Building a Sustainable Global City – The Singapore Approach

This case is set in March 2026 when Singapore was ranked the top city in the world for standard of living and the sixth best city in the world for people to visit, live and work. Since independence, the founding leaders and the government of Singapore, had been hard at work to not only transform the city state from a third-world state to a first-world state, but also to build a sustainable global city. Four concept plans were developed to guide the 60-year transformation of Singapore. The Fourth Concept Plan, which was launched in 2011, focused on the future generations of Singaporeans. Key features of the plan included an enhanced mobility and transportation infrastructure, affordable homes and a thriving economy that offered good and stable employment, and a focus on sufficient land reserves to cater for a growing population which was expected to reach 6.5-6.9 million by 2030. In 2003, the Design Singapore Council (DSC) was established to champion design as a national capability. In 2015, Singapore was designated by UNESCO as a ‘Creative City of Design’. By 2026, many multi-generational projects which included the expansion of Changi Airport, the development of world’s largest fully automated Tuas Mega Port and the 800-hectare-land reclamation ‘Long Island’ project had commenced. What factors contributed to Singapore’s rapid success in building a liveable, resilient, sustainable and economically thriving city state? And what was the role of design in shaping Singapore’s future? This case study examines how design frameworks can be used to reimagine, design and build a global city that is sustainable and liveable. The case also examines top-down and bottom-up design approaches for transforming Singapore from a third-world city state to a first-world city state. Students will be able to evaluate concepts of Design Thinking, sustainability and innovation for urban planning. Inspection copies and teaching notes are available for university faculty. To receive an inspection copy and teaching note, please email ccxshop@smu.edu.sg with your registered faculty email ID and a link to your contact information on the faculty directory at your university as verification. An inspection copy and teaching note will then be sent to your faculty email account. Download information SMU Faculty/Staff can download the case & teaching note on iNet with your SMU login ID & Password via the following links: · The Case (SMU-26-0013) · Teaching Note (SMU-26-0013TN) For purchase of the case and supplementary materials via The Case Centre, please access the following links: · The Case (SMU-26-0013) · Teaching Note (SMU-26-0013) For purchase of the case and supplementary materials via Harvard Business Publishing, please access the following links: · The Case (SMU-26-0013) · Teaching Note (SMU-26-0013)