Designing Cities for People and Planet: Singapore | Human Footprint

Singapore is a city intentional in its design. Its Earth stewardship laws maximize use of its small space to ensure nature and a large population can thrive together. Singapore provides an ideal case study for young people to imagine what’s possible in urban planning, and presents ideas for how future planners and architects might rethink cities to be in harmony with nature and promote a better quality of life for all.

In this media clip, students will learn how governance and law can ensure that nature is represented in city planning with benefits for all. It highlights how town developers might rethink human spaces, especially public housing, in a way that improves quality of life. It also demonstrates how human ingenuity, when encouraged, can find ample ways to incorporate nature into everyday design, and how this helps to improve biodiversity, reduce urban temperatures, and utilize resources in a way that benefits society and the planet.

About the Author
Michelle Blanchet is the co-founder of The Educators’ Lab—an organization that supports teacher-driven projects that create impact for students and their communities. A former teacher herself, she has worked with a wide range of organizations to facilitate changemaking in education and support teacher innovation. She is the author of two books.