Real estate today is no longer about building structures alone, it is about connecting people, places and possibilities.
In his presentation at the RICS REDAS Conference 2025, Mr Jonathan Yap, Chief Executive Officer of CapitaLand Development, spoke about how integration, sustainability and collaboration can guide the industry through changing times.
Thinking Beyond Single Assets
Mr Yap shared that developers must design with the broader ecosystem in mind. Integrating homes, offices, retail and public spaces within the same development helps create flexible, multi-use environments that can evolve with communities. Projects such as CapitaSpring and CanningHill Piers illustrate this shift, connecting living, working and leisure rather than separating them.
Sustainability from the Start
Sustainability, he said, needs to be built into every stage, from design and construction to daily operations. Examples like Jewel Changi Airport and J’den at Jurong East show how green features, such as double-skin façades, rainwater harvesting and wellness spaces, reduce energy use while improving comfort.
Embedding these practices early makes buildings more resilient and ensures they stay relevant for decades.
Communities at the Heart
Mr Yap emphasised the importance of building with people in mind. At Geneo Science Park, shared areas such as The Canopy bring tenants and residents together through events and activities. The Kallang Way Food Factory project explores fractional investment, allowing more people to participate in ownership and benefit from local development, a small but meaningful step toward inclusive growth.
Innovation Through Collaboration
Transformation, Mr Yap noted, requires the “power of many.” Partnerships with government agencies, universities and contractors are helping to drive research, test new technologies and share lessons across the ecosystem.
Such efforts, including collaborations with NUS Cities and CapitaLand’s internal innovation platforms, show how shared learning can accelerate progress for the wider industry.
Mr Yap’s reflections remind us that integration, sustainability and collaboration are now essential to good development. By building with purpose and working together, the industry can shape spaces that remain useful, inclusive and future-ready.
