Gardens by the Bay

Biparandanicanayonayardens by the Bay consists of three distinctive waterfront gardens – Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central, spanning a total of 101 hectares. They are set in the heart of Singapore’s new downtown Marina Bay, encircling the Marina Reservoir like a green necklace. The Gardens will complement the array of attractions around Marina Bay.

Gardens by the Bay is an integral part of a strategy by the Singapore government that further transforms Singapore from a ‘Garden City’ to a ‘City in a Garden’, in which the city is woven into a green and floral tapestry. This aims to raise the quality of life in Singapore with a more holistic and all-encompassing programme that enhances greenery and flora in the city. First announced to the public by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during the National Day Rally in August 2005, Gardens by the Bay will become Singapore’s premier urban outdoor recreation space, and a national icon.

An international competition for the design of the master plan was held in January 2006 to elicit the best designs for the Gardens. This attracted more than 70 entries submitted by 170 firms from 24 countries, from which two firms – Grant Associates and Gustafson Porter – were eventually awarded the master plan design for the Bay South and Bay East Gardens respectively.

The Gardens are being developed in phases. Bay South is currently being constructed and is slated to be completed by end 2011. Bay East has been developed as an interim park in support of the Youth Olympic Games 2010, and is scheduled to open to the public in April 2011. The full master plan implementation of Bay East and the development of Bay Central are part of the next phase of development.

Bay South

URA model of future Garden at Marina South

Bay South is the largest of the three gardens at 54 hectares and aims to showcase the best of tropical horticulture and garden artistry. The overall concept of its master plan draws inspiration from an orchid as it is representative of the tropics and of Singapore, being the country’s national flower. The orchid takes root at the waterfront (Conservatories), while the leaves (landforms), shoots (paths, roads and linkways) and secondary roots (water, energy and communication lines) then form an integrated network with beautiful blooms (Theme Gardens and Supertrees) at key intersections.

Conservatories

The conservatory complex comprises two cooled conservatories – the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest, situated along the edge of the Marina Reservoir. The Conservatories are energy efficient – a showcase of sustainable building technologies. They also provide an all-weather edutainment space within the Gardens.

The Flower Dome is the larger of the two, at 1.2 hectares. It replicates cool dry conditions and will feature permanent displays of plants found in the Mediterranean and semi-arid tropical regions. A changing display field has also been incorporated to enable flower shows and displays to be held within the Conservatory.

The Cloud Forest is slightly smaller at 0.8 hectares. It replicates the cool moist conditions found in tropical mountain regions between 1000 to 3000 metres above sea level. It features a ‘Cloud Mountain’ that is accessible by an elevator, and visitors will be able to descend the mountain via a circular path where a 35-metre waterfall provides visitors with refreshing cool air.

Supertrees

Supertrees are tree-like structures that dominate the Gardens landscape with heights that range between 25 and 50 metres. They are vertical gardens that perform a multitude of functions, which include planting, shading and working as environmental engines for the gardens.

The Supertrees are home to enclaves of unique and exotic ferns, vines, orchids and also a vast collection of bromeliads such as Tillandsia, amongst other plants. They are fitted with environmental technologies that mimic the ecological function of trees – photovoltaic cells that harness solar energy which can be used for some of the functions of the Supertrees, such as lightings, just like how trees photosynthesize; collection of rainwater for use in irrigation and fountain displays, just like how trees absorb rainwater for growth. The Supertrees also serve air intake and exhaust functions as part of the Conservatories’ cooling systems.

There will also be an elevated walkway between some of the larger Supertrees for visitors to enjoy a breathtaking aerial view of the Gardens. A F&B outlet has also been planned atop the 50-metre Supertree. At night, the Supertrees come alive with lighting and project media.

Horticultural Themed Gardens

There are two distinctly different sets of Horticultural Themed Gardens, which centre on the relationships between ‘Plants and People’ and ‘Plants and Planet’. They are an important part of the Gardens’ edutainment programme, which aims to bring plant knowledge to the public.

The ‘Plants and People’ theme features a Heritage Garden that highlights the various cultural groups in Singapore and the important role that plants play in their respective cultures, as well as the country’s colonial history. It also focuses on economically important plants to Singapore and South East Asia.

The ‘Plants and Planet’ theme emphasizes the web of relationships amongst the various plants within a fragile forest setting, showcasing the biodiversity of plant life on the planet.

Flower Market & Main Event Space (Phase 2 of development)

The Flower Market will eventually be the main entry precinct into the Gardens. It will include an indoor events space, retail and various food & beverage outlets. The main Event Space is a 2-hectare outdoor lawn with a stage.

Planning considerations in the design of Bay South

Several plans for key pedestrian and vehicular linkages from the surrounding developments and public transport hubs have been put in place to increase accessibility and create a transition between the Gardens and its surrounding landscape.

Also, to enhance visitor comfort in the Gardens amidst the hot, humid and wet tropical climate that may dissuade visits, landforms were designed with the wind direction in mind to create spaces with gentle breezes. In addition, tree canopies, plant trellises and other man-made structures such as the Cooled Conservatories and Supertrees provide shade and shelter in most parts of the Gardens.

A Sustainable Garden that Cares for the Environment

Being more than just an aesthetically stunning and horticulturally rich garden, the Gardens has been designed with the environment in mind, adopting environmentally sustainable technologies. In particular, the Cooled Conservatories will be a statement in sustainable engineering as they are designed and built to be energy efficient.

In addition, a lake system which takes into account the aesthetics and hydrology within the Gardens catchment has been incorporated into the Gardens’ design. It serves to capture run-off from within the Gardens and acts as a natural ‘eco-filter’, cleansing the water using aquatic plants before the water is discharged into the Reservoir.

Bay East

Bay East is 32 hectares in size and it has a 2km promenade frontage that embroiders the Marina Reservoir. An interim park was developed at Bay East in support of the Youth Olympic Games 2010. The first phase of the garden is scheduled to be open to the public in April 2011.

Bay East is designed as a series of large tropical leaf-shaped gardens, each with its own specific landscaping design, character and theme. There will be five water inlets aligned with the prevailing wind direction, maximising and extending the shoreline while allowing wind and water to penetrate the site to help cool areas of activity around them. Bay East will provide visitors with a breathtaking and unobstructed view of the city skyline. and will offer respite from the hustle and bustle of the city in a relaxed environment, with activities and events which complement the Garden.

Bay Central

Bay Central will act as a link between Bay South and Bay East. It stands at 15 hectares with a 3km waterfront promenade that allows for scenic walks stretching from the city centre to the east of Singapore.