Singapore’s newest public park has a secret agenda- it’s actually a water treatment plant! The newly-opened Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant conceals Singapore’s fourth water desalinisation plant under a 20,000 sqm public green lawn.
The dual-mode plant can treat seawater or freshwater, increasing water resiliency by changing modes depending on rainwater levels.
This innovative urban strategy of using ugly infrastructure to upgrade the public realm was pioneered at the wildly successful nearby Marina Barrage.
The green-roofed plant building is fringed by terraced water gardens, cooling the immediate environment while telling a story of the water cleansing purpose of the building.
The terraced water features are filled with plants, cleansing rainwater that falls onto the roof.
The expansive rooftop provides a backdrop of stunning views of the Singapore skyline.
This innovative approach to development shows that infrastructural upgrades and public spaces are not mutually exclusive!
Images by Jonathan Choe
