The demand has become evident in recent years with developers targeting choice parts in the city for singles and “dinks” (double-income, no-kids couples).

Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) draft master plan, 114,000 more homes will be introduced into the central region in the next 15 years.

These will be smaller in size and situated near the Singapore River, Orchard Road or other popular night haunts of the fashionable, including Boat Quay, Mohammed Sultan Road and lower Bukit Timah Road.

Singapore is a city-state in transition. Making an increasing presence are graduates who comprise at least two-thirds of youths joining the economy. More and more youths choose to remain single, marry late or, when they do, decide not to have children.

With demand in cheap public housing among Singaporeans slowing down, the government and, of course, private developers are giving attention to the demographic transformation.

Unlike the majority of married Singaporeans, many in the 25-35 age group prefer to live in the city centre. It offers prestige, convenience and meets their social preference.

In a survey in which the Straits Times posed the question “Where would you prefer to live in Singapore?” some 56% of 364 people replied “City.” The other respondents prefer the suburbs because the city centre is “Too expensive” and “Too congested.”

It doesn’t appeal to parents because there are virtually no schools around. One of the criteria of admission into an elite school for Primary 1 admission is proximity of residence.

The upper middle class chooses a property near a top school. For this reason alone, living in the city centre will not appeal to these people. But childless couples think differently.

An overriding factor of the new trend, it is understood, is to give them a lifestyle so they’ll think less of emigrating. These belong to the trendy lot who like to be near cafes, restaurants, shopping arcades and nightclubs.

The plan is also part of a programme to turn Singapore into a global city like New York, London or Tokyo to attract world-class talent to live here. Singaporeans – and foreigners – who like sailing, surfing and other sea sports all-year round will have thousands of resort-like condos to choose from. These are being planned for Sentosa and the Southern Islands.

Most of these units are more expensive than suburban homes by S$200,000 to S$250,000. And daily necessities, too, are also generally costlier.

That city life is gaining popularity is seen from recent condo sales.

During its early planning, the developers of The Icon, a project at Tanjung Pagar, had told its architects and sales staff to target the 25-35 age group. One report said: “Only they can apply.”

Recently at the launch, 490 of the 556 units released were snapped up – all this in a poor market.

Catering to the new tastes is not only confined to housing.

Post-industrial Singapore is planning to remodel itself into an entrepreneurial society and a high-tech services and products hub.

That requires it to, firstly, retain its own graduates who are more prone to emigrate and, secondly, attract foreign talent to make Singapore their home.

Politically, the government is loosening up but nowhere fast enough for the more impatient Singaporeans. The ruling party seems reluctant to move faster for fear that things will go wrong.

However, the pace is a little faster in the area of censorship in films and the performing arts – and a whole lot more in providing options in residential lifestyles.

Take public transport. After opening the North-East mass rapid transit line last month to augment the North-South run, government leaders say this is only the start.

Some 10 to 15 years on, Singapore wants in place a more extensive network of rail lines and closer-designated stations that will connect every corner of the city-state.

Creating “fun” things for Singapore’s young people and foreign tourists will be a major part of government planning.

Last week, it announced a plan to build the world's highest observation wheel that will take passengers 170m (561ft) off the ground and give them a spectacular view of neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia.

Soaring 35m higher than the Millennium Wheel in London, the Singapore Flyer will cost S$200mil (US$114mil) – and is expected to attract 2.5 million visitors in its first year of operations in 2006.

“It will be a technologically advanced engineering and design marvel, scaling new heights as it gently cruises to 170m above ground,” said the project's developer, German firm Melchers.

This signature architecture at the bay-front Marina complex will change the city’s landscape.

Designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurosawa, the Singapore Flyer will have 32 air-conditioned “capsules” that can each carry up to 25 people for a 37-minute ride. Laser beams will light up the Singapore skyline.

It will not be far from another recently launched landmark that is sparking off a cultural renaissance in Singapore – the Esplanade, a S$600mil waterfront arts complex.

It was an ambitious attempt by the tiny nation to become a regional hub for the arts to match its prominence in shipping and finance.

In 20 years, downtown Singapore (carved largely out of reclaimed land) – which includes Marina South, Marina East and Outram – will be more than business. It will be vibrantly entertainment and residential.

Singapore is rapidly losing its cost competitiveness to cheaper neighbouring countries, especially China and Malaysia.

It is working to become an entrepreneurial global city, a high-tech service hub that is able to attract the world’s best talent to its shores.

Its future lies in maintaining an edge over other countries so that it can continue being a “First World oasis in a Second World region,” said Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, architect of modern Singapore.

That must mean an eventual opening up on political and social – including censorship – control over time as the older generation passes away.

But until then, the city is working fast to give a residential lifestyle for youths who consider Singapore a boring place.

o Seah Chiang Nee is a veteran journalist and editor of the information website littlespeck.com (e-mail: cnseah2000@ littlespeck.com )

                                                            Home