Marina One

Marina One in the centre of Singapore is ingenhoven architects’ largest project and opened in early 2018. As an international role model for living and working, Marina One makes an innovative contribution to the discourse on megacities, especially in tropical regions, which face enormous challenges in the context of increasing population and climate change. The high-density building complex with its mix of uses extends to over 400,000 square metres and, with its group of four high-rise buildings, defines the Green Heart—a public space extending over several storeys. This three-dimensional green oasis reflects the diversity of tropical flora.

Today, more than 50 per cent of the world’s population live in cities. This number will increase to 70 per cent in the next three decades. By 2050, the world’s population will increase to 9 or 10 billion. In urban agglomerations, this growth cannot be accommodated without high-rise buildings. The core concept for Marina One, which consists of a group of four high-rise buildings, is based on a shared central space—the Green Heart—which was designed by ingenhoven architects in close cooperation with Gustafson Porter + Bowman. The interaction between the geometry of the buildings and the garden facilitates natural ventilation and generates an agreeable microclimate. The largest public landscaped area in the Marina Bay Central Business District of Singapore provides living space close to nature, the usable area of which is 125 per cent of the original site surface area.

Marina One comprises four high-rise buildings that accommodate office, residential and retail functions and have been rated under the Green Mark Platinum and LEED Platinum schemes. The two office towers each have a usable floor area of 175,000 square metres; while the two residential towers provide 1,042 city apartments and penthouses for about 3,000 residents.

The organic shape of the building complex with its iconic louvres, and the generous planting, contribute to an improvement of the microclimate and increase biodiversity. Inspired by Asian paddy field terraces, the green centre formed by the four towers—with its multistorey three-dimensional gardens—reflects the diversity of tropical flora and creates a new habitat. This Green Heart comprises over 350 different types of trees and plants, including 700 trees, on a landscaped area of 37,000 square metres. Various types of animals become part of this biological diversity. Inspired by the natural climate changes at the different vertical levels of a rainforest, the landscape architecture mimics a green valley with its variations in climate according to level. Restaurants and cafés, retail areas, a fitness club, pool, supermarket, food court and events areas on the different open terraces not only provide products and services to the residents, office workers and visitors—they also create a place for social interaction.

The compact and efficient layout design is complemented by energy-saving ventilation systems, highly effective external solar screening devices and glazing that reduces solar radiation into the building. Direct connections to four of Singapore’s six mass rapid transport lines, bus stops, bicycle parking facilities and electromobile charging stations ensure that exhaust emissions caused by private transport are significantly reduced. The colour scheme of the interior and the building façade features calm and earthy bronze shades in order to support the harmonious atmosphere.

PROJECT DATA
Project Name: Marina One
Location: 7 & 9 Straits View, Marina Bay, Marina South, Singapore
Completion Date: November 2017
Official Opening: 15 January 2018
Site Area: 26,200 square metres
Build Area
Total: 400,000 square metres
Residential: 114,235 square metres (1,042 units)
Office: 226,165 square metres
Retail: 18,382.10 square metres
Building Height
Each office building: 200 metres
Each residential building: 139 metres
Client: M+S Pte Ltd
Project Management: UEM Sunrise Berhad; Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd
Design Consultants: ingenhoven architects; ingenhoven LLP
Project Architect: Architects 61 Pte Ltd
Residential Interior Designer: AXIS.ID Pte Ltd
Structural and M&E Engineer: Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner (SE Asia) Pte Ltd
Quantity Surveyor: Langdon & Seah Singapore Pte Ltd
Façade & Lighting Consultant: Arup Singapore Pte Ltd
Landscape Architecture: Gustafson Porter + Bowman, London
Local Landscape Consultant: ICN Design International Pte Ltd
Piling Contractor: Sambo E&C Co Ltd
Main Contractor: Hyundai Engineering & Construction and GS Engineering & Construction JV
Images: ingenhoven architects; HG Esch