Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize

What if water stopped coming out of our taps? This almost happened to Cape Town. It could happen to any of us. On #WorldWaterDay, learn how Cape Town’s powerful 'Day Zero' campaign turned their 2018 water shortage crisis into building the city’s resilience. 💧👇   Priya Reddy, Director of Communications for City of Cape Town who led the 'Day Zero' campaign, shares important lessons where the campaign had an enduring impact on people’s appreciation for water: ✍ Mobilise diverse communities with purposeful stories that resonate with them  📢 Leverage local influencers to help change people’s behaviour 🔎 Build trust and transparency during times of uncertainty 🚰 Share practical tips to create long-lasting behavioural changes in water consumption   Cape Town's story  of hope is a powerful reminder that our water supply is never guaranteed. We have to do our part to conserve this precious resource. Cape Town was awarded the 2024 Lee Kuan Yew #WorldCityPrize. #LKYWCP #SustainableCities #WaterConservaton #UrbanResilience

How can our cities create cooler, more comfortable environments as temperatures get hotter? Architect Wong Mun Summ of WOHA Architects and member of the Lee Kuan Yew #WorldCityPrize Nominating Committee, shares his insights below, emphasising the importance of designing buildings and districts that work with the wind, not against it. 🍃 Wind Flow: "We have designed the buildings in Singapore’s Punggol Digital District in a way where they are slightly lifted off the ground. This makes the ground more porous and allows a lot more wind to flow through without being blocked."  🏙️ Vertical Breezeways: "When there is no breeze, the difference of temperature between the ground level and a higher level causes the air to move up through the vertical breezeway...making the apartments feel cool and airy." (Singapore’s SkyVille @ Dawson & Bangkok’s The Met) 🌡️ Hybrid Cooling: "Air conditioning is set to 24 degrees instead of 18 degrees and this is combined with ceiling fans. This creates sufficient comfort to keep the building spaces cool." (National University of Singapore School of Design & Environment 4’s Net-Zero building) But it's not just about the wind. Mun Summ emphasises the significance of data collection to refine designs and the critical role of green buildings, which can have surface temperatures significantly lower than conventional structures. The future of our cities depends on these climate-sensitive designs and innovative approaches. As city leaders and urban planners, how are you adapting to rising temperatures in your city? 💡 #LKYWCP #SustainableCities #ClimateAdaptation

As part of International Women’s Day tomorrow, we celebrate the many women leaders and champions who are influencing and driving change in the Lee Kuan Yew #WorldCityPrize cities across the world. These include: 🖼️ Bronwen Hamilton, Design Manager and Principal Urban Designer, City of Melbourne (2024 Special Mention), has been championing good design by leading Melbourne’s design excellence efforts and outreach activities. 💧 Priya Reddy, Director, Communication, City of Cape Town (2024 Special Mention), who led the communications campaign that helped Cape Town overcome its water shortage crisis from 2017 to 2018. 🏙️ Ya-Ting Liu, the first Chief Public Realm Officer of the City of New York (2012 Laureate), has been bringing government and communities together to enhance the city’s public realm and create more memorable public spaces. Thank you to Brownwen, Priya and Ya-Ting for sharing your work and stories with us. Do look out for our interviews with them which will be shared on this page. Let’s continue to support those who are leading and contributing to making our cities more liveable and sustainable for all! #LKYWCP #IWD2025  #InternationalWomensDay #AccelerateAction

“The Prize is both inspirational and aspirational” in encouraging cities to look deeply into their own journeys to know where they can do better as part of the Prize’s submission process and offers many great examples of transformative efforts from around the world that cities can learn from and aspire towards. Hear from futurist Chris Luebkeman, member of the Prize’s Nominating Committee (NC) about the significance of the Lee Kuan Yew #WorldCityPrize. He is the leader of the Strategic Foresight Hub in the office of the President at ETH Zürich, Switzerland. Educated as a geologist, engineer and architect, Chris has led hundreds of workshops and strategy sessions exploring the potential impact of key drivers of change within cities and sectors. Author, facilitator and futurist, he is passionate about preparing cities for the future. He has been part of the Prize’s NC since 2018. Nominations for the 2026 cycle are open till 31 March 2025. Learn more about the process and submit your application: https://lnkd.in/gKjPfRbf #LKYWCP #SustainableCities #LiveableCities #FutureReady

How can we create more engaging and thriving downtowns? Michael Edwards, President and CEO of Chicago Loop Alliance, managing the second largest downtown in the U.S., shares 4 lessons: 1️⃣ Focus on activating spaces and creating more memorable experiences for people beyond enhancing the physical realm. 2️⃣ Set clear performance indicators, showing the real value of enhancing the downtown with useful insights and data. 3️⃣Lead the downtown with a long-term vision and actively engage with diverse stakeholders for good ideas and solutions. 4️⃣Celebrate and share your success stories and achievements regularly. The placemaking group Chicago Loop Alliance has been managing Chicago’s State Street since 2005. It is supported by 300 businesses, organisations and individuals. Leading the Alliance since 2012, Michael has played a key role in leading the group in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening the downtown narrative and galvanising stakeholders and local communities to stay engaged and invested in Chicago’s downtown. Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/gj5knsDF #LKYWCP #UrbanTransformation #BusinessImprovementDistrict #PublicSpace #Downtown #CentralBusinessDistrict

We are happy to welcome the City of Brisbane to the Lee Kuan Yew #WorldCityPrize Network 🤝 Lord Mayor of Brisbane Adrian Schrinner, Chair of the Council of Mayors (SEQ), Brisbane City Council, signed the Network agreement with Hugh Lim, Executive Director, Centre for Liveable Cities, during his visit to Singapore. The visit was part of an international learning trip with Australian mayors to learn more about urban solutions for transport, housing, urban renewal and other areas of interest. His Excellency Allaster Cox, Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, joined the visit.   Formed in June 2024, the Network alumni have been engaged in new research collaborations and sharing knowledge and expertise with one another. Brisbane was recognised as the Prize’s Special Mention in 2012 for its transformation from a ‘country town’ into a vibrant metropolis. This includes regenerating derelict industrial sites and revitalising the city’s riverfront. Read more about Brisbane’s transformation here: https://lnkd.in/gazhPr6X We look forward to welcoming other Special Mention cities into the Network. #LKYWCP #LKYWCPNetwork #LiveableCities Image credit: Centre for Liveable Cities

Known for its extensive rail network and underground connections, Tokyo and other cities in Japan are taking one step further in transforming some of its major transport nodes further into lifestyle hubs. Hear from Wataru Tanaka, Senior Executive Officer of Nikken Sekkei Ltd, a leading urban designer of large-scale projects, who believes we can do more with our transit-oriented developments (TOD).    Wataru, who spoke recently in Singapore at the inaugural Urban Design Roundtable, emphasises the importance of having a long-term vision for TODs on how these can be more integrated with its surrounding environments to better support immediate neighbourhoods and people’s daily lives.   Grand Green Osaka is one such example. Connected to the central Osaka Station, it transforms former trainyards into a mixed-use shopping complex. Those who access the station can also enjoy the expansive Umekita Park as part of the development. Awarded the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize’s Special Mention in 2018, Tokyo is recognised for its long-term investment in its extensive public transport network and exceptional public-private partnership model that also contributes to its various TOD transformations.   #LKYWCP #TransitOrientedDevelopment #CityPlanning #UrbanTransformation #LiveableCities

Calling all city leaders and champions, in your constant lookout for the best ideas and innovations to keep learning and growing, here are 3 reasons why you should nominate your city and be part of the Lee Kuan Yew #WorldCityPrize: 1️⃣ Learn - You learn from the best by sharing best practices, innovative solutions and new ideas to tackle emerging urban challenges through the Prize’s events and platforms. 2️⃣ Support - You can explore collaborations and seek expert insight and support for your city efforts with other Prize cities through the Prize’s Network and learning programmes. 3️⃣ Share - You will get to share your cities’ stories, trials and triumphs, and how your hard work and transformative efforts have improved your cities’ environments and people’s lives. Cities interested to apply for the Prize must engage an independent third-party urban expert to nominate them.  Nominations only require a 200-word write-up on the city’s achievements in the following areas: ✅ Outstanding leadership and governance  ✅ Successful urban transformation  ✅ Innovative urban solutions  ✅ Lessons for other cities Could your city be the next LKYWCP winner? Nominate your city for the 2026 Prize cycle by 31 March 2025:  https://lnkd.in/gZmqrYn3 #LKYWCP #LiveableCities #SustainableCities

We were happy to catch up with Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) officials and consultants late last year. A decade after it was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew #WorldCityPrize 2014 Laureate, Suzhou continues to be a model for other cities in China and globally, with its focus on strategic planning and urban design efforts to create quality environments while preserving its heritage and culture.   Initiated in 1994, SIP’s industrial park model serves as a model for many other industrial parks across China and globally. Supported by a unique international cooperation approach between Singapore and Chinese governments with regular exchanges and training on urban planning, social governance and economic development, the Industrial Park grew from 80 square kilometres to 278 square kilometres and is home to 1.17 million people. It has been China’s top-ranked economic and technological development zone for the last eight years.   Its next phase of development includes:   👉 Reinforcing its imageability through the rejuvenation of its key buildings, rivers and streets 👉 Improving street vibrancy along its central boulevard with pedestrian-friendly features 👉 Strengthening the destination appeal of distinctive Jinji Lake through new offerings such as the upcoming Suzhou Museum of Contemporary Art 👉 Connecting green and blue corridors for a continuous recreational path linking areas such as Jinji Lake and Moon Bay   We look forward to future visits to see how Suzhou continues to grow and evolve. Read more about its transformative efforts here: https://lnkd.in/gjtbyBDJ #LKYWCP #UrbanTransformation #LiveableCities #SustainableCities

We are excited about Vancouver’s latest 2050 Plan! More than a decade after receiving the 2012 Lee Kuan Yew #WorldCityPrize Special Mention, Vancouver continues to focus on long-term planning strategies and good urban design efforts to create more car-lite, liveable neighbourhoods. Its 2050 Plan continues to be visionary in planning for more equitable and complete neighbourhoods, providing job opportunities, creating more walkable streets, and protecting and making space for nature.  As a recipient of the #LKYWCP, we’re glad to see Vancouver continue its vision of creating vibrant, liveable, and sustainable urban communities. Congratulations to City of Vancouver on this milestone! Read more about Vancouver’s success: https://lnkd.in/gAJMsGZU #UrbanTransformation #LiveableCities #SustainableCities