Dreamy sky gardens and waterfalls the centrepiece of new Singapore development

From the country that first turned heads with its impressive floating ship building, Singapore’s ‘next crown jewel’ in the heart of its financial zone is just around the corner.

Construction in currently underway to build an ambitious development in the south-east Asian city-state, with its impressible “sky gardens” taking centre stage.

Marina One, designed by German firm Ingenhoven Architects, will boast a tiered, “free-formed three-dimensional biodiversity garden” with waterfalls and a reflection pond at the centre of the development.

The gardens will be flanked by the undulating facades of two 34-storey residential towers and two slightly shorter 30-storey office towers.

The Marina Bay complex has been designed with the environment in mind, with air wells and even the wavy-shape of the towers chosen to allow for maximum natural ventilation.

Ingenhoven Architects, a firm particularly renowned for its focus on sustainability, also included a water recycling system, an external sun-shading system and special window glazing to reduce solar radiation.

A total of 1042 apartments will be built within the two residential towers with a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units and penthouses on offer.

The development, which is expected to be completed in 2017, has already received recognition at the 2012 Asia Pacific Property Awards winning awards for Best High Rise Architecture, Best Mixed-use Architecture and Best Mixed-use Development. 

The design received international recognition winning three prestigious awards at the recent Asia Pacific Property Awards 2012 in April, picking up national awards for Best High Rise Architecture, Best Mixed-use Architecture and Best Mixed-use Development. 

As well as the residential and office towers, the complex is expected to draw in the public with shops, a fitness club, supermarket and plenty of restaurants and cafes on offer. Getting to and from the area will also be convenient with a direct connection with the MRT, Singapore’s train system.

Gustafson Porter, the London-based landscape architect charged with creating “The Green Heart” area, says the public garden will offer an inspiring urban space that can be enjoyed by everyone in Singapore.