China Square Central

Project Overview

Urban Renewal with Purpose: Shaded ETFE Foil Roof at China Square Central, Singapore. Whether you’re planning a pedestrian zone, transport hub, or mixed-use development, our air-filled cushion systems deliver performance, solar shading and beauty at every scale.

Singapore

Country

3518

m²

of ETFE

2013

Completed

DP Architects Pte Ltd

Architects

At A Glance – ETFE at China Square Central

3,500 m² ETFE foil roof shelters the redeveloped Nankin Street pedestrian zone.
Custom-printed ETFE cushions balance shading, light transmission, and visual openness.
Lightweight two-layer system reduces steel requirements and structural load.
Designed to perform in Singapore’s tropical climate – heat, humidity, and heavy rain.
Durable and low-maintenance, resistant to UV and environmental stress.
Transforms a once-crowded area into a comfortable, inviting public space.

ETFE foil roof at China Square Central transforms Singapore’s Nankin Street into a shaded, open-air public space.

3,518 m²

of ETFE

The Story of the Project

Urban Renewal with Purpose: Shaded ETFE Foil Roof at China Square Central, Singapore

Singapore’s Nankin Street, once a maze of tightly packed shophouses, has been reimagined as a welcoming pedestrian zone, anchored by China Square Central, a vibrant mix of restaurants, retail, offices, and residences. To protect visitors from Singapore’s intense climate, this space is covered by a custom-engineered ETFE foil roof system.

Spanning over 3,500 m², the roof transforms the streetscape into a comfortable, accessible destination – rain or shine. The printed ETFE cushions provide essential shading from tropical sunlight, improving thermal comfort and reducing glare while maintaining a light and open atmosphere.

Create Light, Open, Resilient Urban Spaces with ETFE

Engineered Shade: ETFE Cushions with Print Technology

Unlike fully transparent solutions, the ETFE used here was specially designed with custom print patterns to modulate daylight and enhance thermal control.

These pneumatic cushions – made of two layers of ETFE foil inflated with low-pressure air – offer a lightweight, highly durable roofing system that balances form and function.

The result is a film roof that enables solar control without compromising the sense of openness.

Visual Journey

The 3,518 m² ETFE roof from above!

Air-filled cushions bring performance and aesthetic to one of Singapore’s most culturally layered spaces.

Click on the pictures to see the full size

Designed for the Tropics

Singapore’s weather is intense, with high humidity, strong UV radiation, and frequent monsoon storms. ETFE foil is uniquely suited for these conditions — highly resistant to environmental stress, corrosion, and thermal aging. The foil facade system installed here is supported by a custom steel structure, allowing for flexibility in shape, structure, and integration.

From Overcrowded to Open: A Lighter Way to Build

Historically, Nankin Street was known for its overcrowding – in the 1940s, it was one of the most densely populated areas in the world. The modern redesign replaces that density with lightweight, open-air architecture, where air-filled cushions bring engineered performance and aesthetic to one of Singapore’s most culturally layered spaces.

Durable, Low-Maintenance, Future-Ready

While the ETFE used here is printed for shading, it retains the full benefits of the material: exceptional durability, long lifespan, and minimal maintenance requirements. ETFE is unaffected by UV light or environmental pollutants, making it ideal for permanent public installations in humid, equatorial climates.

From historic streets to future-focused developments, foil roofs and facades made from ETFE redefine what’s possible in urban architecture. Whether you’re planning a pedestrian zone, transport hub, or mixed-use development, our air-filled cushion systems deliver performance, solar shading and beauty at every scale.

Let’s build the next transformation – with lightweight ETFE architecture. Click here to get in contact with us!