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HDB officially opens Northshore Plaza, first seafront neighbourhood centre
SINGAPORE – The Housing & Development Board (HDB) has officially launched Northshore Plaza, its first seafront new-generation neighbourhood centre (NC).
It was opened by Minister for National Development Desmond Lee on Sunday (24 July).
Located in the Punggol Northshore District, HDB’s first smart and sustainable district where smart technologies are test-bedded from the design stage, the plaza comprises two blocks and is the second new-generation NC in Punggol after Oasis Terraces which opened in 2019.
The three-storey development provides seamless connectivity from the LRT station to the Punggol waterfront and Park Connector Network.
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What's available?
In a statement, the HDB said that the development houses a total of 52 shops, including a 24-hour supermarket and fitness centre; childcare and enrichment centres; and a wide variety of food and beverage options, including a food court with a seaview.
Beyond the retail shops and dining options, HDB said, Northshore Plaza is designed with ample community spaces to encourage social interaction and community bonding. These include the sheltered Community Plaza, community pods located around the development and a green lawn.
There's also a garden-themed playground located in Northshore Plaza I and a ship-themed playground located at Northshore Plaza II.
Green features
In the planning and design of the development, HDB said, it carried out "environmental modelling to simulate the interaction of environmental factors such as wind flow, the amount of sunlight falling on a surface and where shadows are cast".
"Using the data gathered, HDB designed and located the community spaces in a way that capitalises on the wind direction and maximises air flow. For example, the louvre panels along the building's facade are designed and placed at an optimal angle to allow sunlight and sea breeze to enter while providing ample shade," the HDB said. "The building's linear design and open concept promotes air flow, allowing the development to be naturally ventilated. Skylights built into the roof also allow natural light to stream into the interior spaces of the building, while greenery has been planted in potential hotspots to lower the ambient temperature."
These features help to reduce the need for artificial lighting and air-conditioning. This, ultimately, lowering energy consumption.
Solar panels are installed and the clean energy harvested is used to power common areas.
Smart features
The development incorporates several smart features such as:
Smart fans and smart lighting at common areas that adjust fan speed and lighting levels based on wind flow and human traffic patterns.
Sensors in lifts and escalators that track their operation and issue alerts when maintenance is required.
A barrier-free smart parking system, Parking@HDB. "At this car park, vehicle plate numbers are registered via cameras, and there are no gantry barriers. This eliminates the bottleneck that sometimes occur at car park entrances and exits, especially during peak hours, and enables motorists to enter and exit the car park more smoothly," the HDB said.
An autonomous mobile robot trial for goods delivery. "Under this collaboration with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), robots automatically pick up and deliver goods from loading bays to shops, reducing the need for manual deliveries," HDB said. "Suppliers can also use HDB's booking system to indicate their delivery time and book loading bay lots for a more efficient delivery process."
More to come
Northshore Plaza is one of the five new generation NCs completed to date by HDB. The others are Oasis Terraces in Punggol, Buangkok Square and Hougang Rivercourt in Hougang, and Canberra Plaza in Sembawang.
"In the next three years, residents in Sengkang can look forward to the completion of Anchorvale Village, estimated to complete in end-2023," the HDB said. Future residents in Tengah will have two upcoming NCs, expected to be ready in the first quarter of 2024 and third quarter of 2025.
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