Tour to the Enabling village, Singapore

The Enabling Village is a community space refurbished from an old Bukit Merah ITE campus which combines retail, lifestyle and training. It is also home to SG Enable’s information and career centre, which co-locates its job placement and job support service with offices operated by voluntary welfare organisations, such as the Autism Resource Centre, MINDS and SPD.  

A common space for people with disabilities and the able-bodied. Amenities include eateries that employ people with disabilities, a gym and a wheelchair-friendly supermarket. Visitors can purchase Tshirts, bags and art prints from The Art Faculty shop run by the Autism Resource Centre. The merchandise produced is based on artwork created by student artists under the Pathlight Artist Development Programme. This programme nurtures the artistic talents of students with autism under the mentorship of professional artists. Its artists receive royalties from the proceeds of the merchandise. Grab your daily dose of caffeine at The Art Bar, a community project launched with coffee chain Starbucks Singapore. The Art Bar trains young adults with autism to become baristas.

The architects mitigated difficult site constraints to produce a well-design accessible outdoor amphitheatre that is functional and usable by all. The clever use of bio-swales, landscaping and gardens also create various focal views within the development. The provision of accessible amenities, features such as an interactive and height-adjustable directory, braille maps and hearing enhancement systems create an inclusive environment catered to different users.