The National Parks Board (NParks) and JTC Corporation are working on the undersea housing for marine life project at the Sisters' Islands Marine Park, which will see 10m high structures placed in the waters by the end of the year. They will be made from concrete and recycled rocks from JTC's other projects. The marine park will get an additional 500 sq m of reef area to support existing habitat enhancement and reef restoration efforts to conserve marine biodiversity.
The idea is to transform bare seabed into a thriving marine ecosystem by giving corals a place to take root, and in turn attract fish and other sea life.
Singapore is home to more than 250 species of hard corals, about one-third of the worldwide diversity.
Tengah Town embodies Housing & Development Board's (HDB) vision for new towns of the future - green, sustainable and smart. The first HDB town to full intergrate with its surrounding ecosystems, it will also be the first to have a car-free town centre nestled next to a lush green park.
Guided by HDB's Smart and Sustainable framework, Tengah will offer some 42,000 residential dwelling units, providing new living opportunities in the west to meet housing needs.
Around 1,500 HDB flats will be the first to be launched in November this year at Tengah, the first new town in more than 20 years.
When it is fully developed in two decades, Tengah could comprise 42,000 new homes: 30,000 units of public housing and 12,000 units of private housing.
And when completed, Tengah will grow to about 700 hectares, which is roughly equivalent in size to Bishan Town.
Tengah was conceptualised as a unique town in Singapore and as the country's first "Forest Town" with a green theme spread across the district.
The National Parks Board (NParks) opens Marsiling Park, formerly known as Woodlands Town Garden, after 22 months of enhancement works. As a result of close consultation with the community during the design process, the park now offers a range of new day and night experiences for visitors to enjoy. Enhancements have also been sensitively made to the mangrove area to allow visitors to get closer to nature as well as for biodiversity to thrive.
With its lush greenery and peaceful ambience, Marsiling Park is an oasis of calm and tranquillity. The park features activity areas and amenities for visitors of all ages.
Visitors can enjoy the view of the picturesque pond from the viewing tower or the boardwalks, especially in the evening, as the lighting is curated to leverage on the reflections on the water body to create a special illumination effect.
The one of a kind butterfly-shaped playground with climbing ropes provides children with a challenging play experience while the Fun Play area has play equipment with musical elements for an interactive play experience.
Nature-lovers will appreciate the butterfly-attracting plants and educational interpretive boards that have been introduced around the playground, as well as the enhanced mangrove habitat along the western edge of the park.
There are also several spaces for community activities, such as the activity plaza and the amphitheatre, which features a rain garden. Visitors can also enjoy refreshments at the F&B outlet in the park, which is open 24 hours daily.
Finally. A store that helps us solve the problem of food waste and excessive plastic packaging, while saving you money on your weekly grocery bill. UnPackt is the first zero-waste bulk store in Singapore that offers their customers the luxury of quality-assured food and daily lifestyle products in their own containers so they are free from plastic waste.
Opening soon in May; the store will also run a recycling scheme offering donated containers for customers who visit the store without their own. Reusable containers can also be bought.
Co-founded by former business executives Jeff Lam and Florence Tay, UnPackt is a social enterprise that aims to spread the zero-waste message and make packaging-free shopping more accessible in Singapore. The store will hire staff from two disadvantaged groups, seniors and single parents.
The Singapore Botanic Gardens’Seed Bank is Singapore’s first seed bank and will conserve the seeds of threatened plant species from Southeast Asia. Works for the seed bank are expected to be completed by mid-2019.
The seed bank will play a key role in conserving plant diversity in the region and ensure the growth of the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ plant collection. The seed bank will have the capacity to store seeds from up to 25,000 species of plants. This is around half the total number of seed plant species in Southeast Asia, and nearly triple the 9,000 species of plants that the Gardens currently has in its living collection. When established, the seed bank targets to achieve 100 seed collections per year.
The facility will be established in House 4, the largest of five colonial-style houses within the Raffles College. Originally named Mansfield Lodge, it served as the college president’s residence when it was built in the 1920s. This house was designated as a Conserved Building in October 2006. Read more about this project here.
Estimated to cost more than $50 million, works will be carried out over two years and should be completed by the third quarter of 2020.
Aside from typical upgrading of façade, skylights, flooring and ceiling for a refurbishment; Allgreen will also reconfigure the escalators and interior walkways to enhance navigation and accessibility of consumers. It also plans to connect the office’s lifts to the mall’s third level.
Uniquely-designed dual-level retail pods in the foyer of the mall are also part of the renovation plan, which are among the first for shopping malls here in Singapore.
The mall will also house some 50 new tenants. And the F&B offerings will increase from the current 20 per cent to 30 per cent of net lettable space when works are completed.
Shoppers can look forward to an enhanced shopping experience at Great World City in the near future after its transformation.
Want to know what goes on inside a Community in Bloom (CIB) Community Garden here in Singapore? At the Leng Kee CC Sky Community Garden, there are more than 60 species of edibles, ornamental and biodiversity-enhancing plants at its newly renovated rooftop! The Women Executive Committee (WEC) helps to maintain this community garden and regularly harvests herbs and spices for cooking demonstrations in their community kitchen next to the garden. The food is then shared with interest groups and members of the public.
Put your horticulture skills to good use and contribute to the unique green ambience of Singapore through Nparks' ‘Community In Bloom’ programme!
Launched in May 2005 and first carried out at Mayfair Park Estate, the Community in Bloom nationwide gardening movement aims to foster a community spirit and bring together residents, both young and old, to make Singapore our garden. Today, CIB has close to 1,000 community gardens across Singapore that have engaged over 20,000 residents.
Jurong Lake Gardens West focuses on nature, play and the community. It is currently under construction. When it opens in 2019, the public will be able to see a restored swamp forest and wetlands, a nature-themed play area, allotment gardens, lifestyle and sports facilities, and F&B options.
One of the key design concepts for Jurong Lake Gardens West is the Heron Island.
Herons are among the wildlife living in the Jurong Lake area. Platforms will be installed on Heron Island to encourage roosting and nesting, away from human disturbance. Enhancing habitats for wildlife and keeping the tranquility of the area are key considerations in the development of Jurong Lake Gardens West, enabling visitors to enjoy nature and biodiversity.
Children can look forward to Forest Ramble, a nature-themed play area that will capture their fascination for plants and animals. Forest Ramble will comprise varied adventure play experiences for children to mimic the actions of animals – from crawling through a “squirrel’s nest” to gliding through a tree canopy.
The new entrance pavilion at the north carpark will serve as an arrival point to introduce visitors to the Gardens. The multiple columns of the pavilion are inspired by the hanging aerial roots of the many Ficus trees found within the Gardens.
Looking for a space to nurture your green fingers? NParks provides allotment gardening plots at various parks for anyone who wishes to have their own space to garden.
Allotment gardens offer plots of land to individuals to rent for growing their own plants. Following the initial success of the pilot scheme at HortPark, new allotment gardening plots will be introduced in 10 more parks islandwide over the next two years. By 2019, more than 1,000 allotment garden plots will be available to the community.
Each allotment plot consists of a 2.5 m x 1 m raised planter bed, and can be leased for three years at a charge of $57/year (excluding GST).
Three historical gardens will be recreated as part of efforts to restore the rich heritage of Fort Canning Park and its surroundings. The three gardens within and around Fort Canning Park make up the heritage landscapes of Fort Canning Hill, and include Singapore’s first botanic garden. The National Parks Board (NParks) will create these gardens as part of sensitive enhancements to Fort Canning Park to emphasise Fort Canning’s historical features. Enhancements will be accompanied by the introduction of a greater variety of education and outreach programmes, and enhanced accessibility to the park.
Fort Canning Centre will also be repurposed as a gallery for visitors to learn more about the history of the hill and its surroundings. Members of the public are invited to volunteer at park programmes and give suggestions on the upcoming enhancements.
As one of Singapore’s two National Parks, Fort Canning Park is deeply rooted in history, from the time of the 14th century kings to the founding of modern Singapore. The enhancements will highlight the significance of Fort Canning Hill and retrace the history of Singapore across the 14th, 19th and 20th centuries.
The heritage landscapes of Fort Canning Hill and its surroundings will be restored and weaved seamlessly into Fort Canning Park with the creation of three gardens, namely the Royal Garden, the First Botanic Garden, and Jubilee Park.
The First Botanic Garden, which was established by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1822 to also serve as an experimental garden, will extend from Fort Canning Park onto the streetscapes of roads bounded by Hill Street, Victoria Street, Bras Basah Road, Handy Road and Canning Rise. As part of the First Botanic Garden, a large part of Armenian Street will be pedestrianised and turned into a park featuring plants that were introduced as economic crops for the spice trade, food and horticulture. Economic crops such as nutmeg were cultivated in the First Botanic Garden before they were propagated across Singapore in the 1800s. The new park at Armenian Street is part of a multi-agency effort by URA, NParks, PUB, LTA, NHB and NAC in close collaboration with stakeholders within the vicinity to create new vibrant public spaces that visitors can enjoy. The new park at Armenian Street and wider sidewalks along Coleman Street will also enable visitors to walk comfortably from Armenian Street to Civic District, linking Fort Canning Park, Bras Basah.Bugis and the Civic District together into an expanded arts, cultural and heritage district.
NParks is also planning a greater variety of education and outreach programmes, including re-curation of existing heritage trails of the 14th and 19th centuries. These trails will be enhanced to interpret the rich history of Fort Canning Park and feature new nodes. The 14th century trail will feature the Forbidden Spring or Pancur Laranganwhich is believed to be the bathing site of the royals. The refreshed 19th century trail will feature the restored Raffles Garden and Farquhar Garden, which will showcase plants collected and documented by Sir Stamford Raffles and Singapore’s First Resident William Farquhar through their botanical explorations.
“Jubilee Park” will be restored where the King George V Jubilee Park was originally located at the junction of River Valley Road and Clemenceau Avenue. The park will avail more outdoor family-friendly venues for arts and culture activities in a garden setting. New amenities will include play features, a landscaped theatre and an event lawn.
Find out more about this restoration project here.
Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore comprises 198 tastefully-decorated rooms and suites plus eight corporate villas showcasing the best of contemporary Asian design, this luxurious hotel is perfectly equipped for business and leisure with a wealth of experiences to enjoy.
Facilities include a multi-ethnic cuisine restaurant and The Nest golf club restaurant, the Legends Bar, the Dusit deli, the Club Lounge, a fully-equipped gym, a swimming pool and kids’ pool, a pool bar and grill for al fresco dining, three tennis courts, a putting green, and Dusit’s signature Devarana Spa.
The hotel also offers a boardroom, two meeting rooms, two large event lawns, and a large pillarless ballroom (seating up to 650 guests) with a pre-function area overlooking the golf course.
Guests also enjoy easy access to the driving range and two-championship golf courses.
Sembawang Hot Spring, the only hot spring on mainland Singapore, will be developed into a community park 10 times its current size.
The Sembawang Hot Spring was discovered in 1908 on the grounds owned by a Chinese merchant, Seah Eng Keong. Since then, the land has changed hands a few times. It was once a thermal bathhouse for Japanese soldiers, after their occupation of Singapore during World War II.
Sembawang Hot Spring holds many memories for the community that has used it over the years. The design of the new Sembawang Hot Spring Park is shaped by the 'kampung-like' environment and will be kept rustic with various spaces where visitors can gather & enjoy the activities in this unique park. The design will be further refined with ideas and suggestions received from the public.
Work on the park will begin in early 2018 and are expected to be completed by 2019.
The Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden has doubled in size with a new two-hectare extension that includes new attractions and programmes geared towards youngsters up to 14 years old.
This will allow families with older children to immerse in nature as they explore the different eco-systems simulated in this new extension. It aims to expose children to and help them understand the ecology of plants through nature play and experiential learning. Prior to the extension, the Garden catered to children up to 12 years old.
The Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden is the first garden in Asia dedicated to children. Its theme of ‘Life on Earth Depends on Plants’ aims to educate and instil a love for nature in children. The Garden is a complete nature-learning environment, where children can delve deeper into the ecology of plants and our environment through discovery and experiential learning.
The Garden offers children a space for exploration, adventure and play, with a farm, an orchard, and a forest with its own stream and ponds. Young adventure seekers can explore the suspension bridge and nature play areas; budding naturalists can walk along the stream and climb into the tree-houses; and all urban gardeners can observe how plants grow and pick up some gardening tips! Be an ‘Adventurer’, ‘Gardener’ or ‘Naturalist’ for a day at the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden by following these carefully curated trails.
Located in Woodlands, Admiralty Park is the largest park in the north. It is situated on hilly terrain with Sungei Cina river running through it, and houses the largest nature area within an urban park. The enhanced 7-ha urban area now features 26 slides – the most number of slides in any park in Singapore! The widest slide and the longest slide in a public park can be found here.
The playground capitalises on the undulating terrain to site the three main play areas – Junior Play, Adventure Play and the Family Terracing Play – catering to children of all ages and featuring diverse play equipment that encourage group and multi-generation interactions.
Admiralty Park also features an inclusive playground, as part of an initiative announced by NParks in 2015. Inclusive playgrounds provide the physical structure, or ‘hardware’, that supports play between children with and without special needs.
The 20-ha nature area encompasses a diverse mix of secondary forest, mangrove, riverine and open grassland habitats, and is home to more than 100 species of flora and fauna. With several trails within the 20-hectare nature area, visitors can discover the different species living in the forest, spot hordes of dragonflies and observe monkeys in their natural habitat. Alternatively, emerge from the secondary forest near the car park and admire the butterflies and different species of birds as you walk through the grassland. The walking trail also showcases interesting flora like the Putat Kampung Tree and climbers like Hedgehog Rattan, an increasingly rare plant in Singapore. The nature area will be open to public by December 2017.
The Therapeutic Garden at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park is situated near the pond gardens and was launched on 19 September 2017.
Therapeutic Gardens are outdoor gardens designed to meet the physical, psychological and social needs of park users, incorporating design principles derived from scientific evidence.
Together with therapeutic horticulture programmes involving plants and nature, visitors can experience a range of health benefits such as the relief of mental fatigue, reduced stress and an overall improvement to emotional well-being.
The garden is specially designed to engage the senses with a landscape of plants divided into four zones: Fragrance zone, Biodiversity zone, Edibles and Medicinal zone and Colours and Textures zone.
The 900sqm Therapeutic Garden at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park has design elements and user-friendly features to meet the needs of the elderly, including those with conditions such as dementia. It also provides respite for visitors of all ages.
The greenery and sensory aspects in the garden will provide visitors with a rehabilitative environment, providing relief from attention fatigue and stress. This is complemented by an outdoor activity area where therapeutic horticulture programmes will be carried out. Each session is about 1.5 hours and the activities are designed to stimulate participants’ senses and memories through nature interaction, and to encourage motor and hand-eye coordination.
Located near various eldercare and senior activity centres, the 750sqm Therapeutic Garden @ Tiong Bahru Park is designed to be elderly-friendly. It provides a holistic rehabilitative environment for conditions including dementia. The Garden also helps to relieve stress and brings restorative effects to the mental well-being of visitors of all ages.
The design elements in Therapeutic Garden @ Tiong Bahru Park are similar to the garden in HortPark. It has a simple and clear garden layout, seats facing different directions to provide various views, and the profusion of plants with colour, texture and scents to stimulate the senses. An area specifically designed for gardening with customised benches for potting makes it more convenient for the elderly and wheelchair users to participate in gardening, which improves their health and mental well-being.
The Garden also has raised planter beds of two heights to cater to different groups of visitors. The raised planter beds at a lower height encourages wheelchair users to interact with plants and flowers, while the taller raised planter beds enables seniors who have difficulty bending to do gardening while standing.
A rich variety of plants has been arranged in different zones to evoke visitors’ senses as they move along the pathway.
Among the new exhibits visitors can explore is an immersive 3D virtual reality dive experience along the coral reefs at the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park. They can also observe life between the tides through a mangrove mesocosm, likely one of the first of its kind in the region, where mangroves are planted under controlled conditions to mirror the natural environment as closely as possible. Besides providing an opportunity for visitors to learn more about mangrove habitats, the mesocosm will also allow researchers or schools to conduct observations or simple experiments.
Another new exhibit is a viewing pool where visitors can study sea anemones, sea cucumbers, feather stars and other intertidal organisms up close. The Public Gallery will also feature aquariums for visitors to admire coral reef organisms such as sea fans, sponges and reef fish, and learn about NParks’ coral conservation efforts.
Singapore’s first Marine Park spans about 40 hectares, encompassing Sisters’ Islands and the western reefs of both St John’s Island and Pulau Tekukor. The Sisters’ Islands Marine Park serves as a platform for outreach, educational, conservation and research activities related to our native marine biodiversity. The location was chosen due to its variety of habitats including coral reefs, sandy shores and seagrass areas.
NParks developed and curated the St John’s Island Trail to encourage public appreciation for its rich biodiversity and the history of St John’s Island and Sisters’ Islands Marine Park. The trail is part of NParks’ outreach initiatives on marine biodiversity under NParks’ Nature Conservation Masterplan, which consolidates Singapore’s biodiversity conservation efforts to help achieve Singapore’s City in a Garden vision.
The 2.8 km St John’s Island Trail comprises 15 stations marked with signboards that serve as both station markers and educational resources, highlighting the diversity of flora and fauna as well as the island’s colourful history.
St John’s Island is rich in local history. Since 1604, the island was marked on explorers’ maps. The island was planted extensively with crops in the mid-19th century, before it became a quarantine centre. In 1948, parts of the island were converted into a detention centre for political prisoners such as C. V. Devan Nair, who later became Singapore’s third President. From the 1970s onwards, the island has been mainly used for recreation and is popular with beach-goers and picnickers. Today, it serves as a base for marine research.
When you are on the island, try spotting Singapore’s tallest bird (1.15 m), the Great-billed Heron. It uses its dagger-like bill to spear large fish. This species is locally critically-endangered due to habitat loss.
Jurong Lake Gardens (JLG) is envisioned to be Singapore’s new national gardens in the heartlands, a people’s garden for leisure and recreation, and a model for sustainability in green development.
The 90-hectare gardens will comprise JLG West, JLG Central and JLG East. JLG West is currently undergoing development, and is scheduled to be completed in 2018. JLG Central and JLG East will be completed from 2020 onwards.
You can begin to enjoy JLG West from 2018! Look out for a meandering boardwalk that will bring people closer to nature, a nature-themed play area for kids, and a community lifestyle and water sports facility for activities such as kayaking and dragon boating.
JLG will be the first national gardens in the heartlands. It will complement two existing world-class national gardens – Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG) and Gardens by the Bay (GB). SBG’s strength lies in its botanical emphasis, research and heritage value, whilst GB’s strength is in its themed gardens and sustainability efforts. JLG’s focus is to be a people’s garden accessible to all segments of the community.
JLG will be a unique leisure and recreation destination amongst the other major parks including East Coast Park, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Pasir Ris Park, and is strategically located to serve the western region of Singapore.
JLG is a vital green infrastructure that contributes to Jurong Lake District’s vision to be ‘a leading model for Singapore in developing a mixed-use urban district that is sustainable, smart and connected’. It will feature sustainable design systems and smart technologies that enable sustainable operation.
With more than 100 species of native plants on-site, the enhanced Native Garden @ HortPark by The National Parks Board (NParks) has the highest concentration of native plants, including edibles, shrubs and trees, in a single location in Singapore.
The Garden aims to promote the use of native plants in gardens and will provide visitors with a wealth of information on their uses (for food, medicine and timber), how they support native fauna, how they can be used in landscapes, and how to grow them.
The Native Garden features different landscapes that showcase native plants in their various natural habitats, and demonstrates how native plant species can be effectively used for urban landscaping. Aiming to provide an immersive experience, visitors will be able to see the Lasia spinosa in its native aquatic habitat, and the Lumnitzera littorea in its native mangrove habitat. These landscapes also provide habitats for fauna. In the rainforest zone, the running water from a man-made stream and the use of a combination of logs and rocks help to mimic a rainforest habitat conducive for insects, small mammals, reptiles and birds.
Visitors will also be able to explore the five zones where plants are categorised based on how they are used – as medicine, food, timber or to enhance habitats for birds and butterflies. Rare species such as the Nephelium maingayi, which has edible fruits that resemble hairless rambutans and taste like rambutans, can be found in the Food Zone, while the Knema globularia, which is found in the Bird Zone, has fruits that are eaten by the Oriental Pied Hornbill.
This project marks another step towards water sustainability. When completed in 2020, it will produce up to 30 million gallons of fresh drinking water per day.
Leveraging its close proximity to the sea and reservoir to enhance water supply resilience, the Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant is poised to be a lush green gem along the Eastern Park Connector Network with its innovative design.
Keppel Infrastructure Holdings Pte Ltd (Keppel Infrastructure) and PUB, Singapore's national water agency, have unveiled the innovative design of the Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant, Singapore's fourth desalination plant, at its groundbreaking ceremony conducted recently at the Marina Barrage.
The first of its kind in Singapore, the Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant will be a large-scale dual-mode desalination plant in Singapore that can treat both seawater and freshwater. Depending on wet or dry weather conditions, water is channelled either from the Marina Reservoir or the sea to the plant, where it will be treated.
The plant also achieves multiple uses of land, with underground treatment facilities and 20,000 square metres (sqm) of open green space on the rooftop for community recreation.
All of the plant's water treatment equipment will be located underground, topped off by a gently sloping green lawn as its roof.
The desalination plant will also incorporate environmentally friendly features such as rainwater harvesting. Rainwater collected will be used to irrigate the green roof and support the facility's water features and landscaping needs.
Nature reserves are protected areas of rich biodiversity that are representative sites of key indigenous ecosystems. To safeguard the native flora and fauna in these areas, there are special restrictions on the activities that can be carried out.
As part of a holistic conservation approach, some nature parks have been established on the margins of the Nature Reserves to act as green buffers.
The National Parks Board (NParks) has unveiled plans for a new 67-hectare Rifle Range Nature Park, which will serve as the southern buffer park for Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and is expected to be completed in 2020
The 67-hectare Rifle Range Nature Park is located at the southern end of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. As a buffer park, Rifle Range Nature Park will help to reduce visitorship pressure on Bukit Timah Nature Reserve by providing interesting alternative venues for the public to enjoy nature-related activities.
Being next to the nature reserve, Rifle Range Nature Park provides complementary forest habitat for biodiversity from Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Surveys indicate that native flora species growing in the nature reserve can be seen at the fringe of the nature park. Visitors may be able to chance upon native fauna species such as the Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica) and Horsfield’s Flying Squirrel (Lomys horsfieldii). Native crabs, frogs, fishes and snakes can also be seen in the slow-flowing sandy streams.
Visitors will be able to experience the canopies of a regenerating secondary forest through a Sky Garden. It is an elevated walkway that provides a seamless experience from Beauty World to the Sin Seng Quarry.
The former Sin Seng Quarry will be sensitively enhanced to support the rich biodiversity in the area. The quarry was once one of the deepest quarries in Singapore (55 metres at its deepest point), but has since been backfilled. It will be transformed into a freshwater habitat with alook-out point for visitors to appreciate marsh birds.
Hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty will also be added to give visitors a chance to learn more about the history of quarrying in Singapore and the heritage highlights within the site.
Aerial rope bridges across Rifle Range Road will be provided to allow animals to move safely between Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Rifle Range Nature Park. The first such bridges in Singapore, they aim to restore the ecological connection between the two forest habitats.
Enjoy a whole new experience at Jewel Changi Airport! Set to open in early 2019, the mixed-use development located in front of Changi Airport’s Terminal 1, features a hotel, exciting attractions, aviation facilities as well as retail and dining offerings - all across a 10-storey complex.
Offering a sneak peek into the lifestyle and recreation attractions at Jewel, Changi Airport on Wednesday (June 7) shared plans to create lush indoor gardens, mazes, slides and walking trails to complement a 130-room hotel and 300 retail and dining outlets.
The newly-unveiled elements of Canopy Park on level five of Jewel, spanning about 14,000 sqm feature three iconic play attractions – Sky Nets, Canopy Mazes, and Discovery Slides.
It will become easier to go car-lite in the city, with the transformation of Bencoolen Street, and as the Government lines up a series of other infrastructural projects and initiatives to make walking, cycling, and riding public transport more pleasant and conducive.
Bencoolen Street has been revitalised, with 2 of the 4 original car lanes converted into wider walking spaces for pedestrians, and a dedicated cycling path. Pedestrians can now enjoy the lush greenery along the open walkway, and take comfortable walks using the sheltered link-ways connecting various transport nodes to nearby developments, such as Manulife Centre and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).
To inject vibrancy into the streetscape, the Urban Redevelopment Authoriry (URA) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) collaborated with students and alumni from NAFA to design and install a series of unique benches that line Bencoolen Street today. More than 125 new bicycle parking lots have also been installed at key destinations along the street.
The dedicated cycling path along Bencoolen Street will connect to existing and future cycling routes all over Singapore. The Bencoolen Street cycling path will link up to Queenstown-City to the west, Bishan-City and the North South Corridor to the north, and the Central Area cycling network to the south. The Central Area cycling network extends from the Marina Bay area, and connects to the eastern part of Singapore via the East Coast Park.
Located off Venus Drive at the Upper Thomson area, the 75-hectare Windsor Nature Park is a green buffer for the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
Visitors can explore new trails including the specially curated Hanguana Trail and the Drongo Trail. The Hanguana Trail is lined with rare native plants, some of which are named after Singapore. The Drongo Trail features a sub-canopy walk where visitors can catch a glimpse of the fauna that are found under the canopy level, in addition to examining the understorey of the regenerating secondary forest.
Discover other highlights of Windsor Nature Park such as a marsh habitat and several freshwater streams by hiking on the restored trails and new boardwalks. Visitors can also join workshops to learn about Singapore’s natural heritage and ongoing biodiversity conservation efforts at the visitor pavilion.
The Learning Forest is located in the new Tyersall-Gallop Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It is designed to integrate with the existing 6-hectare Rain Forest to form an enlarged forest habitat.
The Learning Forest features a network of boardwalks and elevated walkways that allow visitors to explore habitats ranging from a freshwater forest wetland to a lowland rainforest.
Visitors can learn about freshwater forest wetland ecosystems at the Keppel Discovery Wetlands and walk amongst a collection of some of the tallest tree species in Southeast Asia at the SPH Walk of Giants.
Other highlights of the Learning Forest include themed collections showcasing trees with interesting forms and bark, a bambusetum, and an arboretum of wild fruit trees.
At MOC Restaurant & Bar, they will bring to you authentic Vietnamese food as seen on the streets of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. They believe that the best chefs in Vietnam are on the streets cooking in their makeshift stalls which they spent their entire adult life mastering that one dish. Opening soon at Greenwood Avenue.
For the past 3 years, they have been meeting the Vietnamese street chefs and learning from them their secret recipes. MOC's ingredients are brought over from Vietnam weekly where they fly over personally and hand-carry back to Singapore. They have even imported a whole oven and flour just to re-create the famous Banh Mi!
The National Parks Board (NParks) announced plans for the development of an approximately 1 hectare Ethnobotany Garden at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This new themed garden which should be completed by late this year, will allow visitors to learn about plants used by indigenous cultures of Southeast Asia, including Singapore. The Ethnobotany Garden, the first of its kind in Singapore, will enhance visitor experience by providing insights into the various uses of plants in the region, and strengthen the Gardens’ position as a world-class botanic garden.
Development of the Ethnobotany Garden will complement the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ UNESCO World Heritage status, supporting its Outstanding Universal Value by showcasing its unrivalled collections of economic, medicinal and ethnobotanical plants, the largest such collection in Southeast Asia. This new garden feature will also enhance the Gardens’ role as an educational provider, which is in line with UNESCO’s mission.
The Ethnobotany Garden will be set up in the Bukit Timah Core and located at an area historically known as the Economic Garden (See map in Media Factsheet). This section of the Gardens was traditionally used for experimenting with plants with potential commercial uses, many of which were first derived from traditional uses.
The fifth NEWater plant located at Changi has launched yesterday. The plant spans 49,000 sq m, and produces enough water to fill 92 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
NEWater, a pillar of Singapore's water sustainability strategy, is high-grade reclaimed water. Produced from treated used water that is further purified using advanced membrane technologies and ultra-violet disinfection, it is ultra-clean and safe to drink. With the opening of this fifth plant (jointly developed by a foreign and a local company), Singapore's NEWater capacity increased from 30 to 40 per cent of the Republic's water demand of 430 million gallons per day.
Singapore will reclaim land through the development of a polder at the north-western tip of Pulau Tekong. This innovative, cost-saving method, to be used for the first time here, will be adopted by the Housing & Development Board (HDB) for the upcoming land reclamation project.
Construction will commence at the end of next year, and the reclamation is slated for completion around 2022. The plot of land to be added is equivalent to the size of two Toa Payoh towns and would be used for military training. Unlike the traditional method of infilling with sand, this new “empoldering” method involves creating a tract of reclaimed land from the sea or a surrounding water body, by constructing a dike and a network of drains, water pumping systems and canals. It will substantially reduce the amount of sand needed for land reclamation, and reap savings on upfront construction costs.
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve has just reopened after undergoing a massive $14 million restoration and revamp.
Experience nature in its pristine form at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, which is a mere 12 km from the bustling city centre. By virtue of Singapore’s location on the equatorial belt, the reserve has one of the richest and most diverse ecological systems. Visitors will see an astonishing variety of plant, animal and insect life, typical of a humid equatorial climate.
This 163-ha reserve includes Singapore’s highest hill, Bukit Timah Hill, which stands at 163 m and retains one of the few areas of primary rainforest in the country. The forest on the hill has been a botanical collection ground for more than a century, and the first known specimens of many species of Malayan plants have been obtained here.
Home to around 40% of our nation’s (native) flora and fauna, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve has been a favourite spot for those looking to get close to nature. Some of these flora and fauna species include the Shorea curtisii, Red Dhup (Parishia insignis), Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) and Malayan Colugo (Galeopterus variegatus).
From a swimming pool in natural settings to forest trails and an eco-friendly hawker centre – these are some of the facilities that Sembawang residents can look forward to at the new integrated sports and community hub being planned for the town.
The project is co-developed by Sport Singapore, National Parks Board, Ministry of Health, Alexandra Health System, National Environment Agency, People's Association and National Heritage Board.
The Admiralty House, which is a historical national monument, will also be incorporated into the design.
Other facilities at the development could include multi-play courts and primary and senior care centres.
In a bid to improve the well-being of residents and to help seniors age gracefully, the National Parks Board (NParks) has launched a new therapeutic garden at HortPark.
Located at Hyderabad Road, this is the first time a therapeutic garden has been developed in a public park in Singapore. It features elements of horticultural therapy, which is the use of plants and nature to benefit and stimulate the human mind.
Every detail in the garden is said to be strategic. Vibrant-coloured flowers were chosen as an uplifting visual stimulant, while there are also pastel-coloured flowers on display to give a calming effect. Pandan leaves were also planted to activate the sense of smell.
Greendot was founded in 2011 with the vision to change people's perception that vegetarian cuisine was boring and unappealing, and to help people take that first step to make a positive impact on themselves, the community and the environment. At Greendot, they provide well balanced, home cooked meat-free meals using fresh, quality ingredients. They serve a wide selection of menu items to cater to your different needs.
If you are looking for a well balanced meal, you can try out the bento set where you can customize your own meal from a selections of fresh mushrooms, konnyaku and soy based products, and stir fry vegetables; if you are someone looking for a flavourful meal, you can try their Laksa or Tom Yum noodles, cooked fresh daily from scratch; if you are visiting with your family or friends, you can order the mushroom pot set for 4 where you can share a pot of nourishing soup with a basket of fresh mushrooms and vegetables.
The Republic now has an “Avenue of Heritage Trees” — trees that have been silent witnesses to several milestones in Singapore’s growth as a city-state, including the declaration of independence and the first National Day Parade in 1966.
Connaught Drive in the civic district was christened as such after 22 of its rain trees were earmarked as heritage trees — the largest number recognised under the National Parks Board (NParks) Heritage Tree Scheme in a single avenue.
That is half of the total number of rain trees lining the road, which flanks the Esplanade Park. And the Avenue of Heritage Trees will soon form part of a new three-kilometre Civic District Tree Trail.
From May 1, guided walks will be held monthly along the trail, which starts at the Istana and goes past various landmarks such as the National Museum, St Andrew’s Cathedral and Waterboat House, before concluding at the Raffles Landing.
The trail is also being designed to showcase its natural history, including the trees along Connaught Drive, which are up to 150 years old. A trail guide will be available on NParks’ website.
Last year, five Angsana trees were transplanted to the Esplanade Park to recreate a spot frequented by couples between the 1960s and 1980s, better known by its Hokkien name “Gor Zhang Chiu Kar” (or “under the shade of five trees”).
The original trees were removed when they were hit by the Angsana Wilt, a disease that destroyed many mature Angsana trees in Singapore in the early 1990s.
Take a step back into nature at Oasia Hotel Downtown, where you can enjoy luxurious comfort within a towering vertical garden.
The hotel is covered with a verdant green facade, complete with alternating 30-metre tall sky gardens. Added convenience comes from having the MRT right at your doorstep; guests will be situated right in the heart of Tanjong Pagar, one of the city’s hippest areas chockfull of bars and eateries.
On the 40th floor, nestled between the clouds and a 15,000-square-feet Sky Forest, Artemis is a new Singapore landmark showcasing the Mediterranean’s rich culinary heritage with the freshest organic produce.
Elevated above the hustle and bustle of the city on the rooftop of CapitaGreen, the restaurant and bar offer spectacular views of the urban skyline to the sea beyond.
With dining for 120 and private room seating of up to 40, as well as a breezy outdoor terrace ideal for savouring a broad portfolio of wine, cocktails and craft beers, Artemis embodies grand Mediterranean hospitality where the sky is the limit.
The Tiny Roaster is a tiny artisan Coffee Roasting Studio & Handcrafted Brew Bar in Clementi.
They are a tiny coffee roasting studio & brew bar in Clementi, West Coast serving up fresh in-house roasted specialty grade coffees sourced from around the world.
Visit their coffee studio for a chilled-out coffee experience, where they hand brew their coffees for you, and share in their love for the delicious coffees of the world.
Also available daily are Roasted Coffees, Green Coffees, Bottled Cold Brews, Home Brewing & Roasting equipment, accessories, and other merchandise.
This is their 2nd outlet that served delicious comfort food such as their best-sellers: beer battered fish & chips, french style escargot and chargrilled chicken.
Not only that, they also bring in more than 50 type of beer from around the World. If you are looking for a place to chill, relax and enjoy nice food pairings with a bottle of iced cold beer, this beer garden is the place for you.
Marina One, an award winning integrated development, within the prestigious Marina Bay financial district, is set to usher in a new concept of living, working and entertaining at the heart of Singapore’s vibrant new CBD. Set amidst an abundance of greenery, Marina One comes alive through the design of world-renowned architect Christoph Ingenhoven, a leader in sustainable Supergreen architecture and integrated development concepts. Marina One is built on four land parcels in Marina South.
Marina One will comprise of 2 blocks of 30-storey prime Grade-A office spaces, 2 blocks of 34-storey luxury residences called Marina One Residences, and The Heart, a 3-storey retail podium that covers over 140,000 square feet within Marina One offering a plethora of shopping, lifestyle and signature culinary outlets surrounded by lush greenery of over 65,000 square feet and its adjacent parks – Marina Station Square and Central Linear Park. In addition, Marina One will offer its residents and office-goers, excellent views of the city skyline, sea and Gardens by the Bay!
Marina One Residents can rejuvenate in the wide-array of recreational facilities such as a 50m lap pool, Jacuzzis, saunas, wellness sanctuary, putting green and a 200 square metre gymnasium. Residents can also entertain their guests in the Resident’s clubhouse with concierge counter, Private Dining rooms, private lounge, Teppanyaki and BBQ terraces. Marina One Residents will also enjoy seamless connectivity to 4 out of 6 MRT lines via underground pedestrian links to Marina Bay, Downtown and future Shenton Way MRT Stations. Marina One will also be connected to Raffles Place via a future underground link!
Whether traditional aluminium cases or light luggage made of the high-tech material polycarbonate, the Rimowa design is unmistakable due to the groove structure of its case shells.
Inspired by celebrated botanical artist and environmentalist Margaret Mee, Rimowa introduces its most lavish and luxurious collection to date ? Bossa Nova. With a hint of wilderness, this collection is designed to resemble the mysterious lush greenery found in the magnificent Amazon forests in Brazil.
An innovative approach and exceptional demands when it comes to quality are just a couple of the aspects that make Rimowa one of Europe's leading luggage manufacturers.
Lupicia is Japan's most popular tea specialty store, known for great tasting, high quality teas from around the world.
They sell a range of over 100 carefully crafted and beautifully packaged teas for everyday drinking and gift giving. Be it black, green, oolong or herbal teas, their fresh approach to tea brings the modern individual on a delightful journey through seasons and around the world.
Travellers like good location, great value and excellent access around the city great; Chancellor@Orchard offers nothing less.
Located in Orchard Road, Singapore’s largest shopping district is therefore accessible within walking distance from the hotel.
At Chancellor@Orchard, they believe modern travelers have a green heart and respect for the environment. The hotel is Green Star rated, having adopted environmentally-friendly construction methods and materials. Besides harvesting rainwater for watering the plants around the hotel, all electrical equipment in the hotel are green ticked. Furthermore, each room is equipped with filtered water dispenser so that you can consume water without wasting a single plastic bottle. Environmental conservation is greatly valued, and we will spare no effort to uphold it.
The 28-metre long lap pool at the rooftop is the place to unwind. There is a wading pool for children as well. Alternatively, relax under the green canopy and enjoy the view of the lush greenery within the Orchard Road belt.
Stoned by Q (SBQ) is the first in-house jewellery brand created by home-grown multi-brand handbag and accessories store, Quintessential.
The brand offers a range of affordable jewellery that looks contemporary, spare and minimalist yet remains well-priced and beautifully presented. The main design component of each piece is a natural semi-precious stone/stones or quartz set against 18k gold-plated over brass. The extensive line includes necklaces, rings, bangles and earrings with new designs introduced every month.
All your favourite multi-coloured semi-precious stones are available: rose quartz, lemon topaz, citrine, green onyx, moonstone, turquoise, London blue topaz, malachite and black onyx.
Bounce Smoothie Bar specializes in premium creamy smoothies with a refreshing difference. They don't just fill each cup full of fruit. They pack them with exciting unexpected flavours that will keep you coming back for more. From Their special Signature Range to tasty Green Smoothie mixes and a fun Kids selection, they always have a delicious smoothie waiting for you.
Bounce Smoothie Bar uses only real fruit & veg, 100% pure juice and none of that icy sugary frozen yoghurt stuff!
The latest edition to the Keong Saik district is an urban Izakaya, Neon Pigeon.
Inspired by the world of flavours found in the hidden spots of Tokyo and the underground culture of buzzling cities like New York and Hong Kong, the establishment is a vibrant social house offering great value for money and the soul of a Japanese Izakaya with a punch of urban grit.
With a selection of starters (appropriately named ‘Bird Feed’), soups, greens, seafood and meats, Japanese snacks are given a modern and in-house twist at Neon Pigeon. The Izakaya-style menu, designed for tastings, serves up dishes in ‘small’ or ‘large’ portions and you are recommended to order six to eight small dishes to share between two people.
A look at the menu and you will notice the heavy use of classic, no-frills Japanese flavours in the condiments and among the assortment of "Bird Feed", is a cold dish of Chilled Cucumber with home-mixed crushed chilli peanuts, nori (seaweed) and goma (sesame), as well as the Tsukune Sliders, an east-meets-west combo of a Japanese meatball patty and a western slider bun, coupled with pickled kyuri (Japanese cucumber) and tare (soy basting sauce) aioli.
Keeping up with the fun-sharing concept, Neon Pigeon also offers a large format dining option of Barbecued Pork Shoulder for groups of four to six. With a two-day advance order required, the hearty fare of pork shoulder is slow-cooked for 20 hours and served in a black pepper teriyaki glaze, with a ginger scallion dipping sauce, bibb lettuce wraps, steamed buns, a spring onion salad, onigiri rice cake, kimchi and pickles to complement.
Also an integral part of the concept’s underground vibe is the Neon Pigeon bar. The bar’s Japanese-inspired drinks list includes a selection of Japanese beers and whiskeys, each a representative of different prefectures, as well as a curated list of spirits and Japanese inspired speciality cocktails. These include Throw A Kyuri-Ken, a vodka-based cocktail with a refreshing touch of lemon juice, yuzu and cucumber, as well as Harajuku Girl, a mix of gin, shiso leaf, and plum bitters.
The bar also houses a selection of sake of varying fragrances and complexity, including a range of Junmai, Daiginjo, Ginjo and Honjozo sakes, that were all hand-picked from sake distilleries across Japan to complement the dishes offered at Neon Pigeon.
Specially designed by US-based EDG Interior Architecture + Design, the Neon Pigeon space at The Working Capitol building on Keong Saik is built to own the vibe of a hidden spot off the main street only known to the locals, as a veiled corner of an urban metropolis. The exterior shows only a fluorescent pink pigeon, lit when in business, while the interior is paved with raw elements of steel and bricks that are softened with sophisticatedly designed wood finishing, giving the social hangout an urban grit with comfort and familiarity – an atmosphere reminiscent of Shibuya district in Tokyo or East Village in New York. A semi-open concept kitchen is also featured, with the action in the kitchen open for a close-up view.
A final and crucial touch to the space is the loud graffiti work plastered on the walls of the interior that gives the restaurant a touch of the underground New York City vibe. The team had specially commissioned local visual artist, ZERO to create these murals.
Bonia will open its first two Natural boutiques in Singapore that feature eco-friendly handbags, in Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 of Changi Airport on this coming April and May.
The brand is marking another milestone by sketching the beauty of nature into the new page of its fashion story- the opening of the first two Natural boutiques in Singapore. The ecofriendly themed boutiques pinned its locations on the nonstop entertainment spot (Terminal 2, Changi Airport) as well as the "green" terminal of Singapore (Terminal 3, Changi Airport), which match the fun and "green" concept of BONIA’s Natural boutiques.
Decorated with a combination of elegant and contemporary furnishings along with the elements of nature, Natural boutiques’ interior design indulges you into the charm of enchanting nature.
To fulfill your desires of shoppers, Natural boutiques are also featuring other remarkable collections of Bonia-for him and for her.
Bonia’s designers infused their love for the Earth onto the new collection of Brianna. The thick leather strips are carefully stitched onto the green leather-made handbags to ensure its durability. Bonia’s thoughtful designers replace the gold logo plaque of its brand into embossed logo, offering you a truly eco-elegant hand-carry experience. To bring out the modernistic stylishness of this collection, Bonia’s designers decided to tag a pair of leaf-shaped charm onto the plain handbags. The variety designs and colours make Brianna handbags a perfect mix-and-match portable vault of your expected needs. Handbags are not all of Brianna collection.
Complete your natural collection with its simple-designed purses and pouches. To meet the requirements and needs, these accessories are designed to be functional with its compartments and variety of sizes. With these practical accessories, you can now farewell to the label of "Lost and Found Department" for your handbag, as every bit and piece of yours can more manageable. More than just practical, the stylish purses and pouches are available in various colours to match your handbag as well as your attires.
Though leather is made from natural material; however, this fact does not make leather eco-friendly. To make leather, it takes up to 15 steps of chemical process. With the constant effort of 20 years and hope against hope in the Italian manufacturers, they succeed in reversing the 15-step chemical process in making leather- and that’s Green Leather, made from high quality raw leather, natural oils and vegetable dyes.
Skinny Salads offers a carefully curated menu of Skinny, delicious Asian-inspired salads and wraps, assembled on-site using premium ingredients and fresh greens.
Enjoy a Japanese twist in your salad with their Soba & Watercress salad - Daikon, cabbage, cucumber, pickled ginger, spring onion, mint, watercress, seaweed, toasted sesame seeds, Asian salad, topped with soba & ginger-shallot dressing.
Their Organic Chicken & Spinach Salad makes a perfect reunion of all the trusty hearty ingredients : Roasted chicken, fresh corn, spinach, red radish, sunflower seeds, parsley, chickpeas and cumin-yogurt dressing.
Bottle Tree Park has re-opened as Orto, one of the largest privately-operated leisure parks in Singapore, covering 51,500 sqm of land in the Northern area of the island.
A treasured green lung bearing an interesting collection of tropical greenery, beds of colorful shrubs and boulders with a beautiful, scenic lake. ORTO introduces an eco-learning journey with a rich array of plants and trees. Embark on a learning escapade into nature and retreat into the fauna and flora experience with a botanical stroll.
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, relax and unwind under the glorious sunshine and summer breeze. ORTO is easily accessible and conveniently located and extensive recreational and social-friendly activities in the park such as prawning, fishing and futsal makes it an ideal place for family and social gatherings. ORTO also features outdoor event venues such as The Lakehouse and The Promenade for school activities, family functions, wedding receptions, corporate events, product launches, and seminars.
The rustic yet elegant feel of the park presents a unique dining setting in this modern, urban city. Delight your senses with the serene ambience, delectable menus and gracious service in a medley of restaurants and cafes beside the lake. From scrumptious seafood to fusion cuisines, light bites or seated dining, ORTO has it all.
Enjoy their Vegenature salad made of broccoli, mushroom, pumpkin, capsicums, onions, almond and flakes. Perfect for all veggie lovers / vegetarians, it is mixed with their Japanese Sesame dressing. Or their Greek Apple salad made of lettuce, green apples, walnut, raisins, turkey ham, bacon bits and tossed with their home-made Maple Bacon dressing.
You can also create your own salad or enjoy their selection of fresh juices.
Queen's Garden isn't a fancy smancy restaurant. It is where you can dine comfortably in a warm and cosy environment within the Garden of the Queen of Hearts.
They serve western style dishes with an elegant touch of fusion flavours, every plate is pleasantly and wonderfully created.
Try out their Signature salads, made full with love along with their favourite Garden Greens.
A.e.i.o.u. is a newly opened café lifestyle store where nature, food and lifestyle come together.
The café and retail space sits in a shop house at King George’s avenue. Build in the mid 1970, the shop house used to house an antique shop.
A.e.i.o.u. are the vowels of the alphabets we all learn as a child. It is about going back to basics where the theme centers on a lifestyle of green conscious living. It is a space that hopes to inspire you to enjoy life’s simplicity, consume goodly and appreciate nature.
Part café, part restaurant and lifestyle store with touches of nature and herbs, it is a place for inspiration and reflection.
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, 33 Hendon Road
