Singapore, long dubbed the "Garden City of Asia" with its ribbon of parks wreathing the island and 3,000 hectares of well-protected nature reserves, has now provided another reason why it deserves this title.
Just over a month ago, it unveiled the first phase of the unique Gardens by the Bay attraction – Bay South Garden – that has raised the bar on horticultural showcases by a few notches. Covering a sprawling 54 hectares, this major public green space forms part of the Marina Bay complex, a significant feature in the area’s master plan to evolve into a vibrant destination where people can live, work, play and meet.
Key highlights
• Climate-controlled conservatories in the form of two glass biomes – Cloud Forest and Flower Dome – replicate the cool-moist climate of the Tropical Montane region and warm-dry climate of the Mediterranean and semi-arid subtropical regions, showcasing endangered habitats whose plant species face the challenges of climate change and habitat loss due to irresponsible human activity.
• "Supertrees" is the moniker bestowed on 18 towering vertical gardens that display a variety of bromeliads, ferns and tropical flowering climbers on a scale never before presented in an ordinary garden. During the day, the Supertrees’ canopies provide shade; at night, lighting and projected media create otherworldly effects. An aerial walkway connecting two of the structures enables guests to view this crowd-pleaser from a different perspective.
• Horticultural Themed Gardens comprise the Heritage Gardens and the World of Plants that celebrate how vital plants are to our lives and the planet. The first consists of four gardens representing the immigrant groups that now make up Singapore, and the second gathers together six gardens that reflect Earth’s vast biodiversity.
• Dragonfly Lake & Kingfisher Lake are not only aesthetic features of the park but have a practical purpose as well. The naturally treated water is also used as a built-in irrigation system for the plants and hosts a biodiverse collection of birds, fishes and dragonflies.
Five years in the making, Bay South Garden is just the element Singapore needs to complete its meetings facilities arsenal. Manuel Ferrer, regional managing director of leading destination management company Pacific World told Mix last year that he felt the city lacked a space to host enormous gatherings in the open, and now his wish has been fulfilled. "It’s impressive and a great addition to the Singapore offer. Not only is it a great attraction but a fantastic venue for receptions, dinners, cocktails and the like."
The Meadow is Singapore’s largest outdoor garden events venue, accommodating a whopping 30,000 people (standing), besides other spaces that can take lesser, but still by no means small, functions.
CAPACITY
Flower Dome
• Indoor events
• Reception area – 600 sqm, 300 people seated, 500 people standing
• Main event space – 1,200 sqm, 700 seated, 1,000 standing
The Meadow
• Outdoor events
• 22,000 sqm – 3,000 seated, 30,000 standing
Supertree Grove
• Outdoor events
• 1,500 sqm – 730 seated, 1,200 standing
Bay East Garden
• Outdoor events
• Promenade Lawn, Central Grove and Palm Grove – 19,000 sqm
• Between 1,000 and 3,000 seated
• Between 2,500 and 8,500 standing
Silver Leaf
• Outdoor events
• 1,700 sqm – 320 seated, 1,500 standing
OPENING HOURS
• Garden – daily, 5am to 2am
• Cooled conservatories and aerial walkway – daily, 9am to 9pm
ENTRY
• Cooled conservatories – S$28 (US$22) for adults, S$15 (US$11.85) for children; aerial walkway – S$5 (US$3.95) for adults/S$3 (US$2.37) for children
CONTACT Gardens by the Bay
TEL +65 6420 6848
EMAIL feedback@gardensbythebay.com.sg
WEBSITE www.gardensbythebay.com.sg
