Clarke Quay, Singapore
Creating an urban forest in Singapore’s hot and humid climate
Preserving much of its colourful history, Clarke Quay is a unique riverside mall with covered streets and outdoor spaces. The challenge was for Arup to create a seamless, comfortable space for visitors, amid Singapore’s hot and humid climate.
To overcome this, Arup designed a fabric canopy that sits above the mall’s pedestrian walkways. Made of resilient and recyclable material, it deflects heat and diffuses sunlight – thus reducing the ambient temperature and the need for artificial lighting in the day. In addition, air blowers were installed to expand the passage of breezes from the river into the mall.
The result is an ‘urban forest’ in the heart of the city that is as comfortable as an air-conditioned glass covered atrium, and ten times more energy efficient.
