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In designing the waterfront promenade, Consultant Teams should consider the wider context of the surrounding areas, as shown in the attached plan, beyond the immediate project site. Consultant Teams should also consider all the following design brief and requirements, and recommend appropriate responses that are creative, innovative and viable:
Overall Character
The overall design must acknowledge the unique urban waterfront setting of the Downtown at Marina Bay and exploit the potential to create a contextual, yet unique, civic facility for public enjoyment and enhancement of the area character. Besides providing for the functional needs, the design should go further, capturing the unique qualities of the setting and creating a distinctive character for the overall scheme.
The design must be of the highest quality and world class standard, and be in keeping with the planning intention to develop the Downtown at Marina Bay into a premier waterfront location for working, living and leisure.
Variety of Spaces and Amenities
The waterfront promenade is to serve as the prime urban space for public use and recreational activities. A variety of spaces and amenities are to be provided to generate activities and enhance the attractiveness of the place as a whole.
Each amenity and use should be different to give an identifiable character to the different parts of the promenade. Uses could include a man-made fresh water swimming lagoon, weekend markets and performances spaces, cultural and civic uses.
Innovative landscape designs should be employed to create major spaces which blend in with the surrounding. The design scheme must include: -
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Dedicated areas for pedestrian activities such as strolling, jogging, cycling and skating. Areas should also be planned for seating and lookout/vantage points for visitors to the promenade to enjoy the view of the CBD skyline; |
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A variety of open spaces to cater to various activities. Some areas can act as places for relaxing during lunch hours or for restful retreats from the hectic pace of city life. Other areas could be for more active recreational and entertainment pursuits; |
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Plaza spaces for public gatherings and staging of events and performances. |
The proposed spaces and amenities along the waterfront promenade should be organised as a coherent sequence of experiences.
Low-rise pavilions and kiosks shall also be provided along certain stretches of the waterfront promenade to support uses such as cafes and restaurants. Areas for outdoor dining could be planned around these cafes and restaurants to allow activities to spill out to the promenade.
Special Places along the Promenade
Two promontory sites with commanding views of the Bay have been safeguarded as destination attractions for the public at large to enjoy. Possible development on these 2 sites would be civic and cultural related, such as a science center, national art museum or an aquarium. With the possibility of an iconic development, both site with the Bay in the foreground and the future city as the backdrop will become one of Singapore 's signature skyline. The way in which these ‘special places' are designed and developed will have considerable bearing on the place-making quality and design outcome of the project as a whole.
Consultant Teams should propose clear and workable strategies for the interface between the waterfront promenade and these future developments, including the types of activities and detailed uses that can be incorporated within the 1 st storey of these developments to better relate to the design and overall distribution of uses along the promenade.
Consultant Teams should also propose how the levels should be treated to create open spaces for events and for viewing the activities along the promenade, within the Bay and the city skyline. Possible view corridors to and from these 2 sites to be preserved or created should be clearly highlighted.
Given that the waterfront promenade in Downtown at Marina Bay stretch over 1.5 km , t he Participant should also identify and develop proposals for additional special areas along the promenade. Two such areas could be at the confluence of the southern and eastern stretch of the promenade and the central portion of the eastern stretch.
Designing for events
The promenade is envisaged to have areas that are lively and festive. Areas should therefore be planned for outdoor performance and events. Marina Bay its could also be used to stage events with areas along the promenade designed and built as amphitheatre for visitors to sit and enjoy the performance. To facilitate the staging of such events and celebrations, the Consultant Team should consider other requirements such as power, lighting, banners and audio speakers.
Covered Pedestrian Routes
Shade and shelter are also important considerations to ensure comfortable and well-used public spaces.
Under current planning requirements, all developments are to provide covered walkways along their building edges fronting major roads and the waterfront promenade. This forms the primary continuous all-weather pedestrian network system serving the area. Consultant Teams should evaluate and make a recommendation if this extent of covered walkways along the building edge is sufficient in relation to the proposed design scheme and Singapore local weather.
Participant may propose alternative covered pedestrian routes or canopy structures along the promenade if necessary. The proposed covered structure should complement the design scheme and must not block key view corridors to Marina Bay . Structure providing shade and shelter that is integrated as part of the design and landscape concept .
Lush Planting and Greenery
The waterfront promenade is envisaged as an integral part of the open space network and urban greenery within the city, continuing to the existing Marina Channel park connector and into the Marina City Park . A single row of Bismarkia palms and Barringtonia trees was planted along the waterfront in Downtown at Marina Bay in 1999 as part of the Mass Tree Planting Day. These trees are to be retained.
Consultant Teams are to propose a planting strategy that takes into account of the existing trees and the climatic conditions of the site, in particular the predominant western aspect along the promenade. The waterfront promenade is to be lushly planted and landscaped. Large trees must be planted at areas where shade is required. The type and spacing of the trees should reinforce the character of the area and where possible should be accentuate the view corridors to the Bay and key node. The spacing and location of the trees should not impeded views to the waterfront. For visual interest, a variety of tree and shrubbery, including the fragrant and flowering species should be proposed.
The selection of appropriate planting materials must take into consideration the site context, climatic conditions, horticultural issues and ease of maintenance.
Consultant Teams are to include proposal within the existing Marina City Park to receive the pedestrian as they move from one part of the open space network to another part of the open space network. The landscaping and tree planting proposal could take reference from the existing trees and character of Marina City Park .
Public Art and Water Features
To enhance the public realm, the waterfront promenade shall include public art and water features. These could take the form of discrete sculptures to accentuate specific spaces or nodes, or as installations that are fully integrated with the fabric of the place. The design should also consider the possibility of having water features, such as fountains, within the Bay.
The design should make provision for such public art and water feature so that they are woven coherently into the overall promenade design.
Promenade Width
The widths required for different uses along the promenade can be to create interesting variety of spaces and give greater prominence to important nodes. As a guide, a 25m wide zone has been set aside for the waterfront promenade. The Participant may propose other widths or range of widths for the promenade so that it can accommodate the proposed uses and activities.
The minimum width for pedestrian walkways, clear of all fixed or movable obstacles, is to be at lease 6 meters to cater for emergency vehicles. Where level changes are proposed, each level shall be at least 10m wide.
Vertical Variation in Level
To create a more interesting profile and better separation of spaces for different activities, the participant should explore introducing vertical variation in level both across and along the waterfront promenade.
The final platform level of the new developments in Downtown at Marina Bay is 104.0m amsl. The existing seawall coping is at 103.0m amsl. The Consultant Teams should take advantage of this level difference to create amphitheatre like seating to view the events along the promenade and within the Bay. The Consultant Teams may also use different levels for different types of activities. The Consultant team must however ensure that the needs of the handicap are met.
The Consultant Team shall study and recommend appropriate treatment to connect the different levels of the promenade. The Consultant Team shall also study and recommend possible design solutions to allow pedestrians along the promenade to get closer to the water, e.g. steps leading into Marina Bay .
Consultant Teams shall propose and recommend how the waterfront promenade could connect to the pedestrian walkways of the future Bayfront Bridge . This recommendation may be incorporated into the design brief for the future Bayfront Bridge which will be called as a separate consultancy shortly after this consultancy.
Structures along the Water's Edge
To heighten the experience and relationship with the Bay, the design should include steps, tiered levels, boardwalks or other features at certain parts of the promenade to allow the public to step down closer to the water. Consultant Teams are to propose possible locations where such a proposal could be implemented.
Consultant Teams are to consider introducing m ovable floating platforms or restaurant boats to allow events and activities to take place out on the water. In addition, a localized water body, partially enclosed by tiered levels and steps, could be set aside as a dedicated staging area. Consultant Teams are to take into consideration the existing design and structural integrity of the existing seawall.
Based on current building codes, railings must be provided along the edge of the promenade. The design of the railing must complement the design of the rest of the street furniture along the promenade. Consultant Teams should take into consideration the design of the existing railings along Collyer Quay and the Marina Promenade . Consultant Teams are encouraged to submit innovative proposals to address the safety requirements of the railings.
Given that Marina Bay will continue to support water-based activities such as water taxies and recreational sailing and rowing, Consultant Teams will be required to recommended designated areas for mooring and marinas within their design.
Paving and Street Furniture
Uniform paving and street furniture to create a unique and identifiable character for an area. The material proposed shall be durable and easy to maintain.
The promenade should be paved with high-quality and durable materials such as granite (or equivalent), along the walkway areas because of the anticipated heavy pedestrian usage. As far as possible the pavers to be use should be 600mm X 600mm gray granite (Maritaca). The thickness and porosity of the proposed material must be able to take the anticipated use and weight loading. To provide a variation in tactile quality, other types of heavy wearing paving materials which are easy to maintain may be used to accentuate and demarcate certain special areas.
Street furniture along the promenade like seating, railing and lamp post should be designed to reinforce the distinctive identity to the area. The street furniture should also be functional, easy to maintain and fit well into the overall scheme. The Consultant Team shall also study and recommend how different utility and street furniture should be integrated, for example audio speakers are integrated and installed with the mooring posts along the promenade.
Adjacent Areas at Downtown at Marina Bay
Along the Southern foreshore, the underground pedestrian network will provide direct connection points from the developments and the future RTS station, across Marina Boulevard to the waterfront promenade. There are also opportunities for the overhead connections from the future Business and Financial Centre to the promenade.
Along the eastern foreshore, some of the planning intention is to develop the land parcels immediately fronting the promenade for lifestyle and recreational related uses. These waterfront developments will be low-rise to complement the pedestrian nature of the area. These sites will be of low-density and sold on a shorter term lease so that more developers can participate in its realization.
Consultant Teams are to propose innovative ideas for the future uses at the Bayfront parcels to optimise development opportunities of the area. The proposals should fully exploit the magnificent waterfront location and serve to enhance the attractiveness of the area. The proposals should also be catalytic in generating greater level of activities and vibrancy along the waterfront promenade.
As the promenade will be the forecourt of the developments fronting it, Consultant Teams must consider and propose how the new developments should interface with the waterfront promenade.
Accessibility and Closure of Bayfront Drive
The entire length of the waterfront promenade must be publicly accessible. The promenade should be safe, comfortable and convenient for pedestrians to use. Access to the waterfront promenade is to be provided at multiple points along its lengths. These access points are to be planned in relation to the road network grid and locations of to give greater legibility to the overall circulation pattern.
To introduce greater accessibility to the waterfront area, a two-lane, one-way Bayfront Drive has been planned along the promenade. This drive is envisaged to have special paving or other features that would encourage the traffic using it to slow down. Consultant Teams should assess if this alignment and extent of the drive is suitable for their specific waterfront promenade design scheme. Consultant Teams may propose alternative alignment for the drive or shorten it, if this would help enhance the design scheme or allow more developments to front directly onto the promenade.
It is also envisaged that certain portions of Bayfront Drive can be closed off to vehicular traffic on special occasions to create a wider promenade for pedestrian activities and other uses such weekend bazaars. The waterfront promenade design should cater to the need for this flexibility and demonstrate how partial closure of the drive can be achieved without undue comprise on accessibility.
Servicing
The success of the activities along the waterfront promenade will depend on how well the area can be serviced. Some key servicing requirements include car parking, delivery of goods, refuse collection and utility supply and discharge. In particular , Consultant Teams have to propose and recommend how sewerage from boats can be disposed-off through a land-based sewage system.
The provision of sufficient car park to support the activities and public spaces planned for the waterfront promenade is important. Until the adjacent land parcels are developed, beautifully landscaped surface car parks could be built on the vacant sites. Parallel kerbside parking may be possible along selected stretches of Bayfront Drive for short-duration parking and loading / unloading of goods. These surface car parks will be removed and integrated within future developments when they come about.
All surface car parks must be designed to minimise their impacts on the use and visual character of the waterfront area.
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