This project is conceived as sustainable green infrastructure to enhance pedestrian connectivity, anchor the Geylang Serai Cultural Belt and maximise public open space to increase the health and well-being of the individual, community and city.

Geylang Gateway is as an iconic destination that marks the entrance to the Geylang Serai Cultural Belt. It connects and expands the existing public spaces to create a continuous and generous green space that also resolves discontinuous pedestrian flow to enhance safety and the aesthetic experience of the place. The project is conceived as a prototype that could be expanded to connect the rest of the Geylang Cultural Belt and the Paya Lebar MRT as a continuous green space.

Health and well-being are strategic aims of this project, which finds expression across three scales: A healthy city, community and individual. A healthy city constitutes a safe and beautiful urban environment, a sustainable and natural ecosystem and a diverse and innovative economy. A healthy community is characterised by shared history and culture, participatory leadership, and a sense of ownership. Healthy individuals have access to opportunities to improve their physical, emotional and mental health. This project addresses these goals through a series of tactics, some of which include: Maximise the amount of green open space, resolve discontinuous pedestrian routes and introduce bicycle lanes, establish a strong identity for the area while referencing the history and culture of the community, and an emphasis on natural materials.

The area is characterised by fragmented public spaces and discontinuous pedestrian routes, which creates pockets of underutilised space and compromises pedestrian safety. There is a lack of connectivity across Changi Road. The existing overhead bridge connecting the Geylang Serai Market and Joo Chiat complex is frequently overburdened by a high amount of traffic. The plaza in front of the Geylang Serai Market is divided by railings, elevational changes and excessive green buffers, which impedes pedestrian traffic and discourages use of the area for festivals and other pop-up events.

GEYLANG SERAI MARKET
An elevated walkway is attached to the Joo Chiat Complex, which simultaneously serves as a shelter for the ground floor below it. It leads from the pocket park along Joo Chiat Road, and connects to the existing overhead bridge in the north and extends across Changi Road to connect to both Wisma Geylang Serai and the Geylang Serai Market. The elevated walkway opens up at the entrance of the Joo Chiat Complex, which accommodates an Amphitheatre which emphasises the front of the building and also creates a new sheltered public space for social gatherings.

JOO CHIAT COMPLEX
The plaza in front of the Geylang Serai Market is extended along the building’s ground floor datum, which is kept constant to the edge of Changi Road. Areas in the new hard-scape are perforated to allow for the preservation of the existing trees. The plaza opens up at the west corner of the building to emphasise the entrance that is facing the junction.

JOO CHIAT AND CHANGI JUNCTION
The elevated walkway extends over the junction to provide pedestrian connectivity while creating a visual indicator to signal the start of the Geylang Serai Cultural Belt. The bridge is conceived as a green space that also acts as a spectating platform during events and a ‘welcome arch’.