The human circulation is relatively smooth and well connected, however, there are inconsistent design language through out the path from Esplanade to the Floating Platform.
Various tourist attractions sites are located around the Floating Platform @ Marina Bay due to it's centralized location. This create an opportunity to create a pit stop, rest or drop off point for users to refresh themselves before they proceed to the other parts of Marina Bay.
Vehicle circulation is connected effectively and efficiently. However there are no designated pick up/drop off points for visitors to access to the Float @ Marina Bay which may cause traffic jam if the people were to park at the nearest bus stop just behind the Grandstand at the Float @ Marina Bay.
Public transport are well accessible by the public to the site. With 4 Mass Rapid Transit(MRT) Train Stations near the site indicated by the bigger circles and bus stops displayed as the smaller circles.
Singapore topography is almost flat that we only have hills and not mountains.
However, Singapore do have mountains of Housing and Development Board(HDB) flats and buildings.
Therefore, the idea of a mountain looking architecture was developed which serve similar functions as the real mountain such as, water filtration and collection at the base of the mountain in which also provides a magnificent views.
Creating a space where there is balance of human statues in which everyone are able to use the facilities with the use of playful design ideas that help engage and interact visitors such as the Energy Generating Trampoline whereby people will jump on the trampoline and land on a platform that will convert the kinetic energy into electricity.
Sustainable technology implemented and re-designed to suit the context. Installing this idea into the trampoline concept where play and sustainability are together as one.
10 steps can generate a ceiling fan of 50 watts.
Project MESARINA is a project that aims to Activate site and engaging visitors through connection of green spaces in a sustainable and playful way. (Click link below to see Storyboard for MESARINA)
Marina Bay is located at the Central Area in the southern part of Singapore.
It is one of the top tourist attractions site which consist of some of the high end developments such as examples like the Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore Flyer and Esplanade and many more.
The viewing gallery/grandstand at The Float @ Marina Bay can hold up to 30 000 people.
Palm trees other vegetations are planted in a linear way creating a directional and sun shading function but at the same time limiting the views towards the Marina Bay Reservoir being block by the trees.
Water Taxi have become an alternative transportation for visitors to travel around the various tourist attraction sites.
Concerts and celebrations such as countdowns, passing out parade(POP) for Basic Military Training(BMT), National day and Youth Olympic Games are held at this venue.
When there are no events held, the floating platform are left empty and is inaccessible for the public.
The Basic Military Training(BMT) Graduation Parade 2015
The Floating Platform is also part of the Formula 1 Night Race in Singapore. The grandstand serves as the viewing gallery where audiences could also enjoy the night views behind the racing track while waiting for the next wave of Formula 1 Cars to pass by.
Youth Olympic Games(YOG) Park is built to display arts themed with the Youth Olympic Games so as to bring in a sense of community ownership and connection with Marina Bay.
Selected Art works done by the public being displayed.
Breakage of Green Connection is one of the issue where there is an inconsistency in the landscape design and at the same time there is a lack of shading from the sun at this stretch of road leading to discomfort for users.
Therefore, the aim here is to make sure there is a consistent green connection space with the help of the park connector but at the same time flexible enough to still be able to make use of functional design ideas to retain the original purpose of the Floating Platform.
Inaccessibility of the grandstand to the public leads to a waste of space where it could be efficiently used for other purposes such as resting area and shelters.
With the idea of connection the green spaces from the other parts of Marina Bay, the existing green areas are widen creating a better green buffer from the busy road at Raffles Avenue and also providing wider pathways for pedestrians to travel along.
By shaping the Grandstand, it helps to maximize possible views that passerby and people living in the hotels to enjoy the scenery while at the same time still remaining the original function of the Grandstand.
With the VIP room located at the top end of the Grandstand helps maximize the visibility, ensuring the VIP and visitors views are not obstructed.
Creating bigger openings to cater to massive flow of crowds, while at the same time retaining the function of it to allow vehicles such as military vehicles or F1 racing cars to pass through. Adding on to that, users are able to see more under the grandstand towards the waterbody with bigger openings.
Making use of the empty space below the grandstand by allowing public to access the area to use its facilities and providing space for vendors to set up temporary stores. Therefore, providing an income for maintenance purposes for the Float @ Marina Bay.
Maximizing air ventilation under the grandstand to increase comfort and reduce the need of use of fans or air conditioning to cool the space.
Adopting the ideas of the natural function of a mountain and also green spaces to not only help improve the space aesthetically but also environmentally. Filtering water from the surface of the grandstand and collecting it at the bottom of the architecture.
The VIP room are open to public. It serve as a viewing area where visitors could enjoy in an air conditioned space. It also provide an options for room rentals for private usage such as companies events or classes.
Landscape and green spaces are integrated with the seating area of the viewing gallery. This helps to soften the space enhancing the aesthetic components of the grandstand and also serving as water filtration function.
The water from Marina Bay reservoir are pumped up to the grandstand and filtered back down the reservoir with the use of natural filtration such as water plants and landscaping. Visitors are able to enjoy the landscape design while watching their movie at the outdoor cinema.
Outdoor cinema and traditional events are set up and open for free. Programs are proposed to be temporary set up so to make space when there is a main event happening such as the Formula 1 Night Race.
Artificial turfing are placed on the hard tarmac racing track/road so as to soften the space and also blending in with the surrounding landscape designs. It also provide as a safety precaution for the users playing on the electrical generating trampoline which are stacked up to mimic hills and slopes. All facilities are easily removable when there are upcoming events that need to use the road such as the Formula 1 Night Race.
The Float is improvised to have more layers of functions such as the water play area which uses the filtered water to run through the shallow man-made river and beach sand layered on top at parts of the floating platform creating an artificial beach.
Enhancing and improving the existing YOG park with landscape designs and resting spots for users.
Playground is also integrated with the surrounding sculptures and serving as a viewing deck for the adults as well.
The grand stand is lighter up created a magnificent views from other parts of Marina Bay.
Reshaping the overall design to connects and create a consistent design language so as to blend in with the surrounding.
Programs and activities that are implemented to cater to the various target audiences.
The easily distinguishable pattern of green walls of the grandstand with a background of the Singapore flyer helps to guide users through the route with the help of the landscape designs.
Allowing buses to drop and pick up their passengers helps increase the accessibility of visitors to the site. And also opening a bicycle shop right under the hexagon green facade for bike rentals and services for visitors and also spaces for bicycle parking are increased.
Thus not only benefiting the users but also providing an economical benefits to the surrounding area due to the possibilities of more visitors willing to come to the site by collaborations with the various tourist transportation companies.
Commuting on bikes have become an increase practice of Singaporeans. Furthermore, with the benefits of the park connectors in Singapore, users are able to cycle to Marina Bay with ease. With the possibilities of collaborating with the existing bicycle rental shop, "The Bicycle Hut" indicated at the green arrow on the map, visitors do not have to worry of traveling a long way back to return their rented bicycles with this newly open bicycle rental shop.
Sprinkling of the YOG inspired sculptures made out of recycled wires and concrete remaining from the development of the Grandstand so as to promote and expand the existing concept of the YOG park.
Traditional temporary food stores that sell finger food are set up for visitors to enjoy and experience Singapore's delicacies. This space can also be used to set up Staff and performance changing/resting room when there is an event happening such as the National Day and countdown celebrations.
Usage of electrical lighting under the grandstand are reduced through the use of the skylight design. This allows sunlight to pass through the perforated holes created at the planting box on top of the grandstand and at the same time serving allowing photosynthesis for the landscaping to happen under the grandstand.
With the use of step designs to create gradual drop of floor levels so as to provide a shallow collection point for the excess rain waters. Plants are grown to help filter the water. The steps also act as a resting area for seating when it is not filled with water.
Filtered water or excess rain water are stored at a surface reservoir located around the bottom level of the grand stand and slowly drained to the water storage tanks under the ground for other usage such as watering of plants or water features. The purpose of this design is to slow down the water flow through the drain alongside with the use of floor materials that are easy permeable, therefore reducing the possibilities of floods.
