Woodlands, Singapore
Encyclopedia
Woodlands, or the Woodlands New Town (Chinese
: , Pinyin
: Wùlán Xīnzhèn; ), is a suburb
an town
in northern Singapore
, part of the North West Community Development Council (Northwest CDC) district. The town should not be confused with the Woodlands constituency within the Woodlands New Town in the Sembawang Group Representation Constituency
(GRC).
Woodlands is adjacent to Sembawang
New Town
and Sungei Kadut
Industrial Estate, and is connected to Malaysia's southernmost city, Johor Bahru
, by the Johor-Singapore Causeway
. Woodlands is also connected to Yishun
via Gambas Avenue and Senoko Industrial Park via Woodlands Avenue 10.
Woodlands has one of the largest shopping malls in Singapore. It is also home to the Singapore Sports School
, Republic Polytechnic
, and Innova Junior College
.
.
A town still in development, Woodlands is quite an ever-changing town, with a distinct style, apart from the hectic lifestyle familiar in downtown and older parts of Singapore
. From the beginning of development during the 1970s to expand Marsiling, Woodlands has grown into a huge neighborhood, home to the many different people from all walks of life. Woodlands is one of the early development successes in Singapore
, becoming today's model for future transport
ation, entertainment
, leisure
and education
developments within an estate.
Woodlands' developments are concentrated in the central, southern and eastern portion of the estate, leaving a countryside lifestyle of fresh air, serenity and the privilege of being surrounded by trees in the northern portion.
Large open spaces, grasslands, parks, recreational facilities and communal gardens are found nearly everywhere in Woodlands. Most of the housing apartment blocks are interconnected, providing sheltered pavements throughout an entire division within each estate. Nonetheless, several larger parks are packed within estates and serve as escapes from the urban lifestyle. Representing a rich diversity of natural habitats and pleasant environments, these parks, though man-made, are often scenic. Woodlands Town Garden is one that has served Woodlands for quite some time.
There are three constituencies in the town, and nine neighbourhoods (N1 to N9) within the Woodlands vicinity made up primarily of Woodlands, Marsiling, Woodgrove and Admiralty, each with its own traits. Most of the neighbourhoods are centralised or aligned along their respective neighbourhood centres, where most of the commercial activities are conducted, other than the town centre, Woodlands Square.
, containing most of the commercial activities, such as Woodlands Square, the town's commercial hub, consisting of buildings and services of high standards. Built on a hill, Woodlands Square consists of a large hectare of grassland, houses the gala events or celebrations at different times of the year; a large mall, Causeway Point
, oversees the Woodlands MRT Station
and the Woodlands Civic Centre.
There are wide ranges of housing apartment blocks, some of which serve as the finest example of architecture in Singapore
. Woodlands is highly accessible, compared to the other estates in the town: Feeder bus routes run within the estate, and large avenues
allow a seamless flow of traffic. Woodlands is highly urbanised, however, and at times permitting, buildings were built a distance away from heavy-used roads in a distinctive style of post-independence Singapore
. Buildings are phased closely together, developing in a carefully planned pattern.
Marsiling is a large estate compared to Woodlands, which extended from north of Woodlands Square to the Woodlands Checkpoint, bordering Malaysia.
A redevelopment plan of upgrading existing housing apartment blocks was introduced in late '90s, and thereafter a surge in housing prices that come along with a refurbished elevator serving every storey of the apartment block; larger apartments per household (a new room was added at the rear of each apartment) and of course, modernising to meet the standards of the local housing environment. Marsiling is situated next to the Marsiling Industrial Estate; Marsiling has shown an increasing community of foreign expatriates in recent years.
See also Modernising Environment and Main Upgrading Programme
for more details on upgrading existing housing apartment blocks.
Admiralty keeps abreast of contemporary housing in the town. It residents enjoy the convenience of the Admiralty MRT transit station, similar to that of Woodlands MRT Station
, built solely for the SMRT
train. Admiralty offers a rather reasonable quiet and organised housing, with well-designed apartments. It houses citizens who opt for government housing through the Housing and Development Board's plans, instead of purchasing apartments via private agencies, which often costs more but requires a shorter waiting time: Opting for government housing often takes months to process and space is limited only to newly built housing flats.
Admiralty is connected to Sembawang
and Yishun
via Gambas Avenue; the Woodlands Industrial Park and Senoko Industrial Park via Woodlands Avenue 10; Woodlands Estate via Woodlands Avenue 7; Marsiling Estate via Woodlands Square and Woodlands Avenue 3; and the Expressway via Woodlands Avenue 12.
Divisions within estates are being rapidly modernised and modelled for Singapore's standards; playgrounds, communal gardens, sheltered pavements, multi-level parking lots, barbecue-pits, recreational facilities (such as tennis courts) and trees are found nearly everywhere.
With the modernising process outpacing the preservation of its past, Woodlands Town Garden keeps a clear and simple agenda, to bring greenery in the right ambience with the mixture of the local ethnicities. The theme of the park revolves around the Malay and Chinese culture, and winding through the park is Sungei Mandai Kechil, the river that extends into a lake within the park. Woodlands Town Garden is located near to the Woodlands Customs, in the Marsiling estate. To the east of this area, bordering the polytechnic is Admiralty Park
, a 27-hectare national park much of which is covered in mangrove
.
Woodlands Regional Library
, the largest neighbourhood library in Singapore at the time of its launch, is operated by the National Library Board
. The four-story public library caters to all ages and is organized according to themes of general, reference, teens, and children.
Causeway Point
, one of the largest shopping malls in Singapore, houses 250 shops and various outlets. Woodlands Civic Centre is a designated centre of education, public services, and other forms of assistance for residents. The centre houses the Woodlands Regional Library
, several banks, CPF
Woodlands Branch, and numerous merchandise and educational institutions.
Sports are an emerging emphasis in the Singaporean society. Recreational facilities can be easily located around the estates and especially in parks: The multi-purpose stadium
, the Woodlands Stadium, and Woodlands Swimming Complex are common places for sport-goers.
Experimental styles of architecture have found their way into Woodlands, making the town a place of wonder and color, with much integration with recreation. From the early practical designs to its modern-day luxurious manifestation, housing apartment blocks are no longer as plain as they sound; with the garnish of parks, communal gardens and décors, these blocks are pieces of art and style themselves. The centrepiece of the town, Woodlands Square, attracts a constant flow of travellers and shoppers daily. Tireless planning and redevelopment keeps the town modernised.
Singapore's first sport school, Singapore Sports School
, located on Champion's Way, is an independent boarding school with some of the finest sports facilities. Singapore's fifth polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic
, is situated in Woodlands Avenue 9. Innova Junior College
is situated at 21 Champions Way, next to Woodlands Avenue 2.
and an elevated MRT station next to Causeway Point at Woodlands Square. Most of the bus routes are operated by SMRT
Buses, while SMRT Trains
operate the MRT stations.
Residents of Woodlands are serviced by three MRT
stations, at the centre of the suburb, Woodlands MRT Station
; north of the suburb, Marsiling MRT Station
and Southeast of the suburb, Admiralty MRT Station
. The regional bus interchange was relocated from the previous Town Centre, Woodlands Town Centre, to the current town centre at Woodlands Square.
Land transportation in Woodlands is relatively efficient, in comparison to other estates, contrasting by the amount of well-maintained roads, though a common sight in Singapore. Twelve avenues support and help circulate all of the traffic of the town, especially Avenue 2, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12.
Avenue 2 is a shorter route from the older estates of the town to the Bukit Timah Expressway
. Avenue 3 connects Marsiling from the exit of Bukit Timah Expressway
to Woodlands Centre Road, the sole road to the checkpoint of Woodlands Customs. The rest of it maintains a similar route of the MRT line from Marsiling MRT Station
to Woodlands MRT Station
, which connects to Woodlands Square. As the avenue ends at the entrance of the slope of Woodlands Square (the road that circulates Woodlands Square), another end starts the Woodlands Avenue 7, which connects Woodlands to Admiralty, also the route of the MRT line from Woodlands MRT Station to Admiralty MRT Station
.
Divisions within estates are further connected and regulated by two- or single lane roads called streets, which are distinguished by a suffix of double-digit numbers, such as Woodlands Street 82 and Woodlands Street 83. This was a common practice before the late '90s. Drives are two- or single lane roads built for newer divisions within an estate, similar to that of the streets.
Links and crescents are often three-, two-, or single lane roads that convey commuters from a main road to another main road, such as the Woodlands Link, which connects Woodlands Avenue 9 to the main roads in the Woodlands Industrial Park. Crescents connect main roads to streets or drives.
Simplified Chinese character
Simplified Chinese characters are standardized Chinese characters prescribed in the Xiandai Hanyu Tongyong Zibiao for use in Mainland China. Along with traditional Chinese characters, it is one of many standard character sets of the contemporary Chinese written language...
: , Pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Wùlán Xīnzhèn; ), is a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in northern Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, part of the North West Community Development Council (Northwest CDC) district. The town should not be confused with the Woodlands constituency within the Woodlands New Town in the Sembawang Group Representation Constituency
Sembawang Group Representation Constituency
Sembawang Group Representation Constituency is a five-member Group Representation Constituency located in the northern area of Singapore. The GRC consists of Sembawang, Woodlands, Marsiling, Admiralty, Canberra and Chong Pang...
(GRC).
Woodlands is adjacent to Sembawang
Sembawang
Sembawang is an area in the Northern-most portion of Singapore, encompassing the largest land mass within the Sembawang Group Representation Constituency. The incumbent Member of Parliament for the Sembawang Constituency is Khaw Boon Wan. The constituency jurisdiction extends into the Woodlands...
New Town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
and Sungei Kadut
Sungei Kadut
Sungei Kadut is an industrial estate located in the northwestern region of Singapore. It is bounded by Choa Chu Kang New Town, Mandai Estate and Kranji Reservoir. It is known for the extensive furniture making industries located in the area....
Industrial Estate, and is connected to Malaysia's southernmost city, Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
, by the Johor-Singapore Causeway
Johor-Singapore Causeway
The Johor–Singapore Causeway is a 1,056-metre causeway that links the city of Johor Bahru in Malaysia across the Straits of Johor to the town of Woodlands in Singapore. It serves as a road, rail, and pedestrian link, as well as water piping into Singapore.The causeway is connected to the...
. Woodlands is also connected to Yishun
Yishun
Yishun, or Nee Soon as it was initially named, is a suburban town in the northern part of Singapore, encompassing the Yishun Planning Area, in the North Region, which includes Yishun New Town and the Nee Soon private residential estate....
via Gambas Avenue and Senoko Industrial Park via Woodlands Avenue 10.
Woodlands has one of the largest shopping malls in Singapore. It is also home to the Singapore Sports School
Singapore Sports School
The Singapore Sports School is a specialized independent school in Singapore. It was initiated by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports , and caters to sporting teenagers who have talent in sports....
, Republic Polytechnic
Republic Polytechnic
Republic Polytechnic , commonly abbreviated to RP, is a tertiary institution located in Singapore. It was the first school system in Singapore to use Problem-based learning pedagogy for all its diplomas....
, and Innova Junior College
Innova Junior College
Innova Junior College is a government co-educational 'A'-level preparatory junior college located in Woodlands, Singapore.-Facilities:...
.
History
When Singapore was established as a trading port in 1823, Woodlands connected the Malayan Peninsula to the natural port in Singapore, connecting the two states in 1924 via the Johor-Singapore CausewayJohor-Singapore Causeway
The Johor–Singapore Causeway is a 1,056-metre causeway that links the city of Johor Bahru in Malaysia across the Straits of Johor to the town of Woodlands in Singapore. It serves as a road, rail, and pedestrian link, as well as water piping into Singapore.The causeway is connected to the...
.
A town still in development, Woodlands is quite an ever-changing town, with a distinct style, apart from the hectic lifestyle familiar in downtown and older parts of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. From the beginning of development during the 1970s to expand Marsiling, Woodlands has grown into a huge neighborhood, home to the many different people from all walks of life. Woodlands is one of the early development successes in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, becoming today's model for future transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
ation, entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
, leisure
Leisure
Leisure, or free time, is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores. It is also the periods of time before or after necessary activities such as eating, sleeping and, where it is compulsory, education....
and education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
developments within an estate.
Woodlands' developments are concentrated in the central, southern and eastern portion of the estate, leaving a countryside lifestyle of fresh air, serenity and the privilege of being surrounded by trees in the northern portion.
Large open spaces, grasslands, parks, recreational facilities and communal gardens are found nearly everywhere in Woodlands. Most of the housing apartment blocks are interconnected, providing sheltered pavements throughout an entire division within each estate. Nonetheless, several larger parks are packed within estates and serve as escapes from the urban lifestyle. Representing a rich diversity of natural habitats and pleasant environments, these parks, though man-made, are often scenic. Woodlands Town Garden is one that has served Woodlands for quite some time.
Neighbourhoods
| Name of Neighbourhood | Location | Commercial Areas | Accessibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodlands | Centre, Northeast, Northwest and West of Woodlands Town | Woodlands Square (Centre and Town), Vista Point (Northeast), Sembawang Town Council (West) | Via MRT Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore) The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro... at Woodlands MRT Station Woodlands MRT Station Woodlands MRT Station ' is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit train station on the North South Line in Singapore. It is integrated together with the Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange located beneath the station and also Causeway Point Shopping Centre, which serves as a major shopping centre for... ; Via Bus at Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange |
| Marsiling | West and Southwest of Woodlands Square | Woodlands Checkpoint and Woodlands Town Centre | Via MRT at Marsiling MRT Station Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore) The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro... , Checkpoint Terminal |
| Woodgrove | South from Woodlands Square | The Woodgrove | Via Bus from Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange was completed and opened along with the Woodlands extension of the North South MRT Line in 1996. It is the first underground bus interchange, and one of the biggest in Singapore... |
| Admiralty | East from Woodlands Square | Admiralty Place | Via MRT at Admiralty MRT Station Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore) The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro... , Via Bus from Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange |
Woodlands
"Woodlands" is also the name of the primary estate in the townTown
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
, containing most of the commercial activities, such as Woodlands Square, the town's commercial hub, consisting of buildings and services of high standards. Built on a hill, Woodlands Square consists of a large hectare of grassland, houses the gala events or celebrations at different times of the year; a large mall, Causeway Point
Causeway Point
Causeway Point , is the seventh largest suburban shopping malls in Singapore, located in the town centre of Woodlands, a town in the north of Singapore...
, oversees the Woodlands MRT Station
Woodlands MRT Station
Woodlands MRT Station ' is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit train station on the North South Line in Singapore. It is integrated together with the Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange located beneath the station and also Causeway Point Shopping Centre, which serves as a major shopping centre for...
and the Woodlands Civic Centre.
There are wide ranges of housing apartment blocks, some of which serve as the finest example of architecture in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Woodlands is highly accessible, compared to the other estates in the town: Feeder bus routes run within the estate, and large avenues
Avenue (landscape)
__notoc__In landscaping, an avenue or allée is traditionally a straight route with a line of trees or large shrubs running along each, which is used, as its French source venir indicates, to emphasize the "coming to," or arrival at a landscape or architectural feature...
allow a seamless flow of traffic. Woodlands is highly urbanised, however, and at times permitting, buildings were built a distance away from heavy-used roads in a distinctive style of post-independence Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Buildings are phased closely together, developing in a carefully planned pattern.
Marsiling
Woodlands is increasingly an avenue for foreign Asians to the inner urban estates of Singapore. Marsiling presents the older living patterns of Singapore; it is a quieter and much denser estate, often offering a reasonable and larger alternative to other housing options, and houses a large number of elderly and heavy-duty industries.Marsiling is a large estate compared to Woodlands, which extended from north of Woodlands Square to the Woodlands Checkpoint, bordering Malaysia.
A redevelopment plan of upgrading existing housing apartment blocks was introduced in late '90s, and thereafter a surge in housing prices that come along with a refurbished elevator serving every storey of the apartment block; larger apartments per household (a new room was added at the rear of each apartment) and of course, modernising to meet the standards of the local housing environment. Marsiling is situated next to the Marsiling Industrial Estate; Marsiling has shown an increasing community of foreign expatriates in recent years.
See also Modernising Environment and Main Upgrading Programme
Main Upgrading Programme
The Main Upgrading Programme, or MUP , was formally launched in July 1990, initiating a massive physical upgrading exercise for the thousands of flats built by the Housing and Development Board in Singapore.-History:...
for more details on upgrading existing housing apartment blocks.
Admiralty & Woodgrove
Of all the estates, Woodgrove is the smallest in size, located towards the northwest end of the town. Woodgrove houses most of the private housing in Woodlands, consisting of high-rise condominiums and landed properties. Woodgrove lies in between the estates of Marsiling and Woodlands.Admiralty keeps abreast of contemporary housing in the town. It residents enjoy the convenience of the Admiralty MRT transit station, similar to that of Woodlands MRT Station
Woodlands MRT Station
Woodlands MRT Station ' is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit train station on the North South Line in Singapore. It is integrated together with the Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange located beneath the station and also Causeway Point Shopping Centre, which serves as a major shopping centre for...
, built solely for the SMRT
SMRT Corporation
SMRT Corporation is a public transport operator incorporated on March 6, 2000, as a result of an industry overhaul to form multi-modal public-transport operators in Singapore. It is the second-largest public-transport company in Singapore after ComfortDelGro...
train. Admiralty offers a rather reasonable quiet and organised housing, with well-designed apartments. It houses citizens who opt for government housing through the Housing and Development Board's plans, instead of purchasing apartments via private agencies, which often costs more but requires a shorter waiting time: Opting for government housing often takes months to process and space is limited only to newly built housing flats.
Admiralty is connected to Sembawang
Sembawang
Sembawang is an area in the Northern-most portion of Singapore, encompassing the largest land mass within the Sembawang Group Representation Constituency. The incumbent Member of Parliament for the Sembawang Constituency is Khaw Boon Wan. The constituency jurisdiction extends into the Woodlands...
and Yishun
Yishun
Yishun, or Nee Soon as it was initially named, is a suburban town in the northern part of Singapore, encompassing the Yishun Planning Area, in the North Region, which includes Yishun New Town and the Nee Soon private residential estate....
via Gambas Avenue; the Woodlands Industrial Park and Senoko Industrial Park via Woodlands Avenue 10; Woodlands Estate via Woodlands Avenue 7; Marsiling Estate via Woodlands Square and Woodlands Avenue 3; and the Expressway via Woodlands Avenue 12.
Infrastructure
Woodlands is diverse during the day and well lit at night. Shops, eateries, and commercial zones are evenly spread through the town, with bus and transit routes operating till close to midnight.Divisions within estates are being rapidly modernised and modelled for Singapore's standards; playgrounds, communal gardens, sheltered pavements, multi-level parking lots, barbecue-pits, recreational facilities (such as tennis courts) and trees are found nearly everywhere.
With the modernising process outpacing the preservation of its past, Woodlands Town Garden keeps a clear and simple agenda, to bring greenery in the right ambience with the mixture of the local ethnicities. The theme of the park revolves around the Malay and Chinese culture, and winding through the park is Sungei Mandai Kechil, the river that extends into a lake within the park. Woodlands Town Garden is located near to the Woodlands Customs, in the Marsiling estate. To the east of this area, bordering the polytechnic is Admiralty Park
Admiralty Park
Admiralty Park is a national park in Woodlands, Singapore that is 27 hectares in size, comprising both nature and recreational areas. It is made unique by its river valley shaped hilly terrain. This feature reflects the history of the site, as it used to have Sungei Cina running through it...
, a 27-hectare national park much of which is covered in mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
.
Woodlands Regional Library
Woodlands Regional Library
The Woodlands Regional Library is a regional public library in Woodlands in the North Region of Singapore. It is located within the premises of the Woodlands Civic Centre, near Causeway Point...
, the largest neighbourhood library in Singapore at the time of its launch, is operated by the National Library Board
National Library Board
The National Library Board is a statutory board of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore...
. The four-story public library caters to all ages and is organized according to themes of general, reference, teens, and children.
Causeway Point
Causeway Point
Causeway Point , is the seventh largest suburban shopping malls in Singapore, located in the town centre of Woodlands, a town in the north of Singapore...
, one of the largest shopping malls in Singapore, houses 250 shops and various outlets. Woodlands Civic Centre is a designated centre of education, public services, and other forms of assistance for residents. The centre houses the Woodlands Regional Library
Woodlands Regional Library
The Woodlands Regional Library is a regional public library in Woodlands in the North Region of Singapore. It is located within the premises of the Woodlands Civic Centre, near Causeway Point...
, several banks, CPF
Central Provident Fund
In Singapore, the Central Provident Fund is a compulsory comprehensive savings plan for working Singaporeans and permanent residents primarily to fund their retirement, healthcare and housing needs. It is administered by the Central Provident Fund Board, a statutory board under the Ministry of...
Woodlands Branch, and numerous merchandise and educational institutions.
Sports are an emerging emphasis in the Singaporean society. Recreational facilities can be easily located around the estates and especially in parks: The multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
, the Woodlands Stadium, and Woodlands Swimming Complex are common places for sport-goers.
Experimental styles of architecture have found their way into Woodlands, making the town a place of wonder and color, with much integration with recreation. From the early practical designs to its modern-day luxurious manifestation, housing apartment blocks are no longer as plain as they sound; with the garnish of parks, communal gardens and décors, these blocks are pieces of art and style themselves. The centrepiece of the town, Woodlands Square, attracts a constant flow of travellers and shoppers daily. Tireless planning and redevelopment keeps the town modernised.
Education
Educational institutions are evenly distributed throughout the estate. From newly-founded schools to well-established ones, Woodlands has several top educational institutions in the northern region. Schools in Woodlands are allocated into the N5 and N7 clusters.Singapore's first sport school, Singapore Sports School
Singapore Sports School
The Singapore Sports School is a specialized independent school in Singapore. It was initiated by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports , and caters to sporting teenagers who have talent in sports....
, located on Champion's Way, is an independent boarding school with some of the finest sports facilities. Singapore's fifth polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic
Republic Polytechnic
Republic Polytechnic , commonly abbreviated to RP, is a tertiary institution located in Singapore. It was the first school system in Singapore to use Problem-based learning pedagogy for all its diplomas....
, is situated in Woodlands Avenue 9. Innova Junior College
Innova Junior College
Innova Junior College is a government co-educational 'A'-level preparatory junior college located in Woodlands, Singapore.-Facilities:...
is situated at 21 Champions Way, next to Woodlands Avenue 2.
Accessibility
Woodlands is highly accessible, connected by major roads and expressways, with a relatively large underground bus interchange, the Woodlands Regional Bus InterchangeWoodlands Regional Bus Interchange
Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange was completed and opened along with the Woodlands extension of the North South MRT Line in 1996. It is the first underground bus interchange, and one of the biggest in Singapore...
and an elevated MRT station next to Causeway Point at Woodlands Square. Most of the bus routes are operated by SMRT
SMRT Corporation
SMRT Corporation is a public transport operator incorporated on March 6, 2000, as a result of an industry overhaul to form multi-modal public-transport operators in Singapore. It is the second-largest public-transport company in Singapore after ComfortDelGro...
Buses, while SMRT Trains
SMRT Trains
SMRT Trains Limited is a rail operator in Singapore and a wholly owned subsidiary of SMRT Corporation. Then known as Mass Rapid Transit Corporation when it was incorporated on 6 August 1987, it was renamed as Singapore MRT Limited before taking on its current name, SMRT Trains, in the year...
operate the MRT stations.
Residents of Woodlands are serviced by three MRT
Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro...
stations, at the centre of the suburb, Woodlands MRT Station
Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro...
; north of the suburb, Marsiling MRT Station
Marsiling MRT Station
Marsiling MRT Station ' is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit station on the North South Line in Singapore. It serves residents living in Woodlands, Singapore Neighbourhoods 1 to 4...
and Southeast of the suburb, Admiralty MRT Station
Admiralty MRT Station
Admiralty MRT Station ' is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit station on the North South MRT Line in Singapore, located in Admiralty, Woodlands. The station is highly utilised, as there are no bus services for residents to travel to the city...
. The regional bus interchange was relocated from the previous Town Centre, Woodlands Town Centre, to the current town centre at Woodlands Square.
Land transportation in Woodlands is relatively efficient, in comparison to other estates, contrasting by the amount of well-maintained roads, though a common sight in Singapore. Twelve avenues support and help circulate all of the traffic of the town, especially Avenue 2, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12.
Avenue 2 is a shorter route from the older estates of the town to the Bukit Timah Expressway
Bukit Timah Expressway
The Bukit Timah Expressway ; ) is a highway in Singapore that starts at the PIE in Bukit Timah and travels north to the Woodlands Checkpoint and the Johor–Singapore Causeway....
. Avenue 3 connects Marsiling from the exit of Bukit Timah Expressway
Bukit Timah Expressway
The Bukit Timah Expressway ; ) is a highway in Singapore that starts at the PIE in Bukit Timah and travels north to the Woodlands Checkpoint and the Johor–Singapore Causeway....
to Woodlands Centre Road, the sole road to the checkpoint of Woodlands Customs. The rest of it maintains a similar route of the MRT line from Marsiling MRT Station
Marsiling MRT Station
Marsiling MRT Station ' is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit station on the North South Line in Singapore. It serves residents living in Woodlands, Singapore Neighbourhoods 1 to 4...
to Woodlands MRT Station
Woodlands MRT Station
Woodlands MRT Station ' is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit train station on the North South Line in Singapore. It is integrated together with the Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange located beneath the station and also Causeway Point Shopping Centre, which serves as a major shopping centre for...
, which connects to Woodlands Square. As the avenue ends at the entrance of the slope of Woodlands Square (the road that circulates Woodlands Square), another end starts the Woodlands Avenue 7, which connects Woodlands to Admiralty, also the route of the MRT line from Woodlands MRT Station to Admiralty MRT Station
Admiralty MRT Station
Admiralty MRT Station ' is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit station on the North South MRT Line in Singapore, located in Admiralty, Woodlands. The station is highly utilised, as there are no bus services for residents to travel to the city...
.
Divisions within estates are further connected and regulated by two- or single lane roads called streets, which are distinguished by a suffix of double-digit numbers, such as Woodlands Street 82 and Woodlands Street 83. This was a common practice before the late '90s. Drives are two- or single lane roads built for newer divisions within an estate, similar to that of the streets.
Links and crescents are often three-, two-, or single lane roads that convey commuters from a main road to another main road, such as the Woodlands Link, which connects Woodlands Avenue 9 to the main roads in the Woodlands Industrial Park. Crescents connect main roads to streets or drives.
See also
- JurongJurongJurong is the largest town in the western part of Singapore, consisting of 11 residential precincts, 14 industrial districts, 1 military zone and 1 Waterfront district. It resembles Woodlands, the largest town in the northern part of Singapore, which is smaller in size, has smaller industrial area...
- Ang Mo KioAng Mo KioAng Mo Kio（宏茂桥） is a heartland new town located in north central Singapore, and is generally within the North-East Region. It contains many of the common features of the island nation's neighbourhoods, e.g. hawker centres, wet markets and HDB housing blocks. Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien...
- Bukit Batok
- SengkangSengkangSengkang is a sub-urban town in the north-eastern part of Singapore. The Sengkang Planning Area, an urban planning zone under the Urban Redevelopment Authority, covers the Housing and Development Board satellite new town of Sengkang New Town and rural Jalan Kayu.-Etymology and history:Meaning...
- SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
- Places in SingaporePlaces in SingaporeThe following lists various places in Singapore. See also Places in Singapore by alphabetical order and subdivisions of Singapore for administrative subdivisions.-Public Towns and Estates:...