Five shortlisted teams advance to Stage 2 of Singapore Rail Corridor project

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) of Singapore recently announced the five shortlisted architecture + landscape architecture teams in a two-stage RFP for the Singapore Rail Corridor project. Stretching from north to south of Singapore through various cityscapes and natural landscapes, the Rail Corridor is a 24 km-long railway line that has turned into an informal recreational public space since it ceased operation on July 1, 2011.

Out of 64 professional design teams in Stage One, the URA Evaluation Panel selected the design approaches of the following teams:

• Lead Landscape Architect: West 8 (The Netherlands)
  Lead Architect: DP Architects (Singapore)
  
• Lead Landscape Architect: Grant Associates (Singapore/UK)
  Lead Architect: MVRDV (The Netherlands)
  Local Architect: Architects 61 (Singapore)
  
• Lead Landscape Architect: Turenscape International (China)
  Lead Architect: MKPL Architects (Singapore)
  
• Lead Architect & Lead Landscape Architect: Nikken Sekkei (Japan)
  Local Landscape Architect: Tierra Design (Singapore)
  
• Lead Landscape Architect: Olin Partnership (United States)
  Lead Architect: OMA Asia (Hong Kong)
  Local Architect: DP Architects (Singapore)

More details below.

For Stage 2, the five teams will spend 13 weeks developing the overall Concept Master Plan and the Concept Proposals until late August. The Concept Master Plan must incorporate nature and green space, maintain strong connectivity, and also embody the Corridor's surrounding cultural heritage. The proposals must also be sensitive to the Corridor's site context, which includes multiple Singaporean landmarks along its path.

Stage 2 will be a busy year for the five teams. The process is outlined by the URA below:

Stage 2A – Concept Design and Proposals (13 weeks, from May 2015 to Aug 2015): The five teams will develop the detailed designs for the Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals for the Rail Corridor. The submissions are due to the URA by August 21, 2015.

Exhibition and Public Feedback (Oct to Nov 2015): There will be a public exhibition of all participating teams' submissions from October to November 2015. During the exhibition period, the public can give their feedback on the Concept Master Plan and Concept Proposals. The successful team(s) of consultants will also be announced during the exhibition period.

Stage 2B – Revision of concept designs (8 weeks, from Jan 16 to Mar 16): The team(s) will refine their concept designs based on public feedback and requirements from stakeholder agencies.

Stage 2C – Preliminary Design for selected stretch of Rail Corridor (12 weeks, from March 2016 to May 2016): Based on the Final Revised Concept Master Plan and concept design for the Rail Corridor, the consultants will undertake a preliminary design for a selected four kilometer-long signature stretch of the Rail Corridor. More details here.

More competition info.