Consortium
reveals horse shoe-shaped iconic design for Sports
Hub
Thursday March 29, 8:17 PM
SINGAPORE : A horse shoe-shaped gold-coloured
stadium that fronts the water, with the Singapore city as
a backdrop - that is Singapore Gold Consortium's proposal for the
Sports Hub.
It is the first among the three bidders to reveal its design to the
media.
The designers have described it as the world's first waterfront
stadium with a retractable roof.
The horse shoe design provides a view of the Kallang Basin and the
city beyond, and allows the natural breeze to cool the
stadium.
The complex also has another distinguishing feature that embraces
the water theme.
"We have created what we call a Sports Quay, with the Kallang Basin
at the heart and all the facilities built and designed around
water. This is a public space so what we have done is create a new
public destination place for Singapore," says Paul Henry, senior
principal of HOK Sport Architecture, Singapore Gold
Consortium.
The quay also means the project is environmentally friendly, as it
helps with the cooling of the entire complex.
During special occasions like the National Day parade, the seating
capacity can be increased from 55,000 to 80,000.
"During the National Day Parade for instance, we can open up the
stadium to the whole of the basin area so the horse shoe-shape area
embraces the city. That makes for a fabulous National Day Parade,"
says Henry.
And another world first - the field can be removed and
water be filled into the stadium for water sports.
The complex includes an Aquatic Centre, a multi-purpose hall and an
interactive sports museum.
There will be retail outlets and even a 200-room hotel which can
house officials and members of sports associations.
The design has also created lots of spaces for the public,
including a 1-km waterfront promenade.
It ensures that there is something for everyone.
"The site is busy 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There won't
only be the high profile events but there will also be other events
going on that will attract the community. So besides your Robbie
William and Kylie Minogue concerts, there will also be things for
everyday people like you and I," says Neil Arora, executive
director of Macquarie, Singapore Gold Consortium.
IMG will help bring in the marque sports events.
And even before the complex is up, there will be something for
Singaporeans.
"The Singapore Indoor stadium will remain operational during the
construction process so just to show what Singapore Gold can bring
to Singapore, we do have a commitment in place from Maria Sharapova
to come to Singapore and play a special exhibition match here,"
says Mark Adams, MD of IMG, Singapore Gold Consortium.
Alpine, the other bidder, says it will release its design next
week, while the third bidder Singapore Sports Hub says it has no
plans yet.
The announcement for the winning bid is due by July this year. The
Sports Hub is expected to be completed by 2011. - CNA /ls
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/070329/5/singapore267210.html
We may just get a toilet for sports hub.. 
