"He often said that to build a city, one must have the heart of a humanist, the mind of a scientist, and the eye of an artist," said Mr Wong, who was National Development Minister from 2015 to 2020.

"These ideals ran through his life’s work. The buildings, homes and public spaces that Singaporeans use every day stand as a quiet testament to his dedication and vision. Singapore is better because of Thai Ker’s service."

Mr Wong also noted how Dr Liu, widely regarded as the "Father of Urban Planning in Singapore", played a key role in shaping the 1991 Concept Plan and advancing conservation efforts, “laying the structural foundations that continue to guide how we plan and build our city today”. 

That plan articulated a "bold vision" of an island city, where nature, water bodies and urban development were seamlessly woven together. 

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, in a Facebook post, thanked the former chief architect and chief executive of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) for his deep and lasting contributions to the country, praising how he "helped make Singapore a liveable city in the tropics". 

Recounting Dr Liu's modest beginnings, Mr Tharman noted that his life "could have taken very different paths".  

"Born in 1938 in Muar, Johor, Thai Ker’s ‘bed’ consisted of wood held together by wobbly, galvanised iron strips and nails. He wanted to take after his father, the pioneering artist Liu Kang. Due to his mother's objections, he studied architecture instead," he said. 

Mr Tharman expressed admiration for how Dr Liu remained active through his 70s and 80s, contributing to urban planning in more than 50 cities overseas, from Chengdu and Ningbo in China to Al Qadimah in Saudi Arabia and Kazan in Russia. 

"Till the end, he remained convinced that making the city better would raise the quality of life and people’s spirits. That will remain Dr Liu Thai Ker’s legacy," the president added. 

Describing Dr Liu as a pioneering figure in Singapore’s housing and urban development journey, Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat said in a Facebook post that he was deeply saddened by his death. 

Mr Chee noted that during Dr Liu’s tenure at ...