How do you make a hostile environment more liveable? The Düsseldorf-based star architect Ingenhoven and his company found a spectacular and award-winning answer to this question. Their building complex is already being used as a model for construction projects with similar requirements because of the way it combines architecture with optimised natural ventilation with the concept of a green, semi-public urban space. Marina One thus improves the living and working conditions of its users as well as those of the residents of the surrounding areas in Singapore’s financial district.

On the site, four buildings are grouped around what is known as the “Green Heart” forming the building complex, which looks like a perimeter block development from the outside. The design of each building allows natural air circulation through the inner courtyard of the complex. The tropical vegetation with 365 plants, which extends from the inner courtyard to the mezzanines of the upper levels, contributes significantly to the cooling effect. The result is a city within a city with its own internal climate. The project consistently follows the “Supergreen” approach, a concept that Ingenhoven adopted at an early stage and that has made him a well-known pioneer of sustainable architecture.

Ingenhoven’s concept of architectural quality, sustainability and pragmatism makes his architecture the perfect basis for the challenges of future megacities. According to the United Nations, approximately 60% (55% today) of the world’s population will live in cities by 2030. Projects such as Marina One are just one example of how to respond to the resulting demand for high urban density. From urban planning to architecture and interior design, they stand for the highest quality in terms of ecological, economic and social requirements.

It was this aspiration that the AXIS planning office communicated for its client M+S, a project developer from Singapore. The office, which specialises in luxurious residential construction in Asia, created the interior design for the 1042 residential units in the housing blocks on the harbour side. The interiors for the units with two to four rooms have been specifically designed to promote the well-being of the discerning residents. When it came to interior design and furnishings, only high-quality and strong brands were good enough. So it made sense that they only used Villeroy & Boch ceramics in the living areas.

When assessing comfort and exclusivity, the fittings and furnishings in the bathroom represent the rest of the architecture. As if under a magnifying glass, these few square metres show the standard expected by future residents. Representing the rest of the flat, this area stands for private luxury and, thus, for well-being. An expert for comfort in architecture, Villeroy & Boch meets these demands with its products from the Subway, Loop & Friends and Subway 2.0 collections while its strong brand also stands for the high quality of the furnishings in general.