Singapore is running out of room for its rapidly growing population, leading real estate developers to look underground for opportunities to build new space. The population of the Southeast Asian city-state has grown rapidly, buoyed by decades of strong economic growth. Originally founded as a trading post of the British East India Company, the country has seen a massive increase in wealth and economic development since gaining independence in the 1960’s. Known as one of the four “Asian Tigers,” Singapore is now the among world’s 5 largest financial centers and is the fifth busiest port.
In order to accommodate its current population of 5.4 million, the island nation has already built high with skyscrapers and out by filling in coastline (as much as 1/5 of Singapore’s land is from ocean fill). But with projected growth of 1.5 million more people by 2030, the already crowded city is looking for new ways to accommodate demand for real estate. One strategy appears to be (quite literally) going underground.
In a recent blog post, Singapore’s National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan highlighted the intent to increasingly explore subterranean real estate opportunities. Mr. Khaw noted that many cities in Canada, Japan, and Scandinavia have exploited underground space to create extensive pedestrian passages with retail, offices, and entertainment uses. Mr. Khaw advocated for “pushing the boundary of usage – to experiment, to learn and to evolve practical innovative solutions – so as to prepare for the future.”
Jurong Rock Caverns in Singapore (photo credit: CNN)
Much of Singapore’s highway, public transit, and utility infrastructure is already located underground, but additional underground uses are starting to appear as well. One such project is the Jurong Rock Caverns, an underground fuel storage facility that will free up approximately 150 acres of developable land by moving the equivalent of six petrochemical plants underground.
Proposed Underground Science City (image: Singapore Business Times)
Another proposed project is for an underground “science city,” which was the subject of a recent feasibility study. If built, the project would include 40 linked rock caverns for research & development facilities and data centers, with over 2 million sq. ft. of rentable space. Because the caverns would be free of noise and vibration, as well as easily sealed off, they would be ideal spaces for IT, biotechnology, and life sciences R&D. However, the space would be about four times more expensive to build than equivalent surface projects, a significant challenge even in land-deprived Singapore.