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Waterfront promenades have often featured strongly in the successful development of urban landscapes. However in Singapore’s tropical climate, outdoor areas are often of limited use due to the harsh sun and high humidity.
To overcome this, Arup designed street furniture and structures that double as environmental interventions. This includes a 250m long tubular stainless steel structure with fine spray misters. The misters are programmed using a system of sensors that monitor the ambient temperature, relative humidity and human traffic. At appropriate times clouds of mist are emitted to reduce ambient temperature and provide a cooling experience in the day.
Three breeze-shelters along the promenade provide further respite from the heat with motion sensor fans. Each of these 8.75m diameter roof canopies are equipped with solar panels, making these aesthetically-pleasing shelters a sustainable feature.
Designed to operate at near-zero energy, the visitor centre is built using a lightweight steel structure to allow a high amount of natural daylight. This naturally ventilated building also uses solar-powered fans to provide greater comfort to users.
Together with the breeze-shelters’, the solar panels used in the visitor centre supply 8% to 10% of the power needed to fuel the promenade.
Officially opened to the public in July 2010 by Singapore’s Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade is today a choice leisure destination for both Singaporeans and tourists.
