“These properties typically have very short tenures, and we encourage [a] certain level of experimentation with them at a certain time of use,” he adds.
Rather than remaining vacant, decommissioned state-owned properties are increasingly being used as “experimentation” sites for new urban uses, ranging from co-living spaces to community hubs, says Calvin Phua, chief executive of the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).
Speaking on a panel at the World Cities Summit (WCS) 2026 on June 15, Phua says state-owned properties offer opportunities for “experimentation”, as many are managed on an interim basis while long-term plans are being studied.
