The word “spectacular” is rarely appropriate in architecture. We make an exception for the Marina Bay Sands hotel.

The word “spectacular” is rarely appropriate in architecture. We make an exception for the Marina Bay Sands Hotel: the Moshe Safdie office has built a trademark for the entire city-state of Singapore. Singapore is a metropolis with which no architectural image has ever been associated – neither a skyline like Hong Kong nor a waterfront promenade like Shanghai, nor an opera house like Sydney. The “Switzerland of Asia” may be considered prosperous, but it is also boring. This is set to change, and the Marina Bay Sands hotel, built on land reclaimed from the sea, is seen as a new sign of a more dynamic image.

The hotel ensemble is also a symbol of the new city district around Marina Bay and a huge landmark above the skyline: With three hotel towers 200 meters high and a one-hectare roof garden connecting the towers, ambitions are soaring skywards. There are 2,560 rooms, several fitness rooms, spas, restaurants and the 340-metre-long “Sky Park”, which is planted with exotic plants. Each of the three towers spreads out downwards into two slices, flanking a central axis. This publicly accessible lobby leads to stores, restaurants, a casino, theater, exhibition and event complex, a multi-storey luxury shopping mall and the ArtScience Museum in the shape of a lotus flower. There is also an “art trail”: seven installations by five artists, including Sol Lewitt, Antony Gormley and Zheng Chongbin, which make reference to light, water and wind. Finally, the resort also includes a casino with over 600 tables and 1,500 one-armed bandits.

But the main attraction is the Sky Park, which cantilevers out 65 meters over the north tower like a surfboard above the waves. Seen from below, its palm trees appear tiny and thus serve as a scale that makes the enormous dimensions of the building truly recognizable. Even those not staying in the hotel are welcome to enjoy an aperitif on the deck or in one of the restaurants up here. Only the infinity pool with its glass overflow edges – the longest in the world, of course – is reserved exclusively for hotel guests.

The view is also the attraction in the hotel rooms: the higher, the more impressive – and more expensive. However, the architectural ambitions here clearly lag behind those of the large sculpture and the more public areas. Supporting structure, pipe and shaft cladding emerge abruptly from the walls and ceilings, also a tribute to the complex supporting structure of the concave facades. But who, apart from architects, is bothered by a restless building services landscape when the view out over the bay and the Central Business District, illuminated at night, is so convincingly distracting?

Address

Marina Bay Sands
10 Bayfront Avenue
Singapore 018956
www.marinabaysands.com

Stone+tec will take place for the 20th time in Nuremberg from June 13 to 16, 2018. In its anniversary year, the trade fair is setting new priorities. Event Director Beate Fischer reveals what these are in an interview with STEIN. Together with her team, she already has her hands full – coordinating exhibitors and partners and organizing a […]

Stone+tec will take place for the 20th time in Nuremberg from June 13 to 16, 2018. In its anniversary year, the trade fair is setting new priorities. Event Director Beate Fischer reveals what these are in an interview with STEIN. She and her team already have their hands full – they have to coordinate exhibitors and partners and organize an extensive supporting programme. And to introduce some changes.

We look forward to meeting youon siteinJune to exchange ideas – drop by the STEIN stand in Hall 9, directly opposite the stand of the German Natural Stone Association.

Beate Fischer: Stone+tec has always been a trade fair that reflects the stone industry – and therefore picks up on all material and technology trends. We have been observing for some time that the market is once again increasingly focusing on local natural stone – we are dedicating a large special show to this trend. This year is all about sustainability. One change is our central event stage in Hall 9. We wanted a focal point where we could bundle all events. In addition to the opening, award ceremonies, lectures and the Forum Cemetery event series will also take place there.

How many exhibitors are you expecting?

We can’t say for sure yet – interestingly, it’s a characteristic of Stone+tec that exhibitors always register at very short notice. But what I can already say: We are once again very international and are expecting exhibitors from 29 countries so far, including two large joint stands from the Czech Republic and China, for example.

What highlights does Stone+tec offer?

The trade fair is divided into three sections: Machine Trends, Gravestones and Cemeteries and Materials. There are great program items in all three: In the machinery area, we have a special show on the treatment and processing of worktops in Hall 12, while an accompanying specialist forum will address the topics of CNC technology and robotics in daily discussions.

On the second day of the trade fair, the Cemetery Forum offers opportunities for exchange. There, various speakers will present successful practical examples and ideas from the “New paths in the cemetery!” competition. In addition, the Cemetery Culture Congress of the Association for Commemorative Culture will take place on the third day of the fair in the Brussels Hall. This will focus, for example, on the cemetery of the future and innovations.

In the materials area, the German Natural Stone Award will be presented. The highlight here is the special show “Our Natural Stone”, organized by the BIV and DNV, where 15 participants from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and South Tyrol will present their materials and also address the sustainability aspect of these materials.

Will the traditional stonemason, who hasn’t had much to do with machines so far, also be present?

Yes, the trade fair is mainly aimed at craft businesses from the construction and gravestone sectors. I believe that very few stonemasons can ignore the topic of digitalization and technology, which is why machines naturally always play a role. But Stone+tec is and remains a trade fair geared towards craftsmen. That’s why we also show a lot of inspiring craftsmanship, creative workpieces and special gravestones.

In 2018, Stone+tec will take place for the first time in a new rotation. Why was the trade fair moved to the even years?

The discussions we have had with exhibitors and visitors have shown that this new rotation fits better into the industry’s trade fair calendar. Finding a place between the other trade fairs and mandatory dates in the natural stone industry is not easy – but the new rotation makes it possible.

Ms. Fischer, thank you very much for the insights.

Stone+tec 2018 will take place from 13 to 16 June 2018 at the Exhibition Center Nuremberg. The day ticket costs 17 euros online in advance (advance sales start on April 17, 2018), 22 euros on site, the season ticket for all days of the trade fair costs 29 euros online in advance, 34 euros on site.

You can meet STEIN on site in Hall 9, Stand 535, directly opposite the stand of the German Natural Stone Association.