Marina Bay Suites, a 66-storey premium residential property situated within Singapore's Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC), seeks to redefine the concept of luxury bayfront living with its close proximity to the central business district and world-class attractions such as Marina Bay, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Gardens by the Bay.

Robert Whitlock, design principal of New York-based architects Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, shares with us the inspiration that went into bringing the Marina Bay Suites residential project to fruition.

 

Robert Whitlock

Singapore Tatler: What was your inspiration behind the design of Marina Bay Suites?

Robert Whitlock: Marina Bay Suites was developed as a part of MBFC, a mixed-used development and lifestyle destination at Marina Bay. The goal of developing MBFC was to create a landmark 24/7 environment as a centrepiece for further development – it has to function well and at the same time have a unique identity, making an impression on the skyline and distinguishing itself from its surroundings. This is manifest in MBFC’s crystalline language, which is achieved through sculpting of the building forms and layering of exterior wall types to create visual interest and a dynamic feel.

Marina Bay Suites’ design ties into the overall development of MBFC, in that it completes the family of crystalline towers. It is differentiated from the other towers, however, by its exterior, with a twist in the emphasis upon the sculpted balconies, whose edges are intentionally misaligned to create a textured building façade that manipulates sunlight and mimics the reflection of sunlight on the water.

 

Exterior view of Marina Bay Suites

 

Singapore Tatler: How does the design of Marina Bay Suites embody its bayfront living proposition?

Robert Whitlock: Given the density and small footprint of the site, we spent much time determining how to orientate the building in such a way that every unit has a direct view of Marina Bay and the waterfront. The floor-to-ceiling windows of the property offer views of the bay and the open-plan layout unites living, dining and kitchen in a single continuum. Outdoor areas include amenities such as spa lounges, yoga terraces and Sky Cabanas that are set amid earthy natural materials and water features to provide an overall waterfront atmosphere and create an urban oasis in the midst of Singapore’s New Downtown, Marina Bay.

 

The view from one of the living rooms

            

Singapore Tatler: How did you intend for residents to experience Marina Bay Suites?

Robert Whitlock: The 66-storey residential tower, consisting of 221 units of primarily three to four bedroom apartments with luxurious amenities and unparalleled waterfront views, is a paradigm of luxury living within the Bay.  We deliberately designed the units with cross-ventilation and large lanais to provide comfortable indoor-outdoor living in Singapore’s tropical environment. Residents will have access to extensive exterior and semi-enclosed amenities, such as sky lounges pools and gardens. To provide a sense of exclusivity, each unit has its own private lift lobby.

The density of the development also allows for publicly available green space, and creates a great synergy between the residents and workday tenants, who can enjoy both the outdoor and indoor space. On top of that, Marina Bay Suites is situated above the subterranean and trans-connected networks and retail facilities, providing access to amenities within walking distance. Residents can also look forward to a host of world-class attractions by living in the heart of the New Downtown, such as Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands and the Esplanade.

 

Inside one of the bedrooms

 

Singapore Tatler: What kind of materials are you using for the exterior and public spaces?

Robert Whitlock: The garden wall features dark grey granite with apertures and wooden louvers. The street wall is composed of a decorative metal screen juxtaposed to a light colored granite wall. The podium wall is designed as an ornamental screen using alternating panels of beige granite and champagne colored aluminum. The tower above is clad in glass to match the MBFC across the park, supplemented by a masonry armature facing the city.

 

A typical living room layout at Marina Bay Suites

 

Singapore Tatler: What were some of the challenges faced in the project, and how were they managed?

Robert Whitlock: Designing for residential spaces is never easy because we start designing many years before the units are released to the market, and trends are constantly evolving. One of the challenges was to ensure that people do not feel that claustrophobic or infringing onto someone else’s private space. Furthermore, we are mindful of the specific requirements of the Urban Redevelopment Authority that these buildings should have visual porosity so that all inland sites will experience the same views.

In order to manage this, we had to ensure that we placed the buildings within proximity of each other so that they are not looking directly at each other. Each of the towers is rotated slightly from those adjacent to it, and this orientation combined with the crystalline expression lends a more dynamic feel to the urban skyline, which is quite different from what you see in New York where the property lines, and therefore buildings, are all oriented orthogonally.

 

The Marina Bay skyline

 

 

Photos: Marina Bay Suites