Southern Ridges
The Alexandra Arch and Forest Walk, which form part of the Southern Ridges, has won yet another award – The International Architectural Awards for The Best Global Design 2009, given by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design. Presented by the Museum and in partnership with The European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, this award is the only global awards programme in architecture of its kind. The International Architecture Awards celebrates, recognises, and highlights the world’s foremost architectural solutions for the designs of new skyscrapers, corporate buildings, institutions, arts facilities, airports, private homes, industrial structures, and urban planning projects from London to Singapore.
Located at the south-western part of Singapore, the Southern Ridges comprises a 9 km chain of green, open spaces spanning the rolling hills of Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park before ending at West Coast Park. It is an area rich in history and is home to some of nature’s greatest gifts of flora and fauna. It is also one of the best spots in Singapore to catch panoramic views of the city, its harbour and the Southern Islands.
Until the early 2000s, major roads and dense vegetation separated the hill top parks of the Southern Ridges. Under the Parks & Waterbodies Plan and Identity Plan, URA mooted a plan to link up the five hill top parks along the Southern Ridges. The plan was to strategically and carefully infuse the landscape with pedestrian bridges (Henderson Waves and Alexandra Arch) over major roads and an elevated walkway (Forest Walk) through a secondary forest to seamlessly link up all the hill parks into one large natural recreational playground. An international design competition was held and the designs for the two pedestrian bridges and elevated walkway were selected from the submitted designs. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officially launched the Southern Ridges in May 2008. Since the opening, an average of 50,000 visitors each month have taken the opportunity to enjoy the scenic environs of the Southern Ridges.
Visitors to the Southern Ridges are now able to walk 9 km ridge-to-ridge, from Mt Faber Park, through Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park to West Coast Park, while enjoying a panoramic view of the southern coastline and a soothing sanctuary of greenery that was previously not accessible.
With the careful planning and innovative designs for the pedestrian bridges and walk, it is not surprising that accolades have been coming in fast. This year alone, the Southern Ridges project has won three awards. Besides the International Architectural Awards 2009, Henderson Waves also won the Singapore Structural Steel Design Award (Sports, Bridges and Healthcare or Other Structures Category) given by the Singapore Structural Steel Society; and the Design & Engineering Safety Excellence Award (Civil Engineering Category) given by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority earlier this year.
In 2007, the Alexandra Arch was awarded the Certificate of Commendation for the 'Distinguished Use of Structural Steel for its Creativity, Value and Innovation' under the Category of Non-Building Structures given by the Singapore Structural Steel Society.
Henderson Waves lighted up
The most recent award garnered by the ground-breaking Henderson Waves is the President Design’s Award for Design of the Year. Having read so much about Henderson Waves, are you feeling the urge to visit the bridges and see for yourself how spectacular they are?