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(SINGAPORE) The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Singapore-listed property giant CapitaLand have bagged the Urban Land Institute (ULI) 2006 Awards for Excellence: Asia-Pacific, a prestigious international recognition for responsible land use.

Unique architecture: CapitaLand and won for its Glentrees condo project in Mount Sinai, the second year in a row that it has clinched the ULI award.

The URA won the award for Singapore's conservation programme, and CapitaLand for the development of its Glentrees condo project on the former Grenville condo site at Mount Sinai Lane. This is the second year running in which the developer has clinched the award. In 2005, its Nassim Hill condo, The Loft, took the honours for its innovative land presentation.

ULI is a US-based global education and research institute championing responsible leadership in land use to enhance the total environment. The awards are made by region - Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. This year's Asia-Pacific awards attracted 25 entries. After written submissions and site inspections, five winners were picked, including the two from Singapore.

For the URA, winning the award will help to market Singapore in the race for investments and visitors. The authority's chief planner and deputy CEO (physical planning and conservation and urban design), Koh-Lim Wen Gin, said: 'After being a finalist in Asia-Pac award, we hope we'll be selected for ULI's global award' which will be announced later this year. 'All these awards help to promote the value of a city. The world is very competitive. For example, China, Dubai, everyone competing for the same pie. So we in Singapore must market ourselves more and make it known to the world that this little red dot - or little green dot - has a lot to offer. Although we're very little, we are a global city and also a city with a sense of history. We have lots of variety to offer.

'I think the starting point of conservation is city planning, but the spin-off is tourism as well.'

Last year, 2.7 million tourists are said to have visited the historic conservation district of Chinatown, while two million toured Little India.

Singapore's conservation programme, spearheaded by the URA, has seen some 6,560 buildings being gazetted for conservation over the past 20 years, despite the constant challenge of meeting development needs with Singapore's limited land area of just less than 700 square kilometres. 'It is the first large-scale urban conservation programme in South-east Asia, protecting areas, settings and vernacular buildings of architectural and historical value,' the URA observed.

The citation by ULI's jury states that 'Singapore's modern conservation programme preserves its rich heritage of vernacular buildings and colourful neighbourhoods, thanks to a collaborative effort among government organisations and the public that balances free-market economics with cultural conservation'.

CapitaLand's Glentrees condo is a unique architectural interpretation of a low-rise condominium, tucked amidst a mature landed estate at Mount Sinai Lane. The design concept centres on creating a garden for every home.

'This 2-hectare (4.9-acre) site provides views and a plantable garden terrace for the residents of this five-storey, 176-unit condominium development in land-scarce Singapore,' ULI says on its website.

CapitaLand Residential Singapore CEO Patricia Chia says: 'The stepped-back architecture and creation of balcony gardens in the apartments represent a new interpretation of condominium living.'

The ULI competition recognises the full development process of a project, not just its architecture or design. The criteria for the awards include industry leadership, contribution of the community, innovation, public-private partnership, response to societal needs and financial success in addition to environmental protection and enhancement.