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29 Jun 2012, 3.50PM

15 comments & replies |by REACH Administrator | Air, Sea and Land, My Habitat

Allocating 101 hectares of prime land in the heart of the new Marina Bay South downtown area for Gardens by the Bay was not an easy decision, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the opening of the Gardens.

While the land could have been used for more valuable commercial and residential developments, the planners felt that creating a central green space in the heart of the city not only enhances the value of adjacent land parcels but also facilitates the creation of a new iconic jewel in Singapore’s city skyline.

The three gardens – Bay South, Bay East, Bay Central – serves as green lungs and peaceful sanctuary in a densely populated concrete city. Other unique features include a 128 metre long aerial skyway and 18 Supertrees.

The Gardens took 5 years and $1 billion to create. It also employs green technology, for example, horticultural waste is utilised to cool the twin domes of the world’s largest cooled conservatory.

Features

The world's two largest cooled conservatories:

Cloud Forest – climate of the Tropical Montane region

Flower Dome – climate of the Mediterranean and semi-arid sub tropical regions

More than 2,000 plant species from almost every continent, 18 Supertrees (50m high vertical gardens), and an awesome 30m waterfall could be found in the garden.

Admission Hours & Fees

Gardens by the Bay – Free (Opens 5am to 2am daily)

Conservatory – $12 (Singaporean Adult)

Both Conservatories – $20 (Singaporean Adult)

OCBC Skyway – $5 (Per Adult)

(Opens 9am to 9pm daily)

Read more at The Strait Times' article “Gardens by the Bay not an easy decision: PM”

Read more at Today article “Singapore's very own Central Park”

Do you welcome Singapore’s latest ‘Central Park’? Share your ideas with us!

3205 views | 15 comments & replies |

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Guest

1 Jul 2012, 6.22AM

Frankly, I think the park is quite ugly, and the sculptures and areas are quite unimaginative. Up close the Supertrees are just tall pillars of concrete and the carbon footprint and cost to build them are huge.

There was a giant bull sculpture donated by Morgan Stanley at the entrance area that I thought was terribly ugly. Some of the other sculptures are also quite badly done. It feels like one has walked into the world's most expensive kitsch shop.

There are nicer trees in Bukit Brown and it's truly nature. But of course that needs to be cleared for some highway. The high cost of building the Gardens by the Bay, which is financed by Singaporean taxpayers, and now the high entry cost for Singaporeans is truly a slap in the face.

Guest

16 Sep 2012, 8.55PM

Hi Guest,

You obviously did not pay close attention to the beautiful structures in the garden, before coming here to pass judgement.

The Supertrees are not 'just tall pillars of concrete' and their 'carbon footprint' is not even much. In fact, they serve an important purpose of harvesting solar energy, collecting rainwater and even generating power. They mimic real trees with environmentally sustainable features.

'Some have photovoltaic cells on their canopies to harvest solar energy to light up at night, others are integrated with cooled conservatories and serve as air exhaust receptacles.'

Not too imaginative, eh?

The giant bull sculpture was donated by Morgan Stanley as mentioned. What did you expect, besides their iconic bull? Also, the sculptures displayed are pieces of art, and I don't expect everyone to be able to appreciate its beauty. But to compare it to a kitsch shop? That is just being plain ignorant.

Ironically, the people who criticize the most, do not know a thing about such magnificent parks.

Get your facts right before you speak.

Jamie

Guest

29 Jun 2012, 5.35PM

It's a very good move. A big decision to forgo the big money to be had by selling the land to developers as may be said to be something the HK Government might typically do in a similar situation.

A good investment in our future.

Guest

1 Jul 2012, 8.33AM

Gardens by the Bay is indeed an ambitious project to create an artificial wonder in the heart of city. However, no matter how well built it is, it will never be special or unique to Singapore, as these type of artificial structures can be rebuilt in any place of the world if one has lots of money. China is very famous for copying, I am sure they can easily build "Gardens by the Bay" in one small part of china.

Nowadays, whenever I travel along the roads, I find a lot of the trees being trimmed to leave the bare minimum. I can understand that after trees or branches fell after a heavy rainfall, causing much damage, hence the authorities have taken action to do something about it.

Bukit Brown is a unique and natural greenery in Singapore that reflects our ancestry, which is truly unique and you can't go around copying such things in other parts of the world. Isn't something more natural better than our artificial "Gardens By the Bay". There are so many reasons given to destroy the greenery , whether its for roads, residential buildings and development. I feel sad that we are destroying our natural environment and rebuilding those artificial ones and feeling so proud of it.

Guest

4 Jul 2012, 11.04PM

How many of us will go to bukit brown for a stroll beside once a year qingming? Knowing how land-scare our country is, they hv done their best not to clear the entire area. As for the trimming of trees i reckon is part n pacel of upkeeping n maintainance, you over reacted

Guest

5 Jul 2012, 10.36AM

Currently, Bukit Brown is very raw. It will be of course scary to take a stroll there like that, other than qingming.
However, if we can rebuild it to a memorial park with history explanation in it, it will be very unique. A place of worship can also be built in the memorial park to "house" the souls and let the living feel at peace to worship our ancestors.

We have so many parks in Singapore, but none of them will be as unique as Bukit Brown. It is a living museum, and if we can rebuilt it, minimizing the damage in the natural environment, it can be a place of inspiration and genuine culture attraction for the living and future generations of people to know of our roots.

Gardens by the Bay is an ambitious project, to put it in the city. The government do deserve some credit for its guts to build such a park in central business area. Its just I hope a balance can be built in place.

Guest

8 Jul 2012, 7.41PM

Is this a temporary allocation with a shelf life while foundation soil consolidates for permanent structures?

Guest

1 Jul 2012, 6.12PM

Great job done, kudos to the people in charge. There may be certain things that I disagree with like the rising inflation, huge influx of foreigners leading to excessive demand in everything, etc, but I think we need to give credit where it is due. This is the right step forward to make the country a better place to live in.

Guest

3 Jul 2012, 4.10PM

Guys and gals, do not waste time here , go do something useful. Whatever you comment is not good enough or sub standard. Hence, government go its own way. Stop wasting your time here.
You will have your chance in 2016.

Guest

5 Jul 2012, 10.47AM

If we do not voice out or let the government know our areas of concern, how would they know? You don't say anything, how would other people know how you feel.

As a common citizen, I just want to contribute in whatever ways I can. If a citizen does not care, will not even bother to feedback. It is because people care, thats why they feedback and hope the government will consider some areas and make better plans for all of us.

Guest

4 Jul 2012, 1.27PM

Using our own land to build the garden and collecting admission fee is still considered 'not easy decision'

Not sure when we can see something realy 'free' from our government

:)

Guest

4 Jul 2012, 4.58PM

The idea of building gardens by the bay is good score "A".

However the implementation is flawed, grade "F"

Project cost overrun resulting in the final bill of S$1 Billion. Who is accountable to answer for overspending tax payer's money ? Shouldn't blame it on the IR construction boom as the pain is self created.

Annual maintenance cost is estimated to be S$50 million a year or S$1 million per week average. Can the ticket sales maintain at S$1 million per week after the novelty effect wears off ?

There are many beautiful botanic gardens around the world that cost much less to build and maintain. For argument sake, in some countries you could buy land for a huge botanic garden for S$50 million.

Guest

4 Jul 2012, 11.16PM

It will be good if you can name a few examples of what you mentioned "more value for money" gardens in other countries, Please also choose comparable benchmark ones in term of country's size, popoluation similiar to Singapore to be objective.

(Guru)

Dreamknight

5 Jul 2012, 11.31AM

Go Australia already can see many national park. No need maintenance one :)

Go Bishan see the manmade stream ( longkang ) and that isn't too high in maintenance either.

Face it Gardens by the bays is a tourist attraction, nothing more.

Guest

7 Aug 2012, 1.18PM

‘The more developed a city Singapore is, the more important it is for us to have such peaceful oasis amid our tropical concrete and expressway, in order to give us emotional well being and a sense of belonging,’ Prime Minister added.
----------------- ------------------------ -------------------------

I agree that it is important to have that 'oasis' that PM Lee mentioned, for that emotional well being... But when the oasis has an entry toll to it, it becomes less of an oasis, but more of a tourist attraction.

The Botanic Gardens is an oasis. So are the parks around Singapore. Those help to create the 'emotional well being' and promote healthy lifestyles. But once an entry fee is put into it, how many Singaporeans will visit it, how many will make return visits and at what frequency? In the end, it may be different in form, but similar to visiting attractions like USS or the Jurong Bird Park.

The concept is good and I applaud the efforts.

Hope that for some places, like the Gardens the entry fees can be made nominal for the benefit of more Singaporeans to enjoy. Then truly it can become an oasis amidst the concete jungle.

Although i hate making comparisons, which can be skewed, pls allow me to just share that in India, entry fees for citizens is R20, whereas tourists pay R750. I'm not advocating such a big difference, but it does highlight the benefits enjoyed by citizens.