Introduction
Singapore has always been mindful of environmentally friendly construction and lowering the economy’s energy intensity by 2030. The formation of the city’s image in nature is the result of the combined efforts of the government, architects, and urban planners. To promote changes like sun-shading exteriors, water-efficient fixtures, computer modeling of energy flows and carbon emissions, and highly efficient air conditioning and ventilation systems, there are significant incentive programs and building rating tools. The previous list has been updated with 1534 new buildings since this grading tool was introduced in 2005.
Due to population growth and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s projections that Asia will experience a rise in construction sector emissions from energy usage in the developing world over the next ten years, with China playing a large role,
According to architects and sustainability specialists located in Asia, Singapore has emerged as a model of green architecture for planners and developers across much of the Asia-Pacific region, where bad design is the norm and developers traditionally find little motivation to engage in sustainability.
The term “green building” conjures up important, universal traits like consideration for energy usage and an effort to make a structure more in touch with its surroundings.
In Singapore, the economy is central to all decisions, and it also serves as the foundation for the future. On the southernmost point of the Malay Peninsula, it has evolved into a testing ground for ventilation and air-conditioning engineers that Western and Asian manufacturers hope to sell throughout the rest of Asia.
The objective is to promote vernacular designs that emphasize passive technologies like optimized shading and ventilation and sensitivity to the building’s carbon life cycle, even though some experts claim that the rules and regulations developed through these organizations may result in the consumption of air conditioning as an essential design component.
The initiative to green Singapore was originally focused on giving the city-state a distinct and intentionally desirable image, today this approach is praised for its ability to tackle issues surrounding urban heat, assist with sustainable water management, and improve biodiversity in the city.
Green Design and Technologies in Singapore
To reduce negative environmental effects and maximize overall building performance, the Singaporean government promotes the adoption of sustainable building designs and green technologies. The BCA Green Mark Certification scheme, a framework for evaluating a building’s overall environmental performance, including energy, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and environmental impacts over the course of the building’s lifecycle, promotes these.
For example, passive design principles are frequently used for buildings and spaces in tropical climates to cut down on energy use and carbon emissions. Some structures have a vernacular architecture that is carefully oriented to optimize daylight or reduce direct solar heat gain.
To bring nature into dense urban environments, an increasing number of buildings are also incorporating ample greenery and trees, which provide shade and minimize urban heat effects. Many have sun-shading exteriors such as overhangs to block solar exposure. Green roofs, with layers of planted vegetation, further mitigate solar heat gains. They provide a nature-based alternative to and reduce the need for,” grey” solutions.
The Zero Energy Building (ZEB) on the BCA Braddell Campus and the recently completed National University of Singapore(NUS) School of Design and Environment building are notable examples.
- The Zero Energy Building (ZEB) –
Architect- DP Architects,2009
This structure was identified as a test site for developing a green education program and investigating potential energy use practices in tropical regions. Through the use of active systems in addition to passive design, the structure was transformed into an energy-self-sufficient school that archives net-zero energy consumption.
First, passive systems were put in place to lower the building’s energy usage. Then, intelligent active systems with little dependence on natural resources were added to these. It generates all of its energy requirements using solar energy.
By using low-emissivity glass, solar film coating, composite wall panels, green walls, green roofs, and shading devices, the passive design makes use of the building’s solar heat gain and natural ventilation.
Other than this, there are many techniques used such as –
The school hall and classrooms are ventilated using hot air produced by solar-assisted stack ventilation. Due to the buoyancy effect, air will rise and exit the chimney as a result of heat buildup in the ducts.
Light Pipes: A vertical pipe in the roof allows for the entry of natural light. Since light pipes have a smaller surface area than skylights, they are more effective since less energy escapes from the inside.
The school hall and classrooms are ventilated using hot air produced by solar-assisted stack ventilation. Due to the buoyancy effect, air will rise and exit the chimney as a result of heat buildup in the ducts.
Light Pipes: A vertical pipe in the roof allows for the entry of natural light. Since light pipes have a smaller surface area than skylights, they are more effective since less energy escapes from the inside.
Photovoltaic Technology: Grid-tied Solar Panel Systems and Standalone solar panels are used. They work as sunshades, covered walkways, and railings.
Mirror Ducts: They are made of highly reflective material that channels daylight through horizontal reflective ducts in the false ceiling, which then exists through ceiling apertures above the users.
Green Roof and Green Walls: The green roof lowers the temperature from direct radiation heat gain. They reduce heat transfers from the building envelope into the interior. Temperature sensors monitor both surface and ambient temperature.
- Tuas Nexus-
Through the fusion of several sectors, it serves as another illustration of circularity. The structure will house the Taus Water Reclamation Plant run by Singapore’s Public Utilities Board and National Water agency as well as an integrated waste management facility run by the National Environment Agency, making it the first combined waste and water treatment facility in the world.
By utilizing the water, energy, and waste nexus’s synergies, the construction will maximize resource and energy recovery while minimizing land take. For instance, the plant will run entirely on electricity produced by the waste-to-energy process, with any extra energy being exported to the grid.
Tuas Nexus will be energy self-sufficient as a result of the integrated approach. This is expected to result in carbon savings of more than 200,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to taking 42,500 cars off Singapore’s roads (Singapore, National Environment Agency 2020).
Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
The most well-liked heartland park in Singapore and one of the biggest urban parks were created by Ramboll Studio Dreiseitl. The old concrete canal was de-concretized and turned into a lovely 3 km meandering river with rich banks of wildflowers as part of the PUB’s Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters (ABC) initiative. The park is the largest draw for local inhabitants looking for recreational activities because it also has beautiful vegetation, Pond Gardens, and River Plains.
This 62-hectare park is perfect for nature lovers because it is also home to a broad variety of fascinating wildlife and vegetation. Fitness aficionados can also use the facilities, where they can cycle or jog along the well-maintained paths.
Jewel Changi Airport
Designed by Safdie Architects
In the year 2019
In order to create a new community-centric typology as the beating heart and soul of Changi airport, the airport was built as a link between the current terminals. It blends surroundings like a bustling marketplace and a paradise garden. The city in the garden is how many refer to the airport.
The 135,700m2 area, which is open to the public, houses a landside airport, indoor gardens, leisure activities, shops, cafes, restaurants, and hotel accommodations all under one roof. Gateway gardens that orient the visitors and provide visual linkages between the internal programme elements are emphasised along all four cardinal axes.
The terraced indoor garden, which includes strolling paths, cascading waterfalls, and peaceful seating spaces, is the airport’s main draw. It offers a variety of spatial and interactive experiences. More than 200 distinct tree and plant species can be found. The rain vortex that falls from an oculus in the destroyed roof to the woodland valley garden seven floors below is the tallest indoor waterfall in the world. A semi-inverted toroidal dome roof serves as the foundation for the jewel’s geometry.
The main accomplishment of this airport is that it provides a level of comfort for the variety of activities. It also needed an integrated system of glazing, static and dynamic shading, and an advanced and effective displacement ventilation system in order to sustain the vast array of plant life within adequate sunlight. The airport now has Platinum GreenMark Status.
Conclusion
Now that global warming is increasing day by day. People are becoming more aware of the environment near them. From the food to the building that they live in. Architects are now becoming more and more towards sustainable designs the how the built environment inside the building affects the people living inside.
For sure it can be stated that Singapore is one of the leading countries in Asia that is taking massive steps toward green architecture. The advancement of the technologies and the integration of the structure and material is also noteworthy and something that could be learned from.
