town’s existing identity and vibrancy. More recently, I am involvedin Master Planning which entails studying an area for housing developments andformulating plans to guide these developments.

What do you find most fulfilling about your job?

Benjamin: With over 80 per cent of Singaporeans living in HDB flats, I find thework that I do in HDB very real and impactful. The prospect of having my plansdeveloped and realised in Singapore’s urban landscape spurs me on to plan


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« GARDENS BY THE BAY PSB ACADEMY »

better living spaces for Singaporeans. With our ageing population, my work inplanning for eldercare facilities is especially meaningful.

What are some challenges you have faced at work? How have youovercome these challenges?

Benjamin: One of the challenges I face would be trying to meet the needs ofvarious stakeholders in the areas I plan for. Each planning decision a�ectsstakeholders such as the resident, the business owner, the drivers using the roadsand even the flora that line the streets in our Garden City! Overcoming thechallenge of meeting these various needs requires a balanced approach thatconsiders each stakeholder, and pursues a solution that best suits the situation.

What new developments or unique opportunities can fresh graduateslook forward to at HDB?

Benjamin: The rapidity of technological changes, the demographic shi�s andemergence of the sharing economy have changed the way we live our lives. AtHDB, we will need to alter our responses to this changing milieu. An ageingpopulation, telecommuting and the pressing need for sustainable developmentare but a few of the changing trends that we will experience in the coming years.With these changes and through ideas generated, fresh graduates will face manyexciting opportunities to contribute to the urban landscape of tomorrow.

What advice would you have for those who are exploring theirscholarship options?

Benjamin: I would advise them to think about whether they believe in what theorganisation is striving for. If you are excited about being a part of what HDB doesand find meaning in the work we do, you will enjoy a fruitful career with HDB. Thechallenges you encounter will appear as opportunities for you to achieve greaterheights!

View Scholarship DetailsApply for Scholarship


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rejuvenating our home _ brightsparks e-magazine

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