The Role of Governments in the Circulation of Urban Models and Knowledge

This seminar explores how the “Singapore Model” of urban planning, characterized by its modular and state-led structure, has been selectively transferred and adapted through China–Singapore government-to-government collaborations.
Focusing on the Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-City case studies, the presentation examines how planning knowledge is mobilized, reinterpreted, and reshaped within different institutional settings. It highlights how different components of the “Singapore Model” are selectively adopted or contested locally. The seminar also reflects on Asia’s emerging role not only as a recipient, but as a generator and circulator of urban planning knowledge.

Relatore: Siyuan Li, PhD Candidate, DASTU, Politecnico di Milano;

Supervisor: Davide Ponzini Full Professor, DASTU, Politecnico di Milano;

Discussants: HENG Chye Kiang, Full Professor, DoA , National University of Singapore; Paolo Scrivano , Associate Professor, DASTU, Politecnico di Milano

Responsabile: Siyuan Li

Contatti: siyuan.li@polimi.it