On October 30, the KPF President and Principal joined global thought leaders at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) of Singapore’s Urban Design Roundtable, where he presented on “How Urban Design Shapes Public Space.”
Held at the SMU Yong Pung How School of Law, the Urban Design Roundtable provided a platform for architects, planners, and placemakers to share innovative strategies for creating accessible, high-quality public spaces. With an audience of more than 500, this year’s theme, “Creating Extraordinary Public Spaces through Urban Design,” invited speakers to explore how architecture and urban design can strengthen community engagement and foster joy in the city.
Jamie’s presentation opened with a discussion of urban relativism, emphasizing the diverse cultural, climatic, and legal factors that shape public spaces around the world. He introduced a taxonomy of public space—spanning exterior and interior spaces, ground and roof, intimate and grand—highlighting the importance of adaptability and inclusivity in urban environments. Jamie shared lessons from global precedents and five KPF case studies, including Covent Garden in London, Vanderbilt Plaza in New York, and Robinson Road in Singapore, to demonstrate how thoughtful urban interventions can nurture civic life. The session concluded with a moderated dialogue, inviting attendees to discuss which urban design ideas succeed, which are realized, and which spaces adapt best over time.
Jamie was joined by Wong Mun Summ (Founding Director, WOHA, Singapore), Valerie Wong (Managing Director, Asset Management, Guocoland, Singapore), and Bob Allies (Partner, Allies & Morrison, UK). Moderators for the session were Prof Khoo Peng Beng (Head of Pillar, Architecture & Sustainable Design, Singapore University of Technology & Design) and Fun Siew Leng (Chief Urban Designer, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore). KPF’s participation at the roundtable underscored the firm’s commitment to advancing vibrant, resilient cities and elevating the conversation on the enduring value of public space.
