Rethinking Post-pandemic Urban Planning Strategies: Lessons from Singapore and Hong Kong

We examine urban planning strategies at multiple scales that Singapore and Hong Kong have reinforced or accelerated as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic tended to further strengthen the rationale for preexisting strategies, such as sustainability-oriented planning in Singapore and compact-city-development initiatives in Hong Kong, rather than demanding their drastic change. Crucial components of their strategic planning toward a green and resilient high-density urban development model include polycentric urban structure, self-contained neighborhoods, three-dimensional mixed land use, accessibility to green/open spaces, and pedestrian-friendly urban environments. Planning regulations and urban design standards form a primary implementation mechanism, and well-aligned policy incentives and public-private partnerships complement them. The efforts Singapore and Hong Kong have made toward a sustainable and compact city offer a useful benchmark case for other cities exploring post-pandemic planning directions.