Singapore takes its carbon footprint seriously. Sustainability and eco-friendliness are two watchwords that maintain our reputation as a ‘City in a Garden’—and the shopping centres here are doing their part to save the planet while providing shoppers a stellar retail experience. From energy-efficient fittings to architectures that reduce the amount of air-conditioning needed, these five malls are leading the way in environmentally-friendly design.

A family walking out from City Square Mall.

City Square Mall
A playground outside City Square Mall

Family-friendly City Square Mall is the first mall in Singapore to have been built with eco-conscious principles in mind, paving the way for other malls to follow suit. It saves on electricity by allowing natural sunlight to pass through its glass roof, which optimises day-lighting and uses light-emitting diode (LED) lighting on its façade.

The crown jewel of the mall’s green plans is City Green, a 49,000-square-foot urban park that’s integrated into the shopping complex. The park is outfitted with a green roof that harnesses solar energy, collects rainwater and promotes cross-ventilation. A portion of the park bears posters and signs that tell the mall’s green story: for example, how it recycles enough condensate water from air-conditioning to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools every year.

A few of the tenants have also taken up the eco-friendly gauntlet. A branch of NTUC FairPrice in City Square Mall is the popular supermarket chain’s first green outlet on the island. It uses biodegradeable plastic bags, energy-efficient refrigerators and shoppers who bring reusable bags can scoot past the queues to dedicated checkout counters.

City Square Mall. 180 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208539. +65 6595 6595.
Daily 10am-10pm.


The Star Vista
Exterior of The Star Vista building at night.

Singapore’s first naturally cooled open-air mall swaps four walls for a permeable building shell that encourages airflow, so it does not have to rely on air-conditioning to cool its interiors. It means The Star Vista’s many restaurants—more than half its tenants are devoted to dining and drinking—are semi-alfresco, so you won’t be working up a sweat, thanks to the constant breeze that blows through the mall.

Lush greenery is also planted on the fringes and corridors of the mall. These plants, more than just easy on the eyes, cool shoppers down as they hop through its many retail shops. 

The Star Vista. 1 Vista Exchange Green, Singapore 138617. +65 6694 3111.
Daily 10am-10pm.


313@Somerset

Among the glitzy malls on Orchard Road, 313@Somersetstands out for its environmentally-friendly efforts, which benefit not only the earth but also its shoppers. For example, the mall’s energy-efficient air-conditioning system lowers the overall temperature while reducing white noise, which in turn enhances your overall shopping experience. The mall’s escalators also automatically slow down when not in use and only starts up when you step onto them. With 313@Somerset’s roster of international retail brands, you can spend a whole afternoon shopping here.

A hidden gem is the mall’s Sky Terrace on the fifth level. It has rotating columns of plants that are irrigated using harvested rainwater, and a small toddler’s play area for parents looking to put their feet up after exploring the mall.

To refuel, head to JiBiru for its Japanese small plates and craft beer, Brotzeit for hearty Bavarian fare, or Marché Mövenpick for a smorgasbord of European dishes. If it’s a strong cuppa you’re after, look no further than Oriole Coffee + Bar.

313@Somerset. 313 Orchard Road, Singapore 238895. +65 6496 9313.
Daily 10am-10pm.


Westgate

This mall takes the phrase “go green” literally: palm trees line a naturally ventilated atrium on the ground level, while vertical green walls deck the interiors and façade. Additionally, glazed glass on the mall’s exterior and special ‘wind corridors’ harness the breeze, all of which cool the building and reduce its reliance on air-conditioning.

These features, along with tenants that appeal to everyone, make shopping in Westgate a comfortable experience for the whole family. The gents can hit up Armani Exchange for a new suit, the women have Pandora for jewellery, and even the children are catered to with Kiddy Palace, which stocks strollers, clothes and toys. Crowning the entire mall is Westgate Wonderland, a playground on the rooftop whose centrepiece is a 10-metre-tall treehouse.

Westgate. 3 Gateway Drive, Singapore 608532. +65 6908 3737.
Daily 10am-10pm.