Design In Print

YEAR: 2013 | SITE AREA: 142,200 SQM | SINGAPORE
AN AQUATIC-THEMED
DESTINATION
RESORTS
WORLD
SENTOSA
WEST ZONE
By Tong Tong
With an active beachfront and a lush tropical backdrop, Sentosa
has been a hot spot for outdoor activities since its redevelopment
started in the early 1970s. Resorts World Sentosa’s aquatic-themed
West Zone encompasses the latest attractions on the island and the
final phase of the Resorts World Sentosa integrated resort which,
spanning 49 hectares, boasts a range of hotels, entertainment and
recreation developments including Universal Studios Singapore,
a gaming facility, MICE spaces, and a plethora of retail and F&B
outlets. A design principle shared throughout the entire development
is the concept that the visitor should always be aware of the natural
environment of Sentosa. This results in large, naturally ventilated
plazas and boulevards which are shaded to ensure thermal comfort,
while all vehicular traffic is moved to the basement levels to create a
truly pedestrian-friendly environment.
West Zone is designed to blend with its natural surroundings while
acting as a complementary programme to the existing resort. It
joins Universal Studios Singapore to the east and Central Zone
with a host of accommodation and entertainment facilities. West
Zone’s unique take on leisure is to create a wholly aquatic-themed
experience. It presents both wet and dry leisure facilities, including
the Marine Life Park which comprises a waterpark and the world’s
largest aquarium, and is connected to the Maritime Experiential
Museum and two distinctive hotels.
Meandering walks divide West Zone, extending from the open spaces
of Central Zone and ending where the Beach Villas and ESPA at Resorts
World Sentosa are located. One of the planning strategies is to condense
the more public entertainment activities towards the more accessible
areas of the site; this is why Maritime Experiential Museum is located just
off the shoreline and adjacent to The Bull Ring in Central Zone.
DP 19