As an international role model for living and working, “Marina One” makes an innovative contribution to the discourse on mega-cities, especially in tropical regions, which, in the context of increasing population and climate change, face enormous challenges. The high-density building complex with its mix of uses 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.

The central element of the exhibition is a spectacular five-meter high space sculpture which brings to life the unique shape of the “Marina One” buildings. Today, more than 50 percent of the world’s population lives in cities. This number will increase to 70 percent in the next three decades. By 2050, the world’s population will increase to nine or ten 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 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 the Marina Bay Central Business District of Singapore provides living space close to nature, the usable area of which is 125 percent of the original site surface area. “Marina One” comprises 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 usable floor area of 175,000 square meters; 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 multi-story 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 meters. Various types of the 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 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 electro-mobile charging stations ensure that exhaust emissions caused by private transport are significantly reduced.