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Publication: The Straits Times, p 3 Date: 22 November 2007 Headline: Pool doubles as skylight for Bras Basah station Pool doubles as skylight for Bras Basah station Senior Correspondent A NEW reflection pool sited between the Singapore Art Museum and Singa- pore Management University (SMU) is more than a water feature providing cool relief to ~assers-bv. - The tenniccourt-siied pool is also a skylight for the Bras Basah MRT sta- tion, a five-level structure that goes 35m below ground - deeper than any MRT station here. The skylight idea from local firm Wo- Ha Architects allows the station to be used without artificiallighting in the day. At night, the lit station gives the open ar- ea in front of the SMU a surreal glow. When sunlight streams throu h the B to deeper levels o the station. 1 glass roof, slantin side walls re ect it Giving The Straits Times a tour of the station, the Land Transport Authori- ty's Circle Line director Sim Wee Meng said the skylight will help make the commuting experience better. A COOL FEATURE: The pool that also functions as a skylight for the station has more than an aesthetic mle. It also helps to dissipate heat. At 35m to minimise echoes, making t h i deep below ground, the Bras Basah station is deeper than any MRT station here. It is part of the Circle Line, expected to open in stages from 2010. station less noisy. The 70,000 litres of running water on the roof have more than an aesthetic role. The pool also helps to dissipate heat. "If it was just lain glass without the J' water, it woul get quite hot," ex- plained Mr Sim. Being so deep, the station is served by 41.3m-long escalators - the longest in Singapore's rail network. Currently, the longest in operation are at Changi Airport MRT station, measuring 37.9m. The Bras Basah station's expansive walls look bare now, but there are plans to project slide shows onto them. There is still some work to be done before the station is completed. Electri- cal and signalling systems required to run the trains are being installed and testing of the systems is expected to commence in 2009. The $6.7 billion 33.3km Circle Line is expected to open in stages from 2010. The first phase is likely to be a 5km stretch betweeo Bartley and Mary- mount. Although the cit and eastern por- tions of the line are Y argely in advanced stages of completion, some stations - in- cluding the new Nicoll Highway and Da- kota stations - are lagging behind. [email protected] Source: The Straits Times O Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.
