The Heart of the City: How Design Moves Beyond Concrete to Cultivate Well-being, Creativity, and Joy in Urban Spaces

A group is gathered in a bustling kopitiam, sharing laughter and conversations; a coolie, a symbol of bygone eras, hauls a heavy sack down the stairs, echoing the city’s industrious past; a woman hangs a freshly laundered blouse on a bamboo pole, a timeless domestic scene against a modern backdrop. These vivid scenes are not merely snapshots of daily life but form part of an intricate collage painted on the gable wall of 462 Joo Chiat Road. Titled "Blueprint of a Shophouse," this compelling mural, completed in November 2025, serves as a visual tapestry, depicting past, present, and future vignettes of the vibrant neighbourhood, ingeniously framed within a life-sized sectional representation of Singapore’s distinctive shophouse architecture. It is more than just a piece of art; it is a conversation starter, an historical archive, and a forward-looking vision embedded in the urban fabric.

At the helm of this ambitious public art project, from its conceptualisation to its meticulous completion, was Lee Hui Lian, the visionary principal architect of OMG Atelier. While her daily professional commitments primarily revolve around the creation of residential and commercial spaces, Lee enthusiastically embraces projects that transcend conventional building design. Her involvement in "Blueprint of a Shophouse" underscores a broader philosophical approach to architecture. "Buildings and infrastructure are not just inert structures; they form the fundamental framework that enables meaningful human experiences," Lee explains, articulating a belief that extends far beyond mere aesthetics or functionality. "I’m deeply interested in understanding how people relate to spaces emotionally, and how thoughtful design can intentionally create moments of pause, spark curiosity, and foster genuine connection. In this sense, a mural is simply another powerful way of practising architecture, albeit at a different scale and through a profoundly different medium." This perspective highlights a growing trend in the built environment sector: a shift from purely utilitarian construction to a more holistic, human-centric design philosophy.

Viewed through this lens, "Blueprint of a Shophouse" stands as a simple yet profoundly striking example of how intentional design can significantly shape not only the visual identity of a city but, more importantly, how its inhabitants experience it. Public art initiatives like this mural are increasingly recognised as vital components in the quest to enhance urban liveability. The discourse surrounding city development is undergoing a significant evolution, moving beyond its traditional focus on purely economic, financial viability, and environmental sustainability metrics. Instead, a new generation of built environment practitioners is increasingly concerned with more qualitative, human-centric considerations, such as how urban spaces can actively enhance well-being, stimulate creativity, and cultivate a pervasive sense of joy among residents. This paradigm shift reflects a deeper understanding that a truly successful city must cater to the emotional and psychological needs of its populace, not just their material ones.

Chong Keng Hua, a distinguished co-founder of COLOURS: Collectively Ours, a design consultancy specialising in collaborative public space design, eloquently articulates this evolving perspective. "A city might be lauded for its environmental efficiency, yet simultaneously prove to be emotionally exhausting for its residents. It could be an economic powerhouse, yet suffer from profound social fragmentation," Chong observes. "The next critical evolution in city-making demands that we move beyond merely asking whether a city is productive or sustainable. We must begin to ask a more fundamental question: does it genuinely enable its people to flourish?" This sentiment resonates with a growing global awareness that hyper-urbanisation, if not carefully managed, can lead to unintended consequences, including increased stress, isolation, and a diminishing quality of life despite material prosperity. The call for cities that foster flourishing goes to the heart of what it means to create truly resilient and desirable urban environments.

This urgent call to fundamentally rethink the core offerings of cities was a central theme at the "Art of Citymaking" festival, an influential gathering held in Singapore in June. Anupam Yog, the festival director and a leading voice in urban innovation, highlighted alarming trends such as the rise of "city quitting" movements—where individuals leave urban centres in search of a better quality of life—and the disturbing normalisation of urban loneliness. These phenomena, Yog argued, are not merely anecdotal but profound signals that something deeper, more systemic, needs to change within our urban structures. "I strongly feel that we are at a juncture where we really need to radically reimagine these places," Yog asserted, emphasizing a need for transformative thinking. "The city must aspire to be something more profound; it needs to inspire us, to uplift our spirits, and to foster a sense of belonging and possibility." This vision moves beyond functionality to a realm where cities are catalysts for human potential.

The methodology through which cities achieve this inspiration and well-being is of paramount importance. Daniel Liu, managing director of the urban advisory firm MORROW, concisely summarises the imperative: "Ultimately, our objective is to ensure that people who choose to live in cities can lead better, more fulfilling lives. Understanding the intricate ways in which urban dwellers experience their surroundings – encompassing the daily routines, the inherent challenges, and the seamless access to essential amenities and enriching entertainment – all these elements matter immensely." Liu’s perspective underscores the necessity of granular, human-centred data collection and analysis to inform urban planning decisions, moving beyond macro-economic indicators to the micro-experiences that define daily life.

Assessing how people feel within urban environments should never be dismissed as trivial or "fluff," Chong strongly asserts. As Vice President (Academic) and Provost of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore, Chong profoundly emphasizes that emotions serve as powerful, often overlooked, indicators of a city’s true success and vitality. "When individuals feel a profound sense of safety, when they experience genuine connection with their community, when they are inspired by their surroundings, and when they feel valued as contributors, they are far more likely to actively participate in civic life, volunteer their time, diligently care for public spaces, passionately support local businesses, and instinctively look after one another," Chong explains. "Truly healthy cities are those vibrant places where people do not merely survive the grind of urban existence but genuinely thrive, finding purpose, joy, and belonging." This emotional resonance translates directly into social capital and community resilience, demonstrating the tangible benefits of prioritizing human feelings in urban design.

For Lee Hui Lian, the emotional impact of architectural design is not an afterthought but a central tenet of her professional philosophy. "As architects, our training is rigorously focused on dimensions, materials, structural integrity, and regulatory compliance. However, it is crucial to remember that every single one of those decisions ultimately influences everyday human experiences in profound ways," she reflects. Lee offers tangible examples to illustrate her point: a thoughtfully designed, shaded walkway, for instance, can subtly encourage an individual to choose walking over driving, promoting physical activity and reducing carbon footprint. Similarly, a generously proportioned public bench, strategically placed, can become an impromptu gathering spot, gently inviting strangers to sit, rest, and perhaps even strike up a conversation, fostering serendipitous social connections. These seemingly minor design elements contribute significantly to the overall emotional texture of a city.

What this human-centric approach ultimately translates into is a pervasive sense of feeling well. Anupam Yog, who spearheads his own urban practice, XDG Labs, defines this state of well-being as being conscious, present, and acutely aware of one’s surroundings and self. He elaborates on a nuanced reinterpretation of the traditional urban planning mantra: "There was once this widely accepted idea of ‘live, work, play.’ I actually conceptualize it somewhat differently – as ‘live, move, rest.’ We all have an intrinsic need for an opportunity to completely reset every single night and to awaken each morning feeling alert, refreshed, and ready to engage with the day." This shift in focus underscores the critical importance of restorative environments within the urban fabric, acknowledging that relentless activity without adequate rest leads to burnout and diminished well-being.

In practical application, there exists a myriad of creative and innovative ways to cultivate these positive emotions within urban environments, often without resorting to monumental, expensive infrastructure projects. Chong Keng Hua explores this through a methodology he aptly terms "social archi-puncture." This concept involves meticulously examining how small, carefully designed interventions within existing physical spaces can yield disproportionately significant improvements in people’s daily lives and overall urban experience. "Sometimes, the simple act of transforming a neglected parking lot, a desolate void deck, or an underutilized neighbourhood parklet can create a far greater, more immediate, and more meaningful impact on people’s lives than the construction of yet another iconic, mega, multi-functional building," Chong passionately explains. This approach champions the power of micro-level interventions to create macro-level change.

In his extensive work with COLOURS, Chong describes the multifaceted concept of "quality of place" through four deeply interconnected dimensions: physical well-being, social well-being, cultural well-being, and personal agency. When these four pillars harmoniously converge, people naturally begin to care more profoundly and personally about the places they inhabit. "This deeply personal connection is precisely what I refer to as ‘placecaring’," Chong elaborates, defining it as an emerging, potent ground-up movement that transcends and enriches conventional placemaking strategies. "Placecaring" emphasizes active community involvement and stewardship, moving beyond mere creation of spaces to fostering a deep, enduring sense of ownership and responsibility.

Illustrating this philosophy, the Pelatok Art Farm was innovatively launched in Changi-Simei in 2022. This groundbreaking initiative masterfully brought together disparate elements of art, design, urban farming, and health practices to powerfully demonstrate how holistic well-being can organically emerge through shared creative practices and community engagement, rather than solely through the provision of hardware infrastructure or conventional healthcare services. It was a testament to the idea that collective creation fosters health. Two years later, a forgotten space beneath the Simei MRT viaduct underwent a temporary but dramatic transformation with the active involvement of the local community, becoming VIASTA!. This vibrant project reimagined the underpass as a dynamic place for conversation, spontaneous creative play, and meaningful interaction, successfully bringing together diverse community groups. VIASTA! powerfully demonstrated how public spaces, often overlooked and underutilized, can be revitalized and re-envisioned through modest yet impactful interventions, fostering social cohesion and vitality. Earlier this year, the NAFA G Lab, a collaborative initiative born from a partnership between Central Singapore CDC and dedicated faculty and students from NAFA, embarked on an exploration of how decentralised, satellite creative labs, strategically embedded within various neighbourhoods, could serve as vibrant hubs. These labs aim to bring together local artists, designers, and community members to collaboratively address specific local challenges through innovative and creative problem-solving approaches.

Lee Hui Lian’s "Blueprint of a Shophouse" mural stands as another prime example of these small-scale, yet high-impact, community-driven interventions. Conceived and executed as an integral part of URA’s (Urban Redevelopment Authority) "Lively Places" programme – an initiative dedicated to enlivening public spaces and fostering community engagement – the project involved a collaborative team of talented individuals. Lee worked closely with her colleague Lim Pin Jie, visual artists Jerome Ng Xin Hao and Shivshankar Nair, and experienced muralist Lucas Goh Chen Ray. The core idea behind the mural was to meticulously tell the layered story of the very building it adorns, reinterpreting fragments of architectural sections, intricate construction details, and abstract spatial ideas into a rich, multi-dimensional visual narrative. "We harboured a strong desire to reveal the often-hidden language of architecture and to gently invite people to perceive a familiar shophouse, a structure they might pass daily, in an entirely fresh and captivating way," Lee elaborates. "The mural, therefore, transcends mere decoration; it becomes both a heartfelt celebration of the building’s inherent character and a compelling invitation for residents and visitors alike to rediscover its history, its purpose, and its place in the community."

Even prior to its official completion, the project began to draw significant public attention and engagement. Lee recounts that the community painting sessions, designed to allow residents to contribute to the mural, were vastly oversubscribed, with many eager participants returning repeatedly, hoping to secure a cherished slot and make their personal mark on the wall. "This overwhelming response served as a powerful and humbling reminder to me that people develop a much deeper, more profound sense of care and ownership for places when they have actively contributed to them, even in a small, symbolic way," she adds. This phenomenon speaks to the intrinsic human desire for agency and connection, proving that collaborative creation imbues spaces with invaluable emotional capital.

While the excitement of envisioning vibrant weekend markets, spontaneous group meditation sessions in tranquil parks, or other community-driven activities is undeniably appealing, MORROW’s Daniel Liu offers a crucial word of caution: sound urban planning fundamentals must remain firmly in place and be strategically implemented before any of these more aspirational initiatives can genuinely thrive. Liu pointedly highlights that many rapidly developing cities, particularly across Southeast Asia, continue to prioritise the aggressive pursuit of foreign direct investment while often overlooking fundamental planning basics. A common oversight, he notes, is the failure to strategically plan for adequate housing and infrastructure for the burgeoning populations drawn to these cities for work opportunities. "Without proper, foresightful planning, when significant migration inevitably occurs, informal settlements proliferate, the informal economy expands unsustainably, and living conditions deteriorate rapidly," Liu explains. "This unchecked growth invariably leads to a real and tangible negative economic impact: the city becomes increasingly chaotic, friction in day-to-day activities escalates dramatically, and the city suddenly appears far less attractive to both residents and potential investors." This underscores the foundational necessity of robust, integrated planning.

Effective solutions, Liu suggests, can be found in the diligent preparation and official gazetting of strategic master plans that comprehensively integrate economic, social, and environmental trends. It is crucial to acknowledge, however, that there is no universal "one-size-fits-all" template for urban planning. Instead, planning processes must incorporate and meticulously analyse nuanced data points, such as unique family structures, prevailing cultural norms, and deeply held societal values, as they embark on the journey towards making cities more genuinely liveable. This bespoke approach recognizes the unique identity of each urban context.

Liu shared a compelling example of MORROW’s work in developing a master plan for a Pacific nation grappling with high rates of outward migration to neighbouring countries. A significant contributing factor to this migration was the prevalent issue of bored teenagers committing petty crimes after school hours, which, in turn, rendered the informal settlements that had sprung up due to inadequate planning policies increasingly unsafe and undesirable. Recognizing the profound passion for rugby – a deeply ingrained cultural staple across the Pacific islands – the subsequent planning stages strategically allocated more land for municipal parks that incorporated well-maintained rugby pitches. "The fundamental point here," Liu explained, "is that cities require far greater clarity in identifying precisely which challenges are caused by which specific cultural or societal nuances, and then subsequently devise truly bespoke solutions to address their unique challenges effectively." This tailored approach ensures that interventions are culturally relevant and impactful.

Ultimately, the successful delivery of these more responsive, human-centric cities depends intrinsically on the vision, expertise, and empathy of the people responsible for planning and designing them. For Chong Keng Hua, this imperative extends to a radical rethinking of how future practitioners are educated and trained. He advocates for an integrated approach where physical design and social programming are conceived and developed concurrently, rather than being treated as sequential, disconnected stages. Furthermore, the advent of an increasingly AI-driven future presents both opportunities and challenges that must be strategically considered. "Technology will undoubtedly continue to optimize efficiency, automate routine tasks, and generate vast amounts of information with unprecedented speed," Chong posits. "However, it also carries the inherent risk of averaging outputs and potentially narrowing creative diversity. Therefore, the distinctive and irreplaceable value of cities in this future will increasingly lie in what makes us uniquely human: our capacity for art, creativity, empathy, care, culture, courage, and our profound need for belonging."

Lee Hui Lian echoes this powerful sentiment, reinforcing the core message: "The most memorable and beloved cities are not necessarily the ones that boast the tallest skyscrapers or the most technologically advanced infrastructure. Rather, they are the ones where people are able to develop deep, enduring emotional attachments to specific places, spaces, and communities." This emotional bond transcends mere functionality; it speaks to the soul of a city.

Hopefully, for the diverse residents of Singapore, one of those cherished places, imbued with meaning and connection, will be the gable wall where "Blueprint of a Shophouse" stands. Even if it eventually becomes an accustomed part of their daily routine, there remains the profound potential for joy and delight to be found in noticing a new, previously unseen detail within its intricate narrative. Or perhaps, curiosity will be sparked, prompting a desire to delve deeper into the rich history and vibrant culture of the Joo Chiat neighbourhood. "Those fleeting moments of unexpected connection, quiet delight, or ignited curiosity are much harder to quantify and measure than the concrete dimensions of infrastructure," Lee concludes, encapsulating the essence of human-centric urbanism. "But, paradoxically, they are often the very elements that truly make a city feel like home."