Cooling the city a step away from the equator

In the last 10 years, the temperature in Singapore has risen about twice as high as the global average. The only solution to the hot and humid climate seems to be the air conditioners, that since the 50s have gained ground in the alleys and on the facades of buildings. However, while these provide relief to those who benefit from them, air conditioners are highly expensive in terms of energy and environmental impact. In this context, Singaporean architecture is already working to redesign the future.

The first projects have started in luxury residences, where the buildings are much more spacious and therefore naturally ventilated, but also in urban design, where the reflective surfaces placed on the sidewalks and facades of buildings can reduce heat absorption. Beyond the green areas and vertical woods across the city, another important "urban cooling" system is Gardens By The Bay, a natural park on the seafront. The innovation takes place inside the greenhouses of the park: windows reduce the passage of solar radiation by up to 35%, while rainwater is collected by plants in danger of extinction and circulates in the cooling system.