Introducing Marina South Precinct
Set amid lush gardens, Marina South which borders the southern coast and fronting Garden by the bay seeks to redefine city living as a forward-looking, convivial mixed-use neighbourhood. Imagine a neighbourhood next to Marina Bay and the Central Business District (CBD) that is:
- A green and blue cool urban oasis with sustainable features;
- A 10-minute neighbourhood with the necessary daily amenities within a 10-minute walk; and
- A welcoming, inclusive, community-centric precinct with a lively public realm.
Being a greenfield site, Marina South presents excellent opportunity to champion sustainable living from beginning. The precinct has been planned based on the Building and Construction Authority (BCA)’s Green Mark for Districts framework – Platinum rating. Future developments in Marina South are to also attain the accreditation of GM Platinum Super Low Energy (SLE), as well as Maintainability, Whole of Life Carbon and Health and Wellbeing badges. A district planned to harness the prevailing winds, Marina South presents itself as blue-print for a cool green and blue oasis.
Marina South is well connected to Marina Bay, the CBD and the rest of Singapore via public transit and major roads. Two stations along the Thomson East-Coast (TEL) Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) rail line serve the area. Planned as a car-lite district, it is a self-sufficient neighbourhood with amenities and key recreational facilities planned within an easy 10-minute walk via leafy streets and a comprehensive cycling network. Together with a wide array of public spaces, from a buzzy pedestrian mall to a convivial neighbourhood street, Marina South is set to provide a welcoming experience to residents and visitors
alike.
NEW MODEL FOR CITY LIVING
10-MINUTE NEIGHBOURHOOD
WHAT MAKES MARINA SOUTH A 10-MINUTE NEIGHBOURHOOD FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS?
• Mixed-use developments integrating an array of amenities
• Good distribution of amenities along key pedestrian routes and public spaces
• Curated and balanced mix of amenities catering to the needs of residents and visitors
PEDESTRIAN MALL
LIVELY PLACE TO BE – Lively and buzzy, this is the place to be seen and heard, whether catching up with family or bumping into friends, the pedestrian mall is well linked 800m to Gardens by the Bay and the Marina South TEL Stations.
PLAYFUL AND ACTIVE – Activity Generating Uses (AGUs) will be required for spaces fronting the mall. A good balance usage are encouraged, such as supermarkets, food courts, eateries, cafes, salons, shops, post office and banks. Outdoor Refreshment Areas (ORAs) are allowed in designated areas within the mall.
GREEN AND SHADED – Multiple rows of trees will provide well-shaded and pleasant spaces. There will be a good balance of softscape and hardscape within the 30m wide mall, providing users with access to quality greenery and usable open spaces. Street furniture, lighting and paving shall be coordinatedto create a distinct urban identity.
CONNECTED AND PROTECTED – Covered walkways on both sides of the mall provide all weatherprotection. Connections to the Underground Pedestrian Network and Elevated Garden Bridge are to front directly onto the mall, with good way-finding signage.
NEIGHBOURHOOD STREET
FRIENDLY STREET TO MEET AND MINGLE – The Neighbourhood Street is planned as the community corridor with amenities to meet residents’ needs right at their doorsteps.
INTIMATE AND COSY – Activity Generating Uses (AGUs) will be required at the corners fronting the Neighbourhood Street. Smaller scale amenities such as cafes, bakeries, convenience stores, laundromats, childcare centres and clinics, with attractive shopfronts, are encouraged. Each cluster is to include a good mix of different uses, to cater for wider variety of needs.
INFORMAL AND ACTIVE – The building setbacks are to be designed as well-shaded informal community spaces, to incorporate playful street furniture (including play equipment, fitness equipment, seating, bicycle parking, etc.) and lush landscaping. ORAs can also be supported within the setbacks.
LUSH AND DISTINCTIVE – This neighbourhood street will be well-shaded, with 2 rows of trees and a good mix of softscape and hardscape. This will be complemented by a dedicated covered walkway, ensuring all weather-protection. Street furniture and paving shall be coordinated to create a distinctive urban identity.
SQUARES AND COURTYARDS
NEIGHBOURLY ENCOUNTERS IN LUSH URBAN SPACES – The plazas and public courtyards, tucked within developments fronting the Pedestrian Mall, are planned as lush neighbourhood living rooms for everyday interactions and community activities. This is where people relax and take in the sights and sounds of
what it feels like to be at home.
SPACES TO MEET AND PLAY – Plazas and public courtyards within developments serve as outdoor spaces for activity and play. From dog-walking and engaging in group exercises, to having picnics and playing games, these open spaces provide opportunities for residents to lead an active lifestyle through spontaneous and planned outdoor activities.
KEY NEIGHBOURHOOD AMENITIES – Amenities such as the supermarket and food court will be required. Activity Generating Uses (AGUs) are to front the plaza, to create opportunities for people to gather. The spaces in front
of the plaza could have ORAs, playful art installations and seating for residents and visitors to enjoy.
COMMUNITY-CENTRIC – Developers of selected developments will be required to work with government agencies to provide facilities catering to the needs of the community such as childcare centres. Such amenities should be located prominently fronting public spaces and key streets, for ease of access and to enliven public spaces. For example, childcare centres can be located next to public playgrounds, for children to easily access and enjoy outdoor spaces.
DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE – Developers are strongly encouraged to design multi-generational public spaces, with facilities catering to the needs of users of all ages. Examples include children playgrounds near fitness corners catering to seniors, enabling different generations to gather and interact in the area.
ELEVATED LANDSCAPED BRIDGE
GARDENS TO COAST – An Elevated Landscaped Bridge at the second storey will connect Gardens by the Bay to the Marina South Coastal Park. Linking multiple developments along Marina Grove, the bridge will enable easy access to green and blue spaces for residents and visitors from the Marina South Neighbourhood.
LUSH AND SHADED – The Elevated Landscaped Bridge will include lush landscaping, spaces for rest and sheltered walkways throughout. It will provide comfortable and weather-protected connections between developments to Gardens by the Bay and the Marina South Coastal Park.
WELL-CONNECTED AND BARRIER-FREE – Developers will be required to provide vertical circulation points between the first storey and the Elevated Landscaped Bridge at key junctions. These will include a pair of lifts and a pair of escalators, providing barrier-free connectivity for all users.
ACTIVE AND CONNECTED – To provide an attractive and varied experience for users, developers will also be required to provide Activity Generating Uses (AGUs) along key stretches of the Elevated Landscaped Bridge.
WELL-CONNECTED AND BARRIER-FREE – Developers will be required to provide vertical circulation points between the first storey of developments fronting the Pedestrian Mall and the underground pedestrian link at key junctions. These will include a pair of lifts and a pair of escalators, providing barrier-free connectivity for all users.
ACTIVE AND CONNECTED – To provide an attractive and varied experience for users, developers will also be required to provide Activity Generating Uses (AGUs) along key area of the 800m underground pedestrian link.
ENERGY EFFICIENT DEVELOPMENTS
SUPER LOW ENERGY BUILDINGS
BCA’s Green Mark SLE requirements outline the baseline standard which developments in Marina South will need to achieve. Developers are strongly encouraged to adopt measures to achieve a higher standard of energy efficiency, benefitting both building owners and residents, reducing energy consumption and reaping significant cost savings over the long run. Developers are strongly encouraged to adopt the following measures to achieve a higher standard of energy efficiency.
TROPICAL ARCHITECTURE
Adopting tropical architecture response can help to improve wind flow to developments, encourage natural ventilation, minimise solar gain, hence reducing the need for artificial cooling and improving energy efficiency.
NATURAL VENTILATION
Developers are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the prevailing wind flow in the neighbourhood, and go beyond the minimum BCA standards for cross ventilation, to encourage greater use of natural ventilation for the dwellings and common areas. Roof and façade overhangs and balconies enable windows and doors to be opened, allowing fresh air into living spaces.
MINIMISING SOLAR GAIN
Developers are strongly encouraged to leverage the orientation of parcels and maximise the North-South aspect of residential units. Use of the tropical architecture façade design such as sun shading devices, skyrise greenery (e.g. green facades, planter boxes, and balconies) help to reduce solar gain in the living spaces.
CENTRALISED COOLING SYSTEMS
Developers are strongly encouraged to adopt development-level centralised cooling systems to maximise efficiency gains. Such systems are also encouraged to be based on chilled water as they are more efficient than split air conditioning systems. Mixed-use developments create opportunities for theaggregation of cooling demand between the different uses. Commercial uses predominantly utilise the cooling load in the day, and residential uses, at night, allowing for efficiency gains in the sizing of development-level centralised cooling systems.
ENERGY MONITORING SYSTEMS
Developers are encouraDevelopers are also strongly encouraged to maximise the solar energy potential of developments to not only meet the renewable energy standards required by BCA (30% of common area energy
consumption) but to exceed these standards. ged to explore including smart energy management systems such as building management and demand-based systems for common spaces to help optimise energy use at a development level. Smart meters installed at the units enable individual residents to monitor and optimise their own energy consumption.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Developers are also strongly encouraged to maximise the solar energy potential of developments to not only meet the renewable energy standards required by BCA (30% of common area energy consumption) but to exceed these standards.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) CHARGING
To facilitate the adoption of cleaner, greener forms of transport, developers are required to provide EV charging infrastructure in accordance with the requirements of the relevant government agencies.
A LUSH GARDEN PRECINCT
Developers are required to provide Landscape Replacement Areas equivalent to the site area of the development. To create a distinctive precinct identity, and to encourage biodiversity and sustainable greening, consultants are strongly encouraged to use native species set out in NParks’ Landscape Master Plan for Marina South for at least half of the developments’ landscaping. If additional species are required, developers are strongly encouraged to select native species, and species that are drought-resistant. As part of development landscaping schemes, developers are also strongly encouraged to adopt schemes that provide shade, reduce Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects, and provide greenery for residents and the public to enjoy.
BUILDING SETBACKS
A row of tree planting is required within all building setbacks. This will complement the roadside planting and create a shady, cool environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
PUBLIC SPACES/ COURTYARDS
To create attractive and usable open spaces, the use of trees and landscaping to shade and reduce UHI effects in public and open spaces within developments should be considered upfront in the design.
GREEN FACADES/ PLANTER BOXES
To reduce solar and heat gain and mitigate UHI effects throughout the development, externalised greenery in the form of green facades and planter boxes is strongly encouraged.
SKY TERRACES/ ROOF GARDENS
Open green spaces in the form of sky terraces and roof gardens can be provided within developments, for residents and visitors to enjoy. They also reduce solar heat gain and allow the wind to pass through the buildings.
SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RECYCLING
Developers are strongly encouraged to ensure that recycling collection points are provided in public areas and common spaces, to support the national recycling efforts and encourage good recycling practices. Collection points should cater for recyclables such as paper, metal, plastic and glass products and hazardous waste disposal, such e-waste, batteries, paints,solvents, etc.
FOOD AND GREEN WASTE MANAGEMENT
Developers are strongly encouraged to provide composting facilities for residents for food waste. Developments can also consider working with horticultural waste contractors to provide horticultural waste to biomass plants, to support carbon-neutral energy generation.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
As part of the required landscaping and greenery within developments in Marina South, developers are encouraged to incorporate water sensitive urban design features to treat and manage stormwater, such as bioswales, rain gardens, cleansing biotopes and retention ponds so as to obtain PUB’s ABC Waters Certification.
PNEUMATIC WASTE CONVEYANCE SYSTEMS
In accordance with the National Environment Agency (NEA)’s requirements, developers will be required to implement
development-level Pneumatic Waste Conveyance Systems (PWCS), ensuring sanitary and odorless waste collection. Developers are strongly encouraged to consider extending the PWCS to non-residential uses. They are to size and design the system according to NEA’s requirements, including a separate system for the collection of recyclables.
A WALKING AND CYCLING HAVEN
FRIENDLY TO EXPLORE ON FOOT & ON TWO WHEELS – via walkable streets, covered walkways,
well-shaded green sidewalks, dedicated pedestrian crossings, extensive shortcuts through fenceless developments,
the underground pedestrian network and elevated landscaped bridge as well as via dedicated cycling paths on both
sides of the streets.
A HIGHLY-CONNECTED, CAR-LITE PRECINCT
As a gazetted car-lite precinct, residents and visitors in the Marina South Neighbourhood enjoy the benefits of reduced car dependency, with fewer car parks, reduced road network, wider sidewalks, a pedestrianised street, and direct connections to the MRT stations.
Developers are required to adhere to a lower carparking provision in accordance with LTA’s requirements.
Single and consolidated vehicular access points are required for each development. This reduces conflicts with pedestrians
and cyclists, and creates more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly streets.
BUILDING HEIGHT AND FRONTAGE CONTROLS IN MARINA SOUTH
Different building heights (e.g. high, mid and low-rise zones) will be specified within each development parcel to create a layered, three-dimensional skyline profile; prevent wall-like developments; safeguard views to and from surrounding attractions; and maximise wind flow to each development. In general, lower-rise heights are specified where there is a need to maintain a scale compatible with the adjacent context, such as fronting key streets and public spaces.
FRONTAGE CONTROLS
The existing edge along Marina Gardens Drive leading to Gardens by the bay will be complemented by a garden frontage contributed by planting within the development setbacks as well as storey height caps for at least half of the frontage for each parcel along Marina Gardens Drive.
Likewise for the Neighbourhood Street along Marina South avenue, storey height caps and frontage controls will help create a relatable human scale along the Neighbourhood Street.
BUILDING EDGE
To create a distinctive and well-defined streetscape along key streets such as the Pedestrian Mall and Neighbourhood Street along Marina South Avenue, the following building edge requirements would apply:
BUILDING SETBACKS
To create an attractive, well-shaded streetscape along all streets, developments are to be set back from the lines of the Road Reserve, to allow for an additional row of tree planting and landscaping.
Additional pedestrian walkways and informal community spaces are also required within the building setbacks along key streets such as the Neighbourhood Street along Marina South Avenue and Landscaped Walkway along Marina Boulevard, to create a generous, inclusive, and attractive public realm.
