In this blog, architect Ross Wimer explores integration of urban landscapes with nature, drawing inspiration from Singapore's approach in setting a global standard for sustainable urban living.
In our projects in Singapore, we’ve prioritized integrating green spaces into urban developments. This approach is particularly vital in a city characterized by restricted land resources and a dense population. By integrating lush greenery into our designs, we seek to humanize high-density living, transforming urban environments into more than just concrete jungles. Our goal is to enhance the overall urban experience for the people visiting, working and living there.
Marina Bay Two decades ago, Marina Bay underwent a transformative shift. Originally, tall buildings lined the perimeter of its edges, but the design of our new master plan pushed high-density structures away from the Bay's perimeter and closer to parks and transportation routes. We also incorporated new green spaces creating a fusion of nature and urban life. Today the Bay is the setting for ambitious architecture like the Marina Bay Sands hotel and great global events like the F1 race. The bay establishes the foreground for views to the financial district skyline that continues to grow.
1 George Street Embracing Singapore's landscape-centric ethos, we designed this mixed-use building to include parks and open spaces, giving us an exciting new type of vertical building. Our design solution included compact lobbies, allowing greenery to flow through the ground level as well as integrated gardens. These gardens, both at lower and higher levels, set a new standard for Singapore's architecture. We worked closely with the URA to establish a precedent where the gardens did not count against the project FAR so the developer did not lose leasable area in creating these amenities. Since then, we’ve seen more architects spurred to embrace green designs. This project is a great illustration of the value the Singaporean authorities place on integrating nature within urban spaces.
Changi Airport At Changi Airport a rail station intricately linking existing public transportation to the airport, boasts gardens and magnificent glass atriums at both ends, ushering in daylight while offering panoramic views of the airport's central landscape. This station facilitates seamless transfers between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 via escalators and a spacious glass bridge, enabling travelers to move between terminals effortlessly.
Our work on Terminal 3, the hub for Singapore Airlines showcases an innovative approach to design as airline terminals are becoming more neutral and unconnected to the cities they serve. We wanted the terminal to feature daylight and landscape so that it would feel like an extension of the Singapore environment. We designed a roof that features approximately 2000 skylights, which bring natural daylight into the terminal. We built and meticulously tested this model to ensure optimal performance. Motorized louvers were fitted on the roof to allow us to meter the amount of daylight coming in. The louvered ceiling is connected to a great green wall that slices down the whole terminal, bringing in outdoor landscape into an indoor space to enhance the traveller arrival experience.
These projects represent a universal approach to urban development, showcasing Singapore's seamless integration of landscapes into its architecture and serving as an inspiration for cities worldwide.