Museum Planning Area

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Museum
Planning Area
Other transcription(s)
 •  Chinese 博物馆(Simplified)
博物館(Traditional)
Bówùguǎn(Pinyin)
Phok-bu̍t-koán(Hokkien POJ)
 •  Malay Muzium(Rumi)
موزيوم‎(Jawi)
 •  Tamil அருங்காட்சியகம்
Aruṅkāṭciyakam(Transliteration)
2016 Singapur, Museum Planning Area, Narodowe Muzeum Singapuru (02).jpg
Peranakan Museum.jpg
Singapore Art Museum, 2012.jpg
Bras Basah (9711279392).jpg
Raffles Terrace, Fort Canning Park, Singapore - 20110831.jpg
Istana Park, 2002.jpg
The Luxe, Cathay and SOTA, 2013.jpg
From top left to right: National Museum of Singapore, Peranakan Museum, Singapore Art Museum, Aerial view of Bras Basah, Raffles Terrace in Fort Canning Park, Istana Park, The Luxe, The Cathay and SOTA at night
Museum in Central Region, Singapore.svg
Location in Central Region
Singapore location map (main island).svg
Red pog.svg
Museum
Location of Museum within Singapore
Coordinates: 1°17′47.8″N103°50′54.6″E / 1.296611°N 103.848500°E / 1.296611; 103.848500
CountryFlag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
Region Central Region
CDC
Town council
  • Tanjong Pagar Town Council
Constituency
DGP exhibited
PA incorporated
  • 22 January 1999 [1]
Government
 • MayorCentral Singapore CDC
 • Members of ParliamentTanjong Pagar GRC

Jalan Besar GRC

Area
[2]
 • Total0.83 km2 (0.32 sq mi)
 • Rank54th
Population
 (2019) [2] [3]
 • Total420
 • Rank40th
 • Density510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
  • Rank35th
Demonym Official
  • Museum resident
Postal district
09

The Museum Planning Area is a planning area located in the Central Area of the Central Region of Singapore. The area plays a "bridging role" between the Orchard area and the Downtown Core, which necessitates proper transport networks for vehicles, pedestrians and public transport. Due to the sheer size of green areas in the district, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has designated it a 'green lung' in the Central Area. However, the Museum Planning Area is also home to cultural and commercial activities. Around 65% of the area is available for future development, making it a hotbed for new infrastructure and buildings.

Contents

Museum planning area is bounded by the planning areas of Newton and Rochor to the north, the Downtown Core to the southeast, Singapore River to the south, River Valley to the west and Orchard to the northwest.

History

Ten national monuments are located within the Museum Planning Area, namely the Armenian Church, the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Cathay Building (now The Cathay), the Central Fire Station, the House of Tan Yeok Nee, the MacDonald House, the Old Tao Nan School (Peranakan Museum), the National Museum of Singapore, the Old Hill Street Police Station and the Singapore Art Museum/Former Saint Joseph's Institution. The area is home to significant events such as the Battle of Singapore and MacDonald House bombing.

Other historical sites include:

Geography

The Museum Planning Area is bordered by Rochor to the northeast, the Downtown Core to the southeast, the Singapore River Area to the southwest, River Valley to the west and Newton and Orchard to the northwest. The area is roughly bounded by Hill Street, River Valley Road, Clemenceau Avenue and Bras Basah Road. It is the smallest urban planning area, with an area of 83 hectares.

Parks and open spaces take up a third of the area of the Museum Planning Area, and include Fort Canning, Istana Park and Bras Basah Park, which can be used for recreational purposes. Collectively, these places will form the so-called 'green lung' of the Central Area. Terraces have been proposed to allow for "a more prominent and convenient access" to the Fort Canning area.

Institutions

The Museum Planning Area is Singapore's "institutional hub", with 11% of land set aside for institutional use and reserve sites to be safeguarded for future institutions. The many museums in the area, which give the Museum District its name, include the National Museum of Singapore, the Singapore Art Museum, the Asian Civilisations Museum, the National Archives of Singapore and the Singapore Philatelic Museum.

The arts scene is vibrant in the area, with The Substation, the Singapore Calligraphy Centre, the YMS Arts Centre and the Singapore Dance Ensemble all located within its boundaries. Scattered throughout the area are places of worship such as churches, mosques, Hindu temples and synagogues. The Registry of Marriages and the sprawling Singapore Management University campus are also located in the area.

Residential development

Despite its prime location, residential projects were only allocated 1% of the land area, and the Museum Planning Area was criticised for lacking residential zoning. Due to the lack of residents, there were fears that the area would become a "ghost town" at night. Furthermore, the concept of living within the Central Area had gained popularity, and up-market skyscraper condominiums could be built. The greenery of the Museum Planning Area could provide a peaceful environment for living.

The URA replied that several plots of land had been sold for residential-commercial mixed use, and that more housing developments were to be planned and constructed. The URA emphasised the importance of the area as a transition between the central business district and shopping areas, as well as the green, pedestrian-friendly nature of the URA's plan for the area.

Commercial development

The Museum Planning Area is home to various shopping malls, including Park Mall, Plaza Singapura, The Cathay, Singapore Shopping Centre and The Atrium @ Orchard. More vacant land will be set aside for commercial uses, especially around Dhoby Ghaut MRT station and Bras Basah MRT station. These will be properly integrated and connected with the respective stations.

Hotels in the area include Bayview Hotel Singapore and Hotel Rendezvous. Furthermore, a hotel development at the foot of Fort Canning Hill near the junction of Clemenceau Avenue and River Valley Road is in the planning stages, and is meant to be a retreat from urban living "amidst lush greenery". Other developments are planned on reserved sites near Fort Canning, but details have not been released.

Transport

Bras Basah MRT station CC2BrasBasah.JPG
Bras Basah MRT station

The Museum Planning Area is served by four Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations: Dhoby Ghaut, Bras Basah, Fort Canning and Bencoolen. The North–South Line and the North East Line can only be accessible from Dhoby Ghaut while the Circle Line can be accessible from both Dhoby Ghaut and Bras Basah, while the Downtown Line is accessible from Fort Canning and Bencoolen. The Central Expressway's Chin Swee Tunnel also passes under the area.

Roads

Improvements

Several changes to the road network in the area will be implemented, including the construction of Fort Canning Tunnel and the realignment of Stamford Road and Handy Road. The rationale for the improvements is increased traffic from Marina Centre and relieving the traffic congestion along Orchard Road. Furthermore, a new road network has been put in place to ensure smooth traffic flow after the full development of land around the MRT Stations.

Major roads

Pedestrian linkages

The Development Guide Plan for the Museum Planning Area envisages "a comprehensive pedestrian network linking developments, parks and open spaces". New promenades and pedestrian malls are planned for the area to enhance and connect existing sidewalks. A web of underpasses and covered walkways will link Orchard, the Singapore River, Raffles City and Marina Centre.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orchard Road</span> Planning Area in Central Region, Central Area, Singapore

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dhoby Ghaut MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

Dhoby Ghaut MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange station on the North South, North East and Circle lines in Singapore. Located beneath the eastern end of Orchard Road shopping belt in Dhoby Ghaut, Museum Planning Area, the station is integrated with the commercial development The Atrium@Orchard. The station is near landmarks such as The Istana, the MacDonald House, Plaza Singapura and Dhoby Ghaut Green.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarke Quay MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singapore River</span> River in Singapore

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dhoby Ghaut</span> Subzone of Museum Planning Area in Singapore

Dhoby Ghaut is a place in Singapore that often refers to the MRT station of the same name, which is a major interchange station on Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit network connecting the North-South Line, North East Line, and the Circle Line. As a place, Dhoby Ghaut lies along the eastern end of Orchard Road. There is a shopping mall above the MRT station called Plaza Singapura.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somerset MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Promenade MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bras Basah MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

Bras Basah MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the Circle line (CCL) located in the Museum planning area, Singapore. It is underneath Bras Basah Road, bordering Waterloo Street and Queen Street. Located next to the Singapore Management University (SMU), this station is in proximity to the National Museum of Singapore, the Singapore Art Museum, Peranakan Museum and the Singapore School of the Arts. The station is connected to the nearby Bencoolen station on the Downtown line (DTL) via an unpaid link.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esplanade MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bencoolen Street</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterloo Street</span> Road in Singapore

Waterloo Street is a two-way street in downtown Singapore stretching from Rochor Road to Bras Basah Road. It passes through the planning areas of Rochor and Museum Planning Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newton, Singapore</span> Planning Area in Central Region, Singapore

Newton is a town that is located within the Central Area of the Central Region of Singapore. The planning area is bounded by the following planning areas - Orchard and Museum to the south, Tanglin to the west, Novena to the north, Kallang to the northeast and Rochor to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bras Basah Road</span> Place in Singapore

Bras Basah Road is a one-way road in Singapore in the planning areas of Museum and Downtown Core. The road starts at the junction of Orchard Road and Handy Road, at the ERP gantry towards the Central Business District, and ends at the junction with Nicoll Highway, beyond which it becomes Raffles Boulevard. Several landmarks including Fairmont Singapore, Raffles Hotel, Singapore Art Museum, Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and the Singapore Management University are located along the road. A MRT station with the same name, Bras Basah MRT station, is on the Circle Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Street, Singapore</span>

Queen Street is one of the oldest streets in Singapore and once had a very strong Eurasian presence. Beginning at Arab Street, Queen Street forms major junctions with Ophir Road, Rochor Road, Middle Road and Bras Basah Road before ending at the junction of Stamford Road.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old National Library Building</span> Demolished historical library building in Singapore

The Old National Library Building was a historical library building at Stamford Road in the Museum Planning Area of Singapore. Originally completed in 1960, the library building was a national icon for many Singaporeans. Despite a huge groundswell of public dissent, the library was closed on 31 March 2004, and was demolished in July that year to make way for the construction of the Fort Canning Tunnel to ease road traffic to the city. The controversy surrounding the building's demise has been credited for sparking greater awareness of local cultural roots and an unprecedented wave in favour of heritage conservation among Singaporeans.

Kaplan Singapore is a for-profit private education institution headquartered in Singapore with other campuses in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the People's Republic of China. It was known as the Asia Pacific Management Institute (APMI) before it was acquired by Kaplan Inc., a subsidiary of the Graham Holdings Company, in May 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bencoolen MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

Bencoolen MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the Downtown Line (DTL) in Singapore. Located under Bencoolen Street, the station serves primarily the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Singapore Management University and surrounding developments. At 43 metres (141 ft) below street level, Bencoolen is the deepest station in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bras Basah</span> Subzone of Museum Planning Area in Singapore

Bras Basah is a district located in the Museum Planning Area of the Central Area of Singapore. Bras Basah means "wet rice" in Malay – beras means harvested rice with husk removed, and basah means wet. The precinct houses several landmarks including Fairmont Singapore, Raffles Hotel, the Singapore Art Museum, the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and the Singapore Management University. A Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station, Bras Basah MRT station, is on the Circle line.

References

  1. 1 2 "Singapore Infopedia – Development guide plan". National Library Board.
  2. 1 2 Museum (Planning Area, Singapore) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location
  3. ↑ "Statistics Singapore - Geographic Distribution - 2018 Latest Data" . Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  1. "Museum Planning Area – An Institutional Hub". Development Guide Plans . Urban Redevelopment Authority. 13 March 1997.
  2. Wong, Siong Yan (4 March 2006). "Don't Forget Museum District When Remaking Orchard Belt". The Straits Times .
  3. Koh, Michael (13 March 2006). "Plans for the Museum District well underway". The Straits Times .
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