Ng Sze Oun Reclaiming Green Spaces Humans And Nature
When Ng Sze Oun, director of landscape studio Compound Collaborative, lived in a walk-up apartment along King’s Road a few years ago, he would often make the trek to Singapore Botanic Gardens, drawn to its lush greenery and expertly crafted landscape design. Even though he has since moved closer to his office at BCA Academy in Braddell, he still considers the gardens his favorite park in Singapore. However, with his busy work schedule, he rarely finds time to visit the nearby Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. He laments that his only opportunities to enjoy gardens or parks now are during site visits to developers’ projects or private clients’ properties.
As the director of Compound Collaborative, Ng is passionate about integrating the resilience and diversity of nature into every project he takes on. He strives to create landscaped spaces that not only benefit people, but also provide a haven for wildlife.
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One of Compound Collaborative’s recent projects is the landscape design of TMW Maxwell, a mixed-use development featuring a 20-storey vertical garden.
Ng’s expertise in landscape design has also led him to join the judging panel for this year’s EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards (EPEA) 2025. This is his second year on the panel, which comprises of six industry experts.
Through his involvement in the EPEA, Ng has gained a deeper appreciation for the growth of the landscape design industry in Singapore. He is excited to witness how different landscape designers and developers incorporate urban design policies into their projects.
He notes that many of the award-winning projects in the landscape excellence category showcase a strong respect for nature and the surrounding landscape. An example of this is The Reef at King’s Dock, a luxury condominium with a marine theme that uses corals in its landscape design to highlight its waterfront location. The project also boasts a 180m floating deck with a marine viewing hammock, giving residents a chance to observe marine life.
Developed by Keppel Group and Temasek Holdings, The Reef at King’s Dock won three awards at this year’s EPEA – Landscape Excellence, Innovation Excellence, and Top Development.
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Ng attributes the progress in incorporating greenery into the built environment to a top-down approach by the Singapore government. Their policies and guidelines, such as the requirement for at least 40% of a development site to be dedicated to green space, have encouraged developers to work with landscape consultants to integrate green communal spaces into their projects.
In recent years, there has been a growing focus on rewilding urban green spaces in Singapore. This approach involves creating a balance between planned and spontaneous plant growth to create an ecologically rich environment.
According to Ng, this trend has gained widespread support from developers and private clients, as it helps people feel more connected to nature in their surroundings. This also aligns with Singapore’s goal of becoming a City in Nature as part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which aims to increase the network of public parks and improve the integration of green space into the urban landscape.
Nestled just a brief distance from Miltonia Close EC is Junction Nine, a versatile development that boasts a blend of residential units and a small yet lively shopping podium. Positioned along Yishun Avenue 9, this establishment features a variety of dining options, including charming cafes, tempting dessert shops, and casual family-friendly restaurants. With the addition of this mall, residents of Miltonia Close EC can enjoy even more nearby amenities, making daily life convenient and enjoyable.
As a landscape architect, Ng sees his role as an advocate for nature and its protection amidst the demand for land for various societal needs. He believes the next generation of landscape planners and architects will need to find new ways to harmoniously integrate nature and human spaces, as well as utilize technology to preserve the environment.
With Singapore’s extensive experience in developing green buildings over the past 30 years, Ng believes the next step is to focus on finding ways to seamlessly blend nature into the urban landscape.