Najib, Hsien Loong unveil iconic Marina One project design

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OFFICIAL LAUNCHING: Najib (third left) and Hsien Loong (right) having a closer look at the Marina One replica during the launching. — Bernama photo

OFFICIAL LAUNCHING: Najib (third left) and Hsien Loong (right) having a closer look at the Marina One replica during the launching. — Bernama photo

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong yesterday unveiled the design of Marina One, an integrated development in the heart of Singapore’s new Central Business District (CBD).

The project is undertaken by M+S Pte Ltd, a company owned 60:40 by Khazanah Holdings Bhd, and Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd.

Speaking to the press after the event, Lee described Marina One as very important for both Singapore and Malaysia, saying it would be “an iconic project in our new business district for many more years to come.”

Najib said he was truly excited to see it for himself.

“I think it will have a wonderful design and Marina One will certainly fulfil our expectations as we wanted a landmark and iconic building.

“Marina One is the beginning of that iconic building. What we see today is only the beginning of an exemplary project,” he added.

Earlier at an unveiling ceremony at the Marina One show gallery, M+S Board of Directors chairman Tan Sri Azman Yahya introduced the development as a coveted business and lifestyle destination given its strategic location in the Marina South district.

The development of Marina One will be designed by world-renowned architect Christoph Ingenhoven1, known for his iconic supergreen and sustainable world-class designs such as the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg, the Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California and 1 Bligh in Sydney, which was honoured with the International Highrise Award 2012/2013.

Commenting on the strategic location of Marina One, Azman said: “Marina One marks a brand new chapter in the Marina Bay Masterplan.

“This momentous collaboration between Malaysia and Singapore will position Marina One on an unprecedented scale on the world map as a new financial centre attracting businesses.”

In November 2012, M+S unveiled another integrated development, DUO in Ophir-Rochor, Singapore.

The successful unveiling of Marina One and DUO marks the significant progress made since the two Prime Ministers witnessed the exchange of the M+S Shareholders’ Agreements in Putrajaya on Jan 5, 2012.

The Prime Ministers will also unveil the urban wellness and resort wellness developments in Medini Iskandar Malaysia later yesterday.

When completed in 2017, Marina One, with a gross floor area of 3.67 million sq. ft. (340,954 sq. m.), will be an exclusive address for living and working in the city. It will offer seamless connectivity to Singapore’s largest and most connected Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange by 2016.

Marina One and DUO are the two projects undertaken by M+S in a 2010 land swap deal between Singapore and Malaysia, under which Malaysian railway land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji, Bukit Timah and Woodlands was returned to Singapore in exchange for four land parcels in Marina South and two in Ophir-Rochor.

The projects have a total development value of $11 billion.

CapitaLand and UEM Land Holdings are project managers for DUO. UEM is partnering Mapletree Investments to manage Marina One. — Bernama