Singapore is known for many things, but environmental-friendliness has never been high on the list, until now. With a proposed budget of $1 billion, Singapore is aiming to become “a city in a garden.”
Inspired by the Karri Trees over in Australia, Singapore has created 18 “supertrees” that stand around 165 feet tall in order to fit within the urban setting of the city. The “trees” are made out of steel and concrete, which provide an excellent base for tropical climbing flowers, orchids and ferns.
The trees, which are part of the Gardens by the Bay development, will collect rainwater, filter air for nearby buildings and provide shade for visitors during the daytime.
Aside from looking incredible, eleven of the trees are equipped with solar panels that provide enough power to light up the night and two nearby conservatory buildings: The Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest Dome.
The Flower Dome exhibits plants from the Mediterranean and sub-tropical climates while the Cloud Forest Dome portrays biodiversity existing on top of mountainous regions. Aside from the Biodomes, the project also features two horticulture gardens and two lakes. The lakes are designed to be an extension of the Marina reservoir and, with the addition of aquatic plants, act as a natural filtration system for the water.
To truly appreciate the beauty of the gardens, the designers – Grant Associates – have made skywalks between the tallest trees so visitors can look upon the garden project. According to Andrew Grant, director of Grant Associates, they used an orchid as a metaphor as it is the national flower of Singapore and because of its high adaptability.
This combination of nature and engineering gives visitors an amazing garden experience and is also an excellent example of integrated environmental design. Bay South will be open to the public June 29, 2012 followed by openings of Bay East and Bay Central later this year.
