A CHANCE OF A LIFETIME

Lee Kuan Yew once described the opportunity to remake Singapore as a chance of a lifetime . This book explores Lee s pivotal role in Singapore s urban development during his years as prime minister from 1959 to 1990. A Chance of a Lifetime recognizes Lee s achievements from the standpoint of Singapore s 50th anniversary of independence and looks forward to challenges that the city-state might encounter over the next 50 years. The book is broken up into the four main components of Singapore s urban development: planning, housing, greening and water management. Each of these factors has been key in helping create modern Singapore. There is also a chapter that discusses the transformational challenges for Singapore, and the world, over the next 50 years. Singapore s small land size and lack of hinterland meant that it had to strategize to solve issues that other countries are only starting to face now, making Singapore a leader in areas such as vertical greenery and water reclamation. Featuring the Centre for Liveable Cities 2012 interview with Lee and rarely seen archival images of Singapore s transformation from mudflat to metropolis, A Chance of a Lifetime opens with an introduction by former president S R Nathan and closes with an epilogue by Ambassador Tommy Koh."