Gardens by the Bay

Location: Singapore

Year: 2012

Gardens by the Bay is a stunning nature park in the heart of Singapore, spanning over 101 hectares of reclaimed land. This award-winning horticultural attraction features a diverse range of plant life from across the globe. The park’s iconic Supertrees are marvels of architectural ingenuity, soaring up to 50 metres in height and hosting a variety of plant species on their vertical gardens.

How might we make the POS stand out?

More than just a conservatory, the park incorporates nature-inspired art into plant exhibits and offers a wide range of educational activities.

The botanical-themed gardens showcase the finest in tropical horticulture and gardening artistry. Coupled with mass flowering and vibrant foliage landscapes, they create a dazzling display of colours, textures, and scents that captivate visitors.

Designed by Grant Associates, the 18 Supertrees are tree-like structures ranging from 25 to 50 metres tall (9 to 16 storeys). These uniquely crafted vertical gardens present a “wow” factor with the elevated showcase of tropical flowering climbers, epiphytes, and ferns. At night, the canopies come to life with illuminations and projected media.

Given the equatorial climate, the Supertree grove provides shade and shelter beneath the canopy to alleviate discomfort. The Supertrees also house a bar at the top of the tallest tree and a 20-metre-high aerial walkway for an elevated experience.

How might we attract different users throughout the year?

The Gardens’ schedule is filled with a variety of events that attract a diverse audience, including signature festivals, musical performances, film screenings, athletic and community events, as well as educational workshops and school programs. With over 87 million visitors so far, Gardens by the Bay consistently updates and enhances its offerings to ensure that it remains a destination appreciated by everyone.

How might we promote nature education?

The botanical-themed gardens showcase the finest of tropical horticulture and gardening creativity. Combined with abundant flowering and vivid foliage landscapes, they captivate visitors with a stunning display of colours, textures, and scents.

The park uses an enjoyable approach to educate the public about delicate ecosystems. Planting workshops, educational activities, and school programs are frequently hosted at the park to encourage people to engage with nature in everyday life. These endeavours significantly influence the city’s evolution into a biophilic urban environment.

How might we optimise microclimate throughout a day and a year?

The cooled dome of the conservatory employs specially-coated glass to minimise heat absorption.

How might we use new technology to improve energy efficiency?

The lakes in the park serve a dual purpose: they create habitats for aquatic life and supply the necessary water for irrigating plants throughout the park.

Additionally, solar panels are installed on the canopies of the Supertrees, which are tree-like structures standing between 25 and 50 metres tall. The solar panels harness and convert solar radiation into electricity, which is then used to power the lighting systems.

How might we sustain a habitat for various species?

At Kingfisher Wetlands, you will find over 200 mangrove trees and associated plants. These plants are crucial in removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and storing “blue” carbon, which helps mitigate the impacts of global warming. Mangrove trees, often submerged in water, also serve as important nursing environments and shelters for various fish species and animals, such as otters. In addition, a series of cascades and small streams enhance aeration in the water, promoting the development of microhabitats for biodiversity to thrive.

How might we encourage collaboration for the sustainable development of POS?

The Gardens is managed by a diverse team of professionals with experience in Singapore’s greening efforts. They collaborate with both international and local experts to develop the Gardens. The in-house team comprises seasoned landscape designers, horticulturists, arborists, engineers, plant health specialists, garden and turf management experts, as well as plant research and orchid breeding professionals. Leveraging the extensive global network of plant sources established during the development phase, the team continuously curates and nurtures the Gardens’ growth.