The Newly Revamped East Coast Park By RSP

The newly revamped East Coast Park by RSP has greater visual appeal, is easier to navigate and brings visitors closer to nature.

- Sasha Gonzales

Since it opened in 1970, East Coast Park (ECP) has undergone a number of ad-hoc improvements. The result of these scattered efforts is that the 185-hectare beachside park lacked a strong or consistent identity – until now.

Earlier this year, it revealed an exciting new look, with more green paths and open spaces and a better environment for park-goers to walk, cycle, play and relax in.

“We conceptualised the layout in 2016,” says lead designer Suen Wee Kwok, who is also Executive Director of RSP, the firm that oversaw the rejuvenation project.

“The brief required the careful incorporation of existing flora and the reuse of existing services and built structures, as much as possible, to achieve a greener development and preserve the decades-old memories that users have of the park.”

The design team’s main goals were to consolidate the experience for visitors and promote healthy and social activities within the community, while preserving the park’s cultural value.

To this end, Suen, together with Senior Architect Madeni Jais and the project team, developed a comprehensive design guide ranging from urban design to wayfinding; this helped bring about a sustainable design identity that provided direction for future redevelopment works.

Three nodes along ECP were selected for redevelopment to embody these new guidelines and set the tone for the park’s future.

A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR PARK-GOERS

Each of the three nodes, namely Cyclist Park, Raintree Cove and Coastal Playgrove, offers a unique experience each.