The Sail @ Marina Bay by NBBJ is the mixed-use building comprising apartment units, several restaurants, health clubs, recreation decks with pools and tennis courts, and parking. As the 10th largest residential high-rise in the world, and the largest high-rise in Singapore, the Sail @ Marina Bay has become Singapore's newest city icon. It carves out the leading edge of Singapore's emerging new skyline.

The development is the first project in the area to introduce residential units and is designed to advance Singapore’s leadership in Asia as a city that offers the ultimate in “Live Work Play.” The Sail has achieved Singapore's Gold standard of sustainability and its iconic sculptured towers, paired with its many amenities, is transforming Marina Bay into a geographical hotspot for culture, entertainment, and business in Singapore.

The Sail @ Marina, image courtesy of NBBJ | Photo by Tim Griffith

+ Project description courtesy of NBBJ

The Sail @ Marina Bay
The Creation of a Sustainable City for Living, Working, and Playing
Marina Bay, Singapore

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.

The Sail @ Marina, image courtesy of NBBJ | Photo by Tim Griffith

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.

The Sail @ Marina, image courtesy of NBBJ | Photo by Tim Griffith

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 Sail @ Marina, image courtesy of NBBJ | Photo by Tim Griffith

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.

Sustainable Highlights:

• The site is 50% water and 50% city with direct access to public transit, the bay, retail and dining—creating a live/work/play environment that helps reduce traffic, congestion and smog
• A seven-story greenwall, which is currently growing in, will provide foliage to the pedestrian thoroughfare, improving the overall air quality and living experience for the residents
• Energy saving techniques include low-energy light fixtures, motion sensor lighting and energy-efficient air conditioners in every unit
• A healthy environment is achieved through extensive vegetation and landscaping that adds oxygen to the air and helps filter pollutants, the use of low formaldehyde emitting materials and chemical-free landscape maintenance
• Water saving techniques include dual flush toilets and low-flow water fixtures
• High-performance insulated low-E glass—the first use in Singapore—is used for the glass curtain wall to enhance energy efficiency and maximize visibility
• Detailed energy modeling was used to tune the performance criteria for the glass—yielding stellar visibility and low reflectance, which reduces heat gain and saves energy
• Recycled materials such as metal, rubber and wood are used throughout in the fabrication of walls, doors and the playground equipment
• All residential units have operable windows and extensive access to natural light

The Sail @ Marina - First floor plan, drawing courtesy of NBBJ

The Sail @ Marina - Club level plan, drawing courtesy of NBBJ

The Sail @ Marina - Typical floor plan, drawing courtesy of NBBJ

The Sail @ Marina - Section 1-1, drawing courtesy of NBBJ

The Sail @ Marina - Section 2-2, drawing courtesy of NBBJ

+ Project credits / data

Project: The Sail @ Marina Bay
Location: Marina Bay, Singapore
Project Team Architect: NBBJ
NBBJ Co-Design Principals: Peter Pran and Timothy Johnson
NBBJ Managing Principal: Scott Hunter
Owner: City Developments Limited (CDL), American International Group (AIG)
Completion: September 2008
Total surface area: 118,182 SM (1.2 million SF)
Residential Units: 1,111

+ About NBBJ

For more than 60 years, NBBJ, a leading global architecture and design firm, has helped companies and organizations create innovative places. NBBJ's culture and design methods have attracted the attention of Fortune 500 companies, leading public and civic organizations worldwide and US News & World Report top hospitals. The firm is dedicated to actively pursuing sustainable solutions that contribute to a more livable world and they are one of 12 international design firms who have signed on to the progressive goals of the 2030 Challenge—a world-wide initiative calling for carbon neutrality in all new buildings by 2030. NBBJ has nine offices globally, including Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Columbus, New York, London, Dubai, Beijing and Shanghai.

+ All images and drawings courtesy of NBBJ | Photo by Tim Griffith + Sean Airhart of NBBJ