Best of interior design and architecture: Sail @ Marina Bay / NBBJ

Architects: NBBJ
Location: Marina Boulevard, Central Business District, Republic of Singapore
Co-designer/Design Principal: Peter Pran, RA, FAIA, MNAL
Co-designer/Design Partner: Timothy Johnson, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB
Interior Design Partner: Rysia Suchecka, AIA, IIDA
Design Team Leader/Project Manager: Scott Hunter, AIA, LEED AP
Architecture Design Team: Reggie Aviles, Michael Ramsay, Karin Tehve, Jay Seibenmorgen, Angela Chang, Sara Agrest, Nnamdi Ugenyi, Heather Metzger, Catherine Smith
Interiors Design Team: Tara Schneider, IIDA; Pete Lorimer, LEED AP
Owner: City Developments Limited and AIG Asian Real Estate Partners, L.P.
Consulting Architect: Kiat Supattapone
Associate Architect: Team Design Architects
General Contractor: Dragages Singapore–Bouygues Construction
Structural Engineer: Precast Design Consultants
Mechanical Engineer: Meinhardt Pte, LTD
Interior Designer: NBBJ (Shell and Core Lobbies)
Interior Designer: AXIS Design (Units, Common areas)
Lighting: Lighting Planners Associates (LPA)
Landscape Architect: Belt Collins
Project Area: 1,200,000 sq ft
Project Year: 2008
Photographs: Tim Griffith & Sean Airhart/NBBJ

The design of the award-winning Sail @ Marina Bay derives inspiration from Singapore’s port environment—the air, wind and water—and its diverse international population. Viewed from across the bay, the 63- and 70-story glass-clad towers rise from a sculpted base to resemble wind-blown sails. At 245 meters tall, the Sail @ Marina Bay prominently carves out the leading edge of Singapore’s emerging new skyline.

ground floor plan

Designed to advance Singapore’s leadership as a global “Live Work Play” destination, the Sail @ Marina Bay features 1,111 residences—the first Marina Bay project to introduce residential units—restaurants, health clubs, recreation decks with pools and tennis courts and car-park facilities. To create a true 24/7 lifestyle environment in the heart of the Central Business District (CBD), and to help reduce traffic, congestion and smog, the Sail @ Marina Bay is designed to directly access the MRT and park amenities along the waterfront. Retail, dining and work environments are all within an easy walk.

apartment interior plan & axo

Careful site orientation provides 65 percent of the apartments with panoramic vistas of Marina Bay and the CBD’s cultural, entertainment and retail areas. Six-star penthouses offer breathtaking views of the sea and islands beyond. This thoughtful planning has yielded great success for the project: Tower One units sold out in two weeks; Tower Two in two days; with sale prices setting new records for the Southeast Asia residential market.

The design sets new safety and sustainability standards for all of Marina Bay. The innovative yet economical structural solution couples a shear-wall and foundation system—a first for the Singapore—to withstand seismic criteria, resulting in one of the safest buildings in the country. The exterior facade uses insulated low-E glass to reduce solar heat gain and lower air-conditioning demands—another first for Singapore residential towers—while taking full advantage of spectacular views with floor-to-ceiling glass in many units.

The building is BCA Green Mark Gold Certified (Singapore’s sustainable building criteria), integrating features such as a seven-story car park greenwall along a new pedestrian linkage connecting Raffles Quay to a proposed central park; improving the residents’ overall air-quality and living experience and creating a new public space for the City.

The Sail has been deemed Singapore’s newest city icon and it is fast becoming a top destination within the rich and diverse fabric of Singapore, helping transform Marina Bay into a geographical hotspot for culture, entertainment and business.