In our 4th NLA Cities roundtable, we turned to Asia Pacific cities. By ‘demonstrator districts’ we mean places that showcase the future of urbanism, set new standards in city making, and inspire a generation of other districts to follow suit. Where are the next generation of Demonstrator Districts and what makes them work?  

David Tan JTC, Singapore. Punggol Digital District (PDD) exemplifies a new generation of business districts, designed as a living laboratory for future-ready innovation. It brings together students, researchers, entrepreneurs and multinational firms within a single, highly integrated, mixed-use environment. Envisioned as a ‘work, live, play and learn’ community, it benefits from a flexible planning model which allows business parks to co-locate with academic institutions and community amenities, encouraging cross-sector collaboration and co-creation.

Peter John Cantrell. Green Square, Sydney, is one of Australia’s largest urban regeneration projects. The project involves transforming 278 hectares of former industrial land into a medium-density/high-amenity neighbourhood that prioritises walkability, liveability, and sustainability. The area is expected to deliver over 35,000 new dwellings for 61,000 residents and support around 21,000 jobs across commercial and retail uses.  

Paul Zimmerman. Kai Tak, Hong Kong, is the redevelopment project on the site of the old airport. Here, planners are learning from the limitations of projects like West Kowloon, where large development above rail infrastructure led to poor ground-level connectivity and an isolated feel. At Kai Tak, the rail station is now embedded beneath a central park, with developments encircling it and car access diverted around the green space.  

Graeme Craig. In Edgware, Places for London and Ballymore are transforming a 25-acre site into a mixed-use hub featuring 3,365 new homes, 460,000 sq ft of retail, and supporting more than 1,400 full-time jobs. The scheme integrates 2.5 acres of play space, a nature park, and a new transport interchange that will enable the full decarbonisation of the local bus fleet. At Earl’s Court, Places for London is partnering with Delancey and Dutch pension fund APG to deliver 4,000 homes and 2.5 million sq ft of commercial space on a 40-acre site. With 12,000 jobs and an expected £1.2 billion contribution to the UK economy, Earl’s Court is being reimagined as an inclusive, future-facing district.

Monique Suksmaningsih offered a compelling vision for reimagining industrial landscapes, particularly through the lens of the Kallang Kolam Ayer, an industrial area close to Singapore’s CBD. Building on themes shared by fellow panellists, she explored how industrial zones can evolve into vibrant, mixed-use environments that integrate community, nature, and production.  

Read the full essay below.