The Marina Barrage is a 350m wide dam built at the confluence of five rivers, across the Marina Channel to create Singapore’s first urban reservoir. The reservoir boosts Singapore’s water supply, alleviates flooding in low lying areas, and provides a new lifestyle attraction and venue for recreational activities. “With a catchment area of 10,000 hectares, or one-sixth the size of Singapore, Marina catchment is the island’s largest and most urbanised catchment. Together with two other reservoirs, Marina Reservoir has increased Singapore’s water catchment from half to two-thirds of the country’s land area.

“Marina Barrage is the vision of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew (the first Prime Minister of Singapore) more than two decades ago when he envisaged damming the mouth of the Marina Channel to create a freshwater reservoir.” ~ Marina Barrage, About

Awarded the Singapore Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark Platinum Infrastructure Award, the top award at the annual BCA Awards in 2009, this waterfront icon is the first Singapore project and the second project outside of the USA to win the top award at the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE) Excellence in Environmental Engineering Competition.

The Marina Barrage comprises nine 30m-long steel gates and acts as a tidal barrier that separates seawater from freshwater. Besides functioning as a tidal barrier to keep out high tides, the gates release excess rainwater during heavy rain from the reservoir. To exemplify Singapore’s commitment in environmental and water sustainability, the Barrage is designed with environmentally friendly principles in mind. Features such as a roof garden, solar panels and a rainwater collection system were incorporated in the building.

With a turfed Green Roof and the use of double-glazed glass panels to provide thermal insulation, the building interior remains cool despite the building’s full exposure to the sun, thus minimising energy consumption by the air-conditioning system. In fact, Marina Barrage says, “The grass and soil shield the building from the sun and reduces maximum surface temperature by 3˚C.” ​The Solar Park, one of the largest collection of solar panels currently in operation in Singapore, generates about 50% of the daytime electricity needed for indoor lighting and power points at the Barrage. With its 405 panels, the Solar Park generates 76,000kWh electricity per annum, which is equivalent to the monthly electricity consumption of about 180 average households in Singapore.

The Pump House at Marina Barrage uses glass and louvers for its external walls so that the interior is lit by natural lighting. This also eliminates the need for air-conditioning and reduces electricity consumption and operation costs. Located in the open center of the Central Courtyard, the fountain and community Water Playground are popular spots. The Green Roof is accessible via a lift inside the main complex, or visitors can walk up through its beautifully arced looping pathway.

The sprinkler system on the rooftop is linked to sensors which detect water from rainfall and automatically deactivate the sprinkler system when irrigation is not required. Other water efficient fixtures including waterless urinals and water-efficient taps increase water use efficiency. Rocks and stones from the site of the Marina Barrage were not removed from the site but were reused as its building materials. Other recycling efforts include the use of drainage cells made from 100% recycled plastics on the Green Roof. Visitors to the Marina Barrage are free to play, picnic or simply relax on the expansive recreational space provided by the Green Roof.

The lush green lawn and recreational space on the Green Roof is made possible by first applying a bonded waterproofing membrane over the roof skin protected by cement and sand screed, followed by the installation of 14,000 sq m of VersiCell drainage modules. VersiCell’s lightweight structure, high compressive strength, rapid water capture and highly efficient drainage capability as well as its ability to be easily joined into large panels on site made it the ideal drainage module for the large sloping roof of the Marina Barrage.

Additionally, they are made from 100% recycled plastics and support Singapore’s national water agency’s efforts towards environmental sustainability. The drainage modules are covered over with filter fabric before filling of soil on the roof to plant the grass. VersiCell eliminates the need for a heavy gravel course to facilitate drainage and functions also as an insulating protective layer for the waterproofing membrane.

Under the green roof in the main complex visitors can explore the Sustainable Singapore Gallery. With six galleries, each sharing a unique aspect of Singapore’s sustainable story, the Gallery is an information and sensory extravaganza showcasing Singapore’s efforts towards environmental sustainability.

Marina Barrage is a multi-purpose attraction in Singapore, and the green roof commands a panoramic view of Singapore’s cityscape to one side of the magnificent Marina Bay Sands, the adjacent Gardens by the Bay and its magnificent Cloud Forest conservatory, and the Singapore Flyer. It also affords an unobstructed view of the harbour and amazing views of the South China Sea on the other side. It is frequented by the general public for picnics and social gatherings and, because of its high vantage point and the strong sea breeze, has also become an attractive location for recreational kite flying.

More importantly, Marina Barrage is a showpiece of environmental sustainability. Green principles were applied in all aspects of the design, construction and operation of the Barrage to utilise energy and water efficiently and to minimise waste generated. Read more about all of Marina Barrage’s Green Features.