Sensory Park to stimulate the five senses

The Straits Times (Singapore)
Thursday, December 13, 2007

Sensory Park to stimulate the five senses  

By Jessica Cheam  

The $3.5 million park in Toa Payoh is the first of its kind in Singapore and 
will be ready by 2009 

Caption: HDB has engaged landscape architect Yoshisuke Miyake, who pioneered 
the Sensory Park concept in Japan, to work with local architectural firm 
Surbana International to create Singapore's own sensory park. -- PHOTO: HDB
 
IMAGINE being able to touch a wall that tells you, using Braille, what plants 
are around you; or smell beds of different flowers as you take a leisurely 
evening stroll. 
Come 2009, this will become a reality when the Housing Board (HDB) completes 
its $3.5 million Sensory Park in Toa Payoh - the first of its kind in 
Singapore. 

The 1.1ha pilot park at Toa Payoh Neighbourhood 2 will integrate universal 
design concepts, which in the broadest sense, means 'design for all people'. 

It aims to create an environment for people of all ages and abilities. 

The concept for the Sensory Park - designed to stimulate one's five senses 
through specific features - originated from Osaka, Japan. 

The head of HDB's redevelopment unit, Mrs Lee-Loy Kwee Wah said on Thursday 
that the park was inspired by a study trip to Japan in 2005. 

HDB has engaged landscape architect Yoshisuke Miyake, who pioneered the Sensory 
Park concept in Japan, to work with local architectural firm Surbana 
International to create Singapore's own sensory park. 

Construction began in October and the park is expected to be ready by the first 
quarter of 2009, said the HDB. 

Mr Miyake told The Straits Times that, like Japan, Singapore has a growing 
ageing population that will appreciate such a facility which caters to persons 
of all abilities or disabilities. 

'People get more passive as they grow older, and to have things around you to 
stimulate your senses, is very soothing and has healing qualities,' he said. 

For example, the Kansai Rosai Hospital in Osaka has built its own sensory park 
for patients, he added. 

Residents can also look forward to water features and differing paving 
materials to stimulate hearing; multi-coloured solar lights to stimulate sight, 
and garden herbs and fruit trees for those adventurous enough to taste in the 
sensory park. 

HDB said the location is ideal as there is a large population of elderly 
residents living in Toa Payoh estate and the neighbouring Golden Lotus studio 
apartments. 

Welfare organisations such as Singapore Action Group of Elders and Singapore 
Association of the Visually Handicapped are also located in the vicinity.  


http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/STIStory_186444.html
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