Building a benchmark for new generation of creative community: Singapore-Sichuan Hi-Tech Innovation Park attracts property developers

On March 4th, 2016, the Singapore-Sichuan Hi-Tech Innovation Park (SSCIP) held a seminar themed “The Pixel City” in the Chengdu Hilton Hotel, where SSCIP officially released its tender plan for commercial and residential land in 2016, together with its master planning concept, latest progress in construction and investment promotion. This event attracted about 100 well-known property developers including Vanke, Longfor, Luneng, CITIC, BDG, Greenland, COFCO and KWG Property.

SSCIP is the first-ever, iconic integrated urban development project jointly invested by Singapore and Sichuan (China). Located in the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (CDHT), SSCIP is also a flagship project in the National-Level “Tianfu New Area”. Covering an area of 10.34 km2, the project is designed for a residential population of 120,000 and a working population of 120,000 to 150,000, with an estimated investment in fixed assets exceeding RMB 100 billion.

SSCIP is a work-live-play integrated park with 7 independent yet complementary clusters. The key industries developed in SSCIP are biomedical sciences, interactive digital media, high-end manufacturing & assembly as well as environmental technologies, along with producer services involving finance and business services. SSCIP is positioned to be a new modern town seamlessly integrating industry, ecology and cultural elements as well as a benchmark for Sino-Singaporean cooperation.

Based on the 2016 tender plan for commercial and residential land released by SSCIP, a total of 500mu land, located in the west, north and east of the park, will be tendered this year. The plots in the west are designated as a residential area for hi-tech industry talents, where six plots of land are to be launched

The northern part of SSCIP is planned as a residential area surrounded with high quality education facilities. There will be a total of five kindergartens, three primary schools and one middle school in this area. At present, the conceptual design of the middle school and two of the kindergartens have been completed, while that of another two primary schools are in the final stage.

The area in the east of the park is surrounded by excellent SSCIP landscape that is a part of the Xinchuan Heartbeat Central Park, turning it into an ecological high-end residential area.

Introducing the Concept of the International City: Building 7 Innovative “Community Centers”

Recently, Opinions on Further Strengthening Urban Planning and Development Management was released by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council. It clarifies the basic principles and overall goals of urban planning and construction management and serves as a guide for urban planning and construction management to improve sustained urban development.

“From my point of view, the document is identical with urban development concepts from Singapore and some European cities in seven aspects, i.e. planning, featured style, architecture standards, energy conservation, public services, habitability and urban governance. I hope to integrate these new requirements and concepts into the planning of SSCIP,” said Dr. Zhou Yuliang, Chief Planner of SSCIP.

Dr. Zhou participated in several Sino-Singaporean cooperation projects such as the Sino-Singaporean Tianjin Eco-City and Nanjing Eco-Island. According to him, seven innovative “community hubs”, similar to Singapore’s community center, will be strategically distributed throughout the whole park. These community hubs will include “Internet+” enabled community functions for old-age care, medical treatment and preschools, improving the quality of community public services and building the latest benchmark for innovative communities.

The community cluster is the fundamental unit of “new town” planning in Singapore. The core, “community center”, basically refers to the concept of residential areas with intensive public activities supported by facilities of different levels. These community centers are always located within a five minute walk (400m) of all residences. Residents’ needs at different levels and aspects should be met within the designated scope by centralizing daily commercial and service facilities. Meanwhile, the communal activity spaces help to create a neighborhood harmony.

SSCIP is one of the first nine “small-scale block” demonstration areas that was planned and constructed in Chengdu. The concept has been implemented in Chengdu and will integrate with urban development concepts from Singapore.

“The concept of the block originates from Europe and America, which refers to a group of buildings and surroundings or interior entities or spaces, e.g. squares, streets, small parks and green areas.” stated Zhou Yuliang. SSCIP introduced new concepts like “small-scale blocks of pleasant size”, “open street communities” and “central pocket parks” during its planning stage two years ago, which are identical with the requirements of the Opinions and are being implemented today.

It was learned that SSCIP will also introduce the design concept of “The Pixel City,” raised by Aecom, the largest global design consultancy group, to form small blocks for multiple purposes and create a dynamic and colorful urban life full of diversity by leveraging on the ONE NORTH from Singapore.

Accelerating Park Construction to Create Colorful Urban Life

Mr. Neo Kok Long, Official Representative of the Board’s Chairman of SSCIP and Vice President of Sembcorp, one of the vital shareholder of SSCIP, introduced during the event, “focusing on gathering creative talents, SSCIP strives to build a modern city ideal for work, live, play and learn. The highly-integrated urban functions in the park and small-scale blocks will facilitate multiple purposes and create a colorful urban life.”

“The year 2015 marks a significant breakthrough in the Park construction. Currently, infrastructure construction in the park has been accelerated to offer basic services.” explained by Neo Kok Long.

One general hospital, thirteen kindergartens, seven primary schools, two middle schools and seven community centers are planned to be built in the SSCIP. The park will start construction of public facility projects including middle schools, primary schools, kindergartens, hospitals and nursing homes, dedicated to establishing a service community equipped with a series of public facilities with international standards.

The construction of multiple education projects is highly anticipated by surrounding residents and “new citizens”. At present, the design for Xinchuan No.1 Middle School is finalized. Close to greenways and a wetland park, the school will accommodate 48 classes with 2,400 students. Conceptual scheme designs for two kindergartens have also been completed, and design schemes are being collected for two primary schools. Schools within SSCIP will introduce international education system and open education concepts from Singapore to Chengdu to build lovely and active campuses with international software and hardware education facilities.

The construction of road and landscaping works is progressing smoothly. Wetland park construction, which covers an area of 116,000m2, commenced in July of last year. This project will establish a functional urban artificial wetland park with the concept of sustainable development.

Official Release of Xinchuan Heartbeat Central Park: “Giant Park” Pattern Will Appear

Xinchuan Heartbeat Central Park was also officially unveiled during the event. As introduced by Ms. Zhang Jing, Deputy Director of the No.2 Design Institute of China Southwest Architecture Design & Research Institute, the central park integrates three major elements of Sky Bridge, water and smart technologies to incorporate the 10km2 SSCIP into a single park system through the linkage of several blue-green corridors across the whole area, forming a “giant garden” pattern.

“According to overall layout, SSCIP is ‘a city in a garden’ instead of ‘a garden within a city’.” The park not only meets residents’ needs for work, live, play and learn, but also frequently held high-profile recreational and business activities, which will bring the most international lifestyle to Chengdu.

The construction of Xinchuan Heartbeat Central Park is one of the most important plan for SSCIP. It creates an excellent environment for SSCIP and give more confidence to the committed enterprises and potential clients. In the future, many other important components of SSCIP area will be in shape to further boost SSCIP’s investment advantages.

As a key project of Sichuan Province and Chengdu City, SSCIP has constantly made new progress in promoting investments over the past two years. Up until now, the number of committed projects within the park has amounted to 19 with a total investment of RMB 17.57 billion.

Source: China Daily