Marina One – The Green Heart of Singapore – MIPIM AWARD WINNER
Marina One in Singapore is the largest project undertaken by ingenhoven architects to date. The project was officially opened on 15th January 2018 by the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong and the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najri bin Tun Haji Abdul Razzak.
The high-density building complex with its mix use extends to over 400,000 square meters and with its group of four high-rise buildings defines the Green Heart – a public space extending over several stories. This three-dimensional green oasis reflects the diversity of tropical flora.
“For a project to become an authentic development it must be accepted by the people, it must be lived in, and it must be popular. I hope and wish that Marina One will have that authenticity. By working together we have done everything we could,” said Christoph Ingenhoven, Principal and Founder of ingenhoven architects.
The project was recently successful in the 2018 MIPIM Awards and won the award for ‘Best Innovative Green Building.’ Created in 1991, the MIPIM Awards is an internationally-renowned real estate competition that honours the most outstanding and accomplished projects, completed or yet to be built, around the world.
Image Credit – HG Esch
The core concept for Marina One is based on a shared central space – The Green Heart – which was designed by ingenhoven architects in close cooperation with landscape architects 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 Marina Bay Central Business District of Singapore provides living space close to nature, the usable area of which is 125% of the original site surface area.
Marina One comprises of four high-rise buildings which 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 useable floor area of 175,000 square metres; 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 – with its multi-story three-dimensional gardens – the site 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 animal 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 cafes, retail areas, a fitness club, pool, supermarket, food court and event areas on the different open terraces not only provide products and services to the residents, office workers, and visitors but also create a place for social interaction.
Christoph added: “The idea behind a jungle-like garden is that it’s multi-layered with new things to discover – no flower pots or anything like that – its diversity, which is also partly allowed to grow freely. Of course it is gardened, but we want to see what survives and what grows. There are lots of things we hope will populate our architecture.”
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 stop cycles, bicycle parking facilities and electro-mobile charging stations ensure that exhaust emissions caused by private transport are significantly reduced. The colour scheme of the interior building façade features calm and earthy bronze shades in order to support the harmonious atmosphere.
Image Credit – HG Esch
