Building a greener, smarter and friendlier city:Behind the skyline,

At 60, Singapore is building on a foundation of safety as it shapes a city that's ready to adapt to future concerns, including climate change and an ageing society.

- RACHEL CHIA

The evolution had its challenges - and lessons. Painful lessons from incidents such as the Hotel New World disaster in 1986 and the Nicoll Highway collapse in 2004. Thirty-three people died in the first, and four workers were killed in the second.

Such tragedies pushed Singapore to "look hard at (its) systems" and catalysed major improvements in building safety, says Mr Thanabal Kaliannan, 59, commissioner of building control and group director for building resilience at the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).