Sensory Park to stimulate the five senses
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- Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:50:53 -0500
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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