public projects, such as Southern Ridges. Critical regionalism Architects in Singapore during the early 21st century were among the early proponents of Critical regionalism, as architects in Singapore's hot and humid tropical climate realised that the glassy, unadorned International Style buildings being proliferated across the world by globalism were not appropriate for the local climatic or cultural context. Architects such as Kerry Hill pioneered this form of modern tropical architecture, blending the architectural vernacular of Modernism with naturally-ventilated tropical spaces and Asian cultural references. The new generation of Singaporean architects have combined a local form of Critical regionalism with lush skyrise greenery, in line with the Singapore government's ambitions to create a 'City in a Garden', where development sites commonly yield more public green space than the site area itself. Designers including international award-winning WOHA Architects have pioneered developing new types of green skyscrapers. Historic preservation The Urban Redevelopment Authority has designated 94 conservation areas that preserve the built heritage of Singapore. These areas protect 7,091 buildings across the city that showcase distinct and historic architecture. Developers must take conservation guidelines into account to retain historic buildings' original structure and elements, ensuring period styles are maintained. The National Heritage Board has designated more than 70 specific buildings and landmarks as national monuments for their special value, many for their architectural significance. See also Landmark sites in Singapore List of buildings and structures in Singapore References Powell, Robert (2004) Singapore Architecture: A short history Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., Hong Kong External links Urban planning in Singapore