Located off Gambas Avenue, Sembawang Hot Spring Park features new cascading pools and a water collection point, enhanced accessibility for wheelchair users, and educational panels where visitors can learn about Singapore’s only hot spring park’s history and geology. The park's rustic environment, reminiscent of old kampungs, also holds many collective memories for the community.
Visitors can enjoy the new Floral Walk and see fruit trees and edible plants commonly found in kampungs, and flowers commonly seen in the 1960s and 1990s. The rustic environment is further enhanced by unpaved paths and naturalised streams flowing from the hot spring, which mimics the freshwater swamp forest landscape. There are seating areas sheltered by planted trellises featuring flowering creepers such as the Elephant Climber (Argyreia nervosa). The public can also learn more about the history of the site and geothermal processes behind the formation of a hot spring through interpretative signs at locations of interest.
If you live in or near Bukit Gombak and love gardening, you can apply for 70 allotment gardening plots at the new Bukit Gombak Park which will be opened in early 2020. Applications will be open for online application from 5 January 2020, 10am to 19 January 2020, 10pm. The park is located at Bukit Batok West Avenue 5, opposite Bukit Batok Driving Centre. Plots will be allocated by computerised balloting.
To foster a love for gardening, NParks introduced the Allotment Gardening Scheme as part of their Community in Bloom (CIB) programme. CIB is a nationwide gardening movement which aims to bring together residents, young and old, in creating community gardens. With Allotment Gardens situated near HDB residential estates, these plots are widely accessible to the community. Today, more than 1,000 allotment gardening plots have been introduced in 11 parks islandwide.
The National Parks Board (NParks) has opened the 5.4-hectare Cyclist Park, a new recreational space at East Coast Park. Featuring a longer view corridor of the marina vista, Cyclist Park boasts two new cycling circuits targeted at learners and experienced cyclists, a nature playgarden and F&B and retail outlets for families.
Located at Area D of East Coast Park, at the previous site of Goldkist Chalets, Cyclist Park is an active node, complementing the tranquillity of the nearby Raintree Cove that opened earlier this year. A one-stop hub for cyclists, visitors can practise cycling techniques at the two cycling circuits, as well as purchase and repair bicycles. It is also a stop along the Round Island Route (RIR).
The two circuits - the Learner Circuit and Advanced Circuit - are conducive spaces for cyclists to hone their skills. Beginners can attempt the 280-metre long Learner Circuit, where gentle slopes, large expanse of flat areas, and a mini BMX adventure trail help improve balance and stamina. The 500-metre long Advanced Circuit, with its undulating tracks, sharp turns, gradual granite steps and narrow bridge, provides a fun challenge for more experienced cyclists.
Open plazas with multiple entry points have replaced what was once the gated Goldkist Chalets and visitors can now enjoy unobstructed views of the sea. Visitors who seek a more tranquil experience can soak in the coastal ambience while lounging on terrazzo benches under the shelter of ketapang (Terminalia catappa L.) and handkerchief trees (Maniltoa browneoides). There are also two F&Bs, one convenience retail store and a bicycle retail shop that also run bicycle related workshops as well as repair services.
Families with children can enjoy a new nature playgarden at East Coast Park within the Cyclist Park. The playgarden uses natural materials such as upcycled wood to create curated play features for children to engage in spontaneous play amid nature. Young ones can develop a sense of discovery and train their balance at the simple obstacle course, and older children can try their hand at the 1.5-metre tall mini climbing wall installed with grips, that was fashioned from a log.
The opening of Cyclist Park marks the completion of the second of three phases in the rejuvenation of East Coast Park, which aims to create more open spaces and vistas of the sea, improve accessibility and enhance amenities. This follows the successful reopening of Raintree Cove earlier this year. The enhancement will be completed in 2020 with the opening of Big Splash.
Cyclist Park is located at East Coast Park Area D and is accessible via East Coast Park Service Road, via the underpass linking Mandarin Gardens to D3 Carpark and via Siglap Park Connector. The nearest bus stop is 90 metres away and is served by bus number 401.
Pioneers of Singapore’s cafe culture, PS.Cafe opens its eighth outlet, PS.Cafe by the Sea at East Coast Park, making this their first foray out East, away from the hustle and bustle of the city-centre. Inspired by its waterfront location while staying true to the homegrown brand, the menu showcases and celebrates seafood with exclusive dishes, while introducing a special Junior section for the first time.
Starting from humble beginnings in 1999, PS.Cafe began as a cosy cafe hidden within Projectshop clothing store. The charming and understated spot quickly gained a following for its hearty takes on savoury cafe classics, famous truffle shoestring fries and indulgent cakes, puddings and tarts. Since then - over the course of 20 years, PS.Cafe has steadily expanded in Singapore and recently opened up in Shanghai and Seoul this year.
Spanning over 3,000 sq ft, this 120-seater offers a multitude of crowd-pleasers, impeccably suited for friend gatherings, date nights and weekend brunches with loved ones.
The all-day menu at PS.Cafe by the Sea at East Coast Park pays homage to the serene waterfront location with new seafood dishes such as Chargrilled Octopus ($21) - PS.Cafe's spin on a 'char siew' features octopus wok-fried in a homemade sauce served with chilli lime dip, and Lemongrass Mussel & Clam Spaghettini ($29.50) a Thai-inspired pasta topped with portobello mushrooms, black mussels, fresh Venus clams and various aromatics tossed in a sweet and sour sauce.
Additional new creations, exclusive to PS.Cafe by the Sea East Coast Park include:
Poached Ocean Trout Niçoise ($27) a modern twist on a classic French salad with string beans, green olives, capers, spinach and tuna aioli for a refreshing start to the meal.
Chorizo & Calamari Stew ($30) a hearty pot teeming with white beans, fire-roasted peppers, spicy chorizo and tender squid topped with black garlic aioli and a side of crusty bread.
Singapore Chilli Crab & Prawns ($32) a nod to East Coast tradition of chilli crab, PS.Cafe's rendition comprises fried soft shell crab and grilled tiger prawns with wok-crisped mantous, fresh chilli crab dip and jade fried rice.
Signature items that are familiar to fans such as PS. Truffle Shoestring Fries ($16), Tiger Beer-Battered Fish & Chips ($32) and Spicy King Prawn Aglio Olio ($29.50) are also available. An array of hand-stretched pizzas and a multitude of Asian delights will also be on the menu for a stellar communal dining experience.
Adding to the brand's extensive dessert menu, the novel addition of the Banana Surprise Sundae ($16) showcases PS.Cafe's take on the banana split crowned with toasted almonds, chocolate sauce and tangy strawberry compote - a treat to delight any sweet tooth. Also not to be missed are menu stalwarts, Sticky Date ($15) with lashings of decadent toffee sauce and Double Chocolate Blackout Cake ($16) a rich dark chocolate sponge drizzled with dark chocolate sauce.
For the first time, PS.Cafe launches its Junior Menu for children under 12 years old; featuring kid-friendly items such as its iconic Spaghetti Bolognese ($14), Mini Pancake Stack ($12) with maple syrup, bananas and vanilla ice cream, Grilled Ham & Cheese Toasties ($12) with fries, and Cheeseburger and Fries ($13). All items on the Junior Menu come with a complimentary bowl of soft-serve ice cream with chocolate or strawberry sauce.
PS.Cafe by the Sea at East Coast Park's brunch menu with classic-favourites including eggs benedict and pancakes kicks in on weekends at 9.30am until 4 pm. The restaurant also serves breakfast from 9.30am to 11am Monday to Friday, offering staples such as almond chia seed granola and avocado toast.
By 2023, national servicemen will be able to access all their National Service (NS)- and training-related activities in a one-stop centre.
The NS Hub just marked the start of construction in a groundbreaking ceremony officiated by Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen recently.
With the NS Hub, national servicemen will no longer have to report to various camps across Singapore for different NS services.
The new NS Hub will house the Central Manpower Base (CMPB), Military Medicine Institute (MMI) and a new Fitness Conditioning Centre (FCC) to meet all the services that pre-enlistees and Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) need.
It will even include an e-Mart for NSmen to stock up on their combat boots and admin t-shirts!
Currently, pre-enlistees attend medical screening at CMPB at Depot Road, and head to MMI in Kent Ridge for other specialist medical services. NSmen take their Individual Physical Proficiency Tests (IPPTs) at various locations such as Maju Camp and Bedok Camp.
Once complete, the NS Hub will be directly accessible via an overhead bridge from Cashew MRT Station along Upper Bukit Timah Road.
Gone are the long queues to "book in", as national servicemen visiting the NS Hub will be able to register themselves at e-Kiosks equipped with facial recognition technology. They will also be able to perform digital transactions through the NS Hub visitor mobile app and receive personalised responses about their appointments. Such technology is expected to reduce the overall waiting time for medical screenings by 30 per cent!
IPPT will be made more convenient for servicemen. Without having to "book in" to camp, servicemen will be able to do automated In-Processing at the NS Hub’s FCC. They can then simply walk up to the gym for their IPPT Preparatory Training or head to the sheltered running track to take their IPPT. Facing the Rail Corridor, the FCC will be the Singapore Armed Forces’ first purpose-built, all-weather facility for IPPT and fitness training.
Not unlike SAFRA Clubhouses, the NS Hub may well become a go-to spot for national servicemen to relax with their family and friends. The hub will feature a wide range of amenities that are open to the public – these include a food court, a childcare center and an outdoor community area with a running track and football field. For those into live entertainment, the NS Hub will also house the Power 98 Love Songs and 88.3JIA radio stations where visitors can catch their favourite radio DJs live on air. There will also be studios for the public to catch performances.
Visitors to the new NS Hub will be glad to know that the building will make use of renewable energy – energy generated from its solar panels can power more than 110 4-room HDB units a year! The building will also adopt energy-saving solutions such as the use of natural ventilation and solar shades for cooling. The NS Hub will make use of rainwater harvesting to collect non-potable water for irrigation and other purposes.
Previously projected as The Mandai Eco-Link, the upccoming Mandai Wildlife Bridge is part of Mandai Park Holdings' (MPH's) rejuvenation project and is the first of their features to be completed.
In December, the Mandai Wildlife Bridge will be ready and will facilitate safe crossings for local wildlife linking two parts of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. An important component of the new nature and wildlife destination being developed at Mandai, this bridge is part of a larger plan to facilitate habitat connectivity for wildlife within the precinct and its surroundings. Construction of the bridge began in June 2017.
The Mandai rejuvenation project, driven by Mandai Park Holdings (MPH), involves the development of two new wildlife parks - a Rainforest Park and the new Bird Park, a nature-themed indoor attraction, accommodation offerings and public green spaces. These will join the existing Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari to form a new integrated nature and wildlife destination at Mandai.
Slated to be a showcase of environmental sustainability when completed in 2021, Pan Pacific Orchard is Pacific Hotels Group’s first zero-waste hotel with four levels of soaring gardens that will redefine vertical sky-rise typology. The hotel is ideally located along Singapore’s famed Orchard Road with its distinctive luxury brands, high street shopping and dining options right at the doorstep, and the central business district just a 10-minute drive away.
Amongst other innovative elements, Pan Pacific Orchard will feature a rainwater harvesting system, a recyclable water system, and a compactor that turns food waste into compost – which will then be channelled into fertiliser for its sky gardens.
Offering 350 eco-friendly rooms, the latest sustainable hotel to debut in Asia comes complete with a gym, swimming pool, bars and restaurants, a club lounge, and a sky terrace ensconced within its gardens and cascading greenery.
The Gallop Extension is an 8-hectare addition to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It is located next to the Learning Forest and can be accessed via Tyersall Avenue.
Framed by landscapes composed of native plants and forests, the Gallop Extension contributes to the Gardens’ rich heritage and its role in research, conservation, education and recreation. As a natural extension of the Gardens’ nature area, which covers the Rain Forest and the Learning Forest, the Gallop Extension enables visitors to learn about forest ecology and the significance of conservation.
The Mingxin Foundation Rambler’s Ridge and OCBC Arboretum at the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Gallop Extension are now open!
The Mingxin Foundation Rambler’s Ridge is a re-creation of a variety of hill-slope and cliff-edge habitats found in the region, accessed via a barrier-free path. For those looking for an adventure, the ridge-top hiking trail will provide a challenging alternative route to get to the highest point in the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
The OCBC Arboretum serves as a site for conservation and research of dipterocarps, a family of trees which form the backbone of the region’s tropical rainforests. More than 200 dipterocarp species are represented here.
Royalgreen by Allgreen Properties comprises 285 exquisite freehold homes along Anamalai Avenue, just off Bukit Timah Road.
Royalgreen is easily accessible by both car and public transport. Sixth Avenue MRT Station is within 5 minutes’ walking distance, from there the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Marina Bay Financial Centre, and Newton MRT Interchange are just a train ride away. By car, Orchard Road and the PIE are also readily reachable.
The National Parks Board (NParks) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) have announced that enhancement works for the former Bukit Timah Railway Station and its surroundings as a community node will begin early next year. At a community event at the station, Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong also shared that the Friends of Rail Corridor will be leading the community in activating the reopened stretches of the Rail Corridor along its southern half, and announced plans for a new linear park that is partly elevated above the Bukit Timah Canal – the Bukit Timah-Rochor Green Corridor. The new linear park will add to and complement Singapore’s network of recreational connections, which includes the Rail Corridor, Round Island Route and Coast-to-Coast Trail, and altogether, the connections will provide the public with more recreational options, and more opportunities to explore the outdoors and connect with nature in our City in a Garden.
Over the last two years, works to enhance Rail Corridor (Central), the 4 km stretch of the Rail Corridor between the Hillview area and the conserved Bukit Timah Railway Station, have been ongoing and guided by three key themes: Heritage and Culture, Biodiversity and Greenery, and Recreation. The works include improvements to trails, restoration works for the truss bridges, construction of a new pedestrian underpass at Hindhede, and habitat enhancements. In early 2020, enhancement of the former railway station and its surroundings as a community node will begin.
The conserved Bukit Timah Railway Station is a distinctive landmark of Rail Corridor (Central) and the community node will feature a strong sense of history, distinctive landscaping and ample public spaces. Works to restore the Railway Station building and the former Railway Station Staff Quarters will be carried out sensitively and in line with conservation guidelines. The buildings will showcase their original railway features, while being repurposed for the public’s use and enjoyment. At the same time, the 8 Mile Platform will be constructed near the Rail Mall to provide amenities such as a shelter and toilet. It will act as a rest stop and an access point to the Rail Corridor.
To provide even more recreational options for visitors, NParks will be developing the Bukit Timah-Rochor Green Corridor. The Bukit Timah-Rochor Green Corridor is envisioned as a journey through a riverine forest and will include a linear sky park elevated above the canal. It will connect to the Rail Corridor near the Bukit Timah Railway Station community node. Visitors, including users of the Coast-to-Coast Trail, can look forward to a unique walking and cycling experience set amidst lush greenery. The first phase of the project comprises 1.4 km and stretches from the Rail Corridor to Elm Avenue. Construction is expected to start in 2021, dovetailing with PUB’s canal improvement works. In the future, the corridor may be extended to Kallang Riverside Park, totalling 11 km.
Located at 39 Ewe Boon Road, Juniper Hill by Allgreen Properties is nestled on higher ground within the exclusive Bukit Timah-Tanglin enclave. Within the freehold development, beautiful landscaped gardens across various levels create an elegant living experience immersed in nature.
Your home at Juniper Hill comes with complimentary concierge services* to ensure that your everyday needs are well taken care of. In addition, enjoy daily delivery of fresh bakes, laundry services, and assistance with hotel room bookings and F&B reservations from Shangri-La Hotel*
Some of Singapore’s most reputable schools are within 1 kilometre of Juniper Hill, including Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road), Singapore Chinese Girls’ School, Raffles Girls’ School and St. Joseph’s Institution.
Juniper Hill is within walking distance to Stevens MRT Station, part of the Downtown Line and a future interchange for the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line in 2021. From there, it is a direct and easy connection to the Central Business District and Marina Bay Sands.
Green up your living or working space with a low-maintenance terrarium that you can easily put together at The Green Capsule.
Located at Funan, The Green Capsule is founded in 2014 by two green enthusiasts. Together, they want to bring their love for greening to new heights. They aim to be one of the first garden shops to provide customizable and sustainable gifts.
The Source Bulk Foods at Cluny Court is the first Singapore branch of Australia’s largest bulk foods and zero-waste retailer. They carry a wide range of pantry staples, numbering over 350 products that include premium whole foods and treats, and packaging-free household products. The opening marks a step towards cultivating healthy lifestyles and building a healthier planet, right here on the little red dot!
Founded in 2012 in Byron Bay, Sydney, Australia, The Source Bulk Foods has established itself as a pioneer of sustainable living, promoting an ethos of zero packaging, as well as encouraging customers to buy and use only what is needed. The brand also prides itself in offering good old-fashioned service – shopping at The Source Bulk Foods is akin to dropping by a friendly neighbourhood grocer, where customers are received with a warm and genuine welcome.
Celebrating the opening, Rob Behennah, Master Franchisor of The Source Bulk Foods, Southeast Asia, shares, “We are incredibly excited to open Singapore’s very first The SourceBulk Foods store! We are as much about providing nutritious products as we are about embracing a zero waste goal, and creating a healthy community. Our passionate team looks forward to delivering wholesome food, nourishing families, and in doing so, take a hands-onapproach to nurturing our planet.”
The Source Bulk Foods encourages customers to bring along refillable bags, containers, or jars, as well as purchase as much or as little as needed. Franchise Partner, Sarah Widjaja, who is also a full-time Nutritionist, explains, “The Source Bulk Foods is revolutionising the way we shop. At every step of the way, suppliers, retailers, and customers can reduce their use of unnecessary packaging and single-use plastics. By buying only what is needed, we can alsominimise food waste.”
Shopping at The Source Bulk Foods is simple and fun, involving just three easy steps: grab a bag (or refill a jar), write the product code, and fill the bag with the desired amount of the chosen product. Customers then proceed to the cashier, where their groceries will be weighed, and payment can be made.
Visitors may browse the store’s affordable range of products, which have been carefully sourced and selected for quality, and which caters to vegan, paleo, organic, and gluten-free diets.
Stocked with plenty of ingredients for the kitchen, The Source Bulk Foods is every homecook’s dream! Pick from beans, grains, seeds, and flours, to herbs and spices, nuts; whether raw, insecticide-free, roasted, salted, or smoked, as well as a variety of cooking oils and condiments.
The newly-opened Singapore Botanic Gardens Seed Bank is an important step in safeguarding plant biodiversity in Southeast Asia through conservation, research and education. Collecting seeds for storage helps to build a valuable resource for habitat restoration and species conservation. But different seeds need to be stored in specific conditions, hence the Seed Bank will advance extensive research in this area. Go learn about seeds and the science of seed storage at a new interpretive gallery and outdoor garden!
Scoop Wholefoods at Tanglin Mall offer a wide variety of raw organic and natural wholefoods for their customers at affordable prices combined with flexible, quantity and selection. From nuts, dried fruits, spices, rice, pasta, tea and chocolates to freshly made nut butters and so much more.
Specialising in bulk bins, Scoop Wholefoods is committed to reducing peoples dependence on single use plastic. You won't find a plastic bag in their store.
Scoop Wholefoods source their products primarily from certified Australian and New Zealand growers and suppliers. They make every effort to ensure that other products come from ethical and sustainable sources.
In order to keep carbon footprint as light as possible, they make minimum use of packaging and chemicals in their activities as part of their contribution to the local community and the long term well-being of our planet for this and future generations.
Wildseed Café at The Alkaff Mansion is an offshoot of the original that opened at The Summerhouse in 2017. This second Wildseed is a floral café offering all-day dining of pastries and cakes created by the accomplished 1-Group Executive Pastry Chef Jasmin Chew, with brunch on weekends.
Alfresco seats in the courtyard, amidst tall leafy trees, some as old as the mansion, imbues the café with outdoorsy vibes.
Wildseed is a social hub: a charming, instagrammably picturesque nexus where friends meet friends, families spend weekend outings, and strollers unwind on an exploration of the hill park.
There’s artisanal coffee by Avanti and a fine selection of teas; even a play area for kids. The café will organise regular family- and pet-friendly activities and events as well as kids’ workshops – it’s the perfect place to luxuriate in nature, and watch the day slowly unfold in the soft dappled sunlight under the shade of grand old trees.
UNA finds a new home on the second level of the newly-relaunched Alkaff Mansion. A rich patina of romance washes over the restaurant, from the lovingly restored ebony-hued timbers of the pitched ceiling and floors; to the gorgeous, contemporary lighting feature showering down like silver and crystal rain; to the extraordinary view like a tropical mirror of the rolling green hills of the Basque country.
The floor plan centres on a spacious dining hall, with 2 private rooms easily created through sliding glass panels if privacy calls. Adjacent to the main hall is the UNA bar and dining porch, where an aperitivo can be sipped while taking in the view before or after dinner.
UNA is a homage to the art of gastronomy and living well. Its Spanish roots are wedded to the dynamic individualism of Basque cuisine, resulting in a menu of Basque-inspired dishes and popular favourites from the former establishment crafted using the best produce sourced locally as well as from the Basque and Spanish regions.
Among the signatures are Fideua De Calamares (squid ink Spanish noodles paella with crispy calamari), Pulpo A La Parrilla Con Papas Arrugadas Y Mojo (tender octopus grilled over a charcoal fired parrilla grill accompanied with baby potatoes and a coriander and paprika sauce).
There is also the rich and comforting Paella De Chorizo Y Habitas (classic family-style paella slow cooked with savoury chorizo, fava beans and aromatic saffron), Paella de Mariscon (classic seafood paella with bomba rice, prawns, clams and mussels, enriched with generous touches of saffron) and the evergreen Cochinillo Asado (Spanish crispy roasted suckling pig).
The desserts present decadent Spanish sweets such as Chocolate & Olives, Arroz con Leche de la Abuela (a fragrant Spanish rice pudding served with sherry grapes and a sherry reduction) and Classic Churros, served with spicy pecan chocolate sauce.
At UNA Bar & Lounge, a selection of tea infusion cocktails complements the food.
Living life with gusto, UNA takes diners into the romantic heart of the Basque.
Fort Canning Park is an iconic hilltop landmark has witnessed many of Singapore’s historical milestones. The hill once sited the palaces of 14th century Kings and served as the Headquarters of the Far East Command Centre and British Army Barracks. The decision to surrender Singapore to the Japanese on 15 February 1942 was also made on the hill, in the Underground Far East Command Centre, commonly known as Battle Box.
Today, Fort Canning Park features nine historical gardens - the Pancur Larangan, Artisan’s Garden, Sang Nila Utama Garden, Jubilee Park (Phase 1), Raffles Garden, First Botanic Garden, Farquhar Garden, Spice Garden and Armenian Street Park.
Accompanying these gardens are wayfinding and trail guides which will allow visitors to plan their own trail and explore the hill at their own pace. Visitors can also download the augmented reality trail, BALIKSG: The Fort Canning Trail. The app will bring park visitors on an interactive journey through Fort Canning Park, revisiting the hill back when it was known as Bukit Larangan or Government Hill. The total length of the trail is about 2.5km, with eight checkpoints placed throughout the park including the various gardens. Visitors can look out for the AR marker in the park and start the app at any point.
To get to Fort Canning Park, visitors can make use of the covered escalators from Fort Canning MRT station and Bras Basah MRT station to the top of Fort Canning Park.
Fort Canning Park is a venue for celebrations. Its expansive, sprawling lawns play host to concerts, theatre productions and festivals such as Shakespeare in the Park, Ballet Under the Stars, Shakespeare in the Park and Films at the Fort, while weddings, parties and gatherings are a regular sight in the park's venue spaces. Its ancient artefacts are a must-see for history buffs, and its lush greenery and expansive lawns offer a variety of arts, heritage and nature experiences. Whether you are drawn by the park’s ancient artefacts and rich heritage or simply its tranquility, this hilltop park offers something for the whole family.
View here for the map of Fort Canning Park. Click here to read more about the enhanced Fort Canning Park.
Nothing manifests Basque vibrance like pintxo culture with its air of hedonistic, after-hours revelry. Located on the ground level of newly-relaunched Alkaff Mansion, TXA Pintxo Bar is the first and only bar in Singapore singularly dedicated to this experience. The letter combination ‘Txa’ is unique to the Basque language, forming the sound ‘cha’ which incidentally occurs in Hokkien to mean ‘noisy’, and in Cuban inspiring the dance cha-cha.
Pintxos (pronounced pin-chos) are small snacks served in bars to accompany drinks; and the bar-hopping culture this engenders is also referred to as pintxos. To eat at TXA is to be immersed in the uninhibited buzz of a pintxo bar in the Basque country. It is loud, fun and authentic.
Drinks include Spanish beers, wines and ciders. At the bar is a selection of signature cocktails based on wine, designed to complement the flavours of the pintxos, such as the Tinto de Pintxos created with red wine, pisco, and sweet vermouth as well as The Mansion created with brandy, Grand Marnier, cherry liqueur, and angostura bitters.
The lure of the pintxo culture really gets under one’s skin at TXA; and a stream of Basque-related activities aims to get people even closer.
Free-wheeling TXA is the vibrant soul of the Basques.
A culture needs a home and a proper theatre. The house on the hill, with its beauty and mantle of history, was ideal. The Alkaff Mansion is today a multi-concept Food & Beverage destination housing the Basque-centred TXA Pintxo Bar and UNA, while also housing all-day floral café Wildseed Café – each distinct and embodying a different character.
Restored and relaunched, Alkaff Mansion has become the centre of Basque culture and lifestyle. The greenery and hills, the visible coastline, echo the Basque homeland; the history and architecture, the centrality of food and social life, further the parallels.
The Alkaff Mansion celebrates, indeed flaunts, all things Basque: capturing its verve and heart; showcasing its produce, cuisine and wine. It does this in truest authenticity through a profound partnership with Basqvium, keeper, curator and tireless advocate of Basque cuisine and culture both in and outside Spain. Hand-in-hand with Basqvium through the shared platform of Basque Culinary Institute, 1-Group unites key facets of the essential Basque to create The Alkaff Mansion.
The deep synergy reflects into the experience in multiple ways, seen and unseen: through the rare Basque wine and spirits served in-house, the exclusive Basque produce and authentic Basque flavours, all the way to the Basque members within the team. The cuisine especially benefits from the inclusion of Basque chefs, Marta Elvira Segalés and Silvana Pascual Romero, into 1-Group’s own Spanish Cuisine Development Team which also comprises 1-Group’s talents such as Head Chef Tom Kung of UNA. Day to day, these key members of this development team also take personal care of kitchen operations at The Alkaff Mansion, so that research and theory becomes real; materialising in plate after plate of Basque cuisine on the plate of The Alkaff Mansion diners.
Seated on its hilltop, the Alkaff Mansion has witnessed the passage of time for a hundred years. This 2-storey Tudor-style building was built in 1918 by a member of the prominent Arab family, the Alkaffs.
In 2005, the Alkaff Mansion was accorded conservation building status by the URA, ensuring its key architectural features would be preserved for posterity. Following a number of years when it was left vacant, the mansion was again restored in 2011 to become an Italian restaurant until 2016. The second makeover cost another S$5 million.
In year 2022, residents of Bidadari estate will be able to enjoy a new regional park. This announcement was made by the Housing and Development Board (HDB). Bidadari Park is a multi-agency collaboration between HDB, national water agency PUB and the National Heritage Board (NHB).
The 10-hectare Bidadari Park will feature a lake, a 700 metre heritage walk, a 6-km experiential trails and a play area for children.
Apart from retaining of more than 350 mature trees in the area, the park will also be welcoming more than 2,000 new trees.
“At strategic locations, observation decks, viewing sheds, and pavilions will serve as tranquil rest spots for visitors, offering different views of nature in a rustic and naturalised setting,” said HDB.
Lakeside Garden is the 53-hectare western section of the Jurong Lake Gardens. Visitors can now enjoy the first phase of Singapore’s third national gardens and the first national gardens in the heartlands.
Jurong Lake Gardens is a people’s garden and the design of the garden took into consideration the feedback that was received after extensive consultations with the community. In developing Jurong Lake Gardens, NParks also worked with their partner agencies, Sport Singapore (SportSG) and People’s Association (PA), to enrich the diversity of recreational experiences and programming for visitors.
In addition, Lakeside Garden was developed with a strong emphasis on nature, community and play, based on feedback received during our public engagement sessions. Jurong Lake Gardens is a green recreational node that leverages on its distinctive lakeside setting. It contributes to the larger plans for the Jurong Lake District in promoting sustainability and a healthy living environment by providing more spaces for recreation amidst lush greenery, restored wetlands and habitats for biodiversity and with vibrant programming for the community. With its opening, Lakeside Garden provides the community with a space to gather and bond, and create shared memories.
The 90-hectare Jurong Lake Gardens comprises three segments:
Lakeside Garden (Jurong Lake Gardens West/ former Jurong Lake Park)
Chinese and Japanese Gardens (Jurong Lake Gardens Central)
Garden Promenade (Jurong Lake Gardens East)
Lakeside Garden is centred around the themes of nature, play and the community. The garden has been developed sensitively to retain the serenity of the area whilst incorporating spaces for the community and recreational needs. Capitalising on its waterfront location, Lakeside Garden has spaces for all to enjoy amid nature, greenery and lakeside views. Visitors will have many opportunities to get close to nature in Lakeside Garden.
Children aged between five to 12-years-old will enjoy Forest Ramble, which is the largest nature playgarden in the heartlands. The 2.3-hectare play area comprises 13 different adventure stations for children to explore, and emulate the movement of animals which inhabit a freshwater swamp forest. Read more about the facilities at the newly-opened Lakeside Garden here.
The National Parks Board (NParks) has commenced works on the new Bukit Gombak Park. Located at Bukit Batok Batok West Avenue 5, opposite Bukit Batok Driving Centre, the 4.8 ha park will feature a hill trek, a nature playgarden and other recreational facilities amidst nature and lush greenery to serve the different needs of residents. The park is scheduled to be opened in early 2020.
In planning for the new park, NParks engaged residents to gather feedback on features they would like to have in the park. In response to the feedback received, the new park will feature a Nature Area and an Active Area to meet the diverse recreational needs of the community.
Located on a hill, the Nature Area will allow park goers to appreciate nature up close. The main feature of this area is an inclined looped 400m hill trek modelled after the trails in Bukit Timah. Besides alleviating visitorship pressure on the nearby Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the hill trek will help residents to stay healthy in nature.
NParks, together with the community, will be planting more than 2000 trees comprising some 16 species of trees, such as the critically endangered Yellow Flame (Peltophorum pterocarpum), and others like Belinjau (Gnetum gnemon) and Pink Mempat (Cratoxylum formosum) trees.
The Active Area will feature an open lawn for events, an outdoor fitness area, a community garden, a F&B outlet and public toilets. The existing basketball court next to Block 394 will also be incorporated as part of the park.
Other features at the Bukit Gombak Park will include a biophilic playgarden which will encourage children to play amid nature. A slide will be integrated into the natural sloped terrain and there will be nature-inspired play equipment, such as balancing beams set amongst trees and shrubs.
The park will also include a 480 sqm dog run, the first in the Bukit Gombak area. It will be sited on a flat terrain for dogs to run without leash, with benches for dog owners to rest.
Do you enjoy taking nice long walks in lush greenery, or exploring the outdoor spaces around you? Go on an adventure from coast to coast with the launch of the new Coast-to-Coast Trail!
The Coast-to-Coast Trail is a 36 km trail that spans across Singapore. Stretching from Jurong Lake Gardens in the west to Coney Island Park in the northeast, it will take users through a variety of parks, park connectors, nature areas, places of interest and urban spaces. Some of these include Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park in central Singapore, and Sengkang Riverside Park, in the northeast of our island.
You can choose to explore the trail on your own, using a DIY trail guide or mobile app. Or for a more immersive experience, you can also look forward to participating in activities and programmes that will be organised along the trail. These include experiential and interactive features such as interesting way-finding signs, fun game stations and viewing areas to spot wildlife.
Raintree Cove at East Coast Park has re-opened and it offers scenic views of the sea, plus plenty of areas to rest, lounge, or just hang out with friends and family. Perfect for those who prefer a quieter and more tranquil experience at the park! It is also home to the only pavilion with a green roof in East Coast Park.
Head down to Raintree Cove at Area C for a visit this March!
Raintree Cove is located at East Coast Park Area C and is accessible via East Coast Park Service Road. It is accessible from the underpass linking Marine Terrace to C3 Carpark and via Siglap Park Connector.
The Nature Playgarden at HortPark is a biophilic playgarden set within nature and designed with natural materials – perfect for young explorers! Surrounded by greenery and sounds of nature, the Nature Playgarden at HortPark is designed with pre-schoolers in mind to encourage children to spend more time outdoors and reconnect with nature. Let children’s imagination run wild as they explore the nine different play features!
Catered to children between 3 and 6 years old, they can explore a balancing and crossing valley made from logs, hide in a bamboo dome while peeking out to overlook the valley, and work together to build houses and castles using timber cookies, wooden poles, and other natural materials. There are 9 different play features specially designed for children to engage with nature in a fun, free and unconstrained way.
Read more about the various features of the Nature Playground here and plan a trip to check it out soon.
Jewel Changi Airport (Jewel) and Shiseido have announced the naming rights partnership of the Shiseido Forest Valley; a wondrous 4-storey indoor ‘forest’ which will allow visitors to experience the Japanese appreciation of nature, beauty and art.
Jewel (scheduled to open on 17 April 2019) will have one of the largest indoor collection of plants in Singapore, with about 22,000sqm of space dedicated to landscaping throughout the complex. The Shiseido Forest Valley will complement Jewel’s wide array of retail and F&B activities, allowing visitors to shop and dine amidst a resplendent indoor forest. Visitors can even take a gentle hike up two cobblestoned walking trails, the East and West Trail, punctuated by idyllic cascading waterfalls and mist clouds.
Made up of more than 900 trees and palms and about 60,000 shrubs, the curation of the indoor forest took concerted effort. Before the installation of the Shiseido Forest Valley, trials were first done in a polytunnel (or hoop greenhouse) to simulate the actual in-Jewel temperature, humidity and light levels. Applying these optimal growth conditions eventually resulted in the dynamic forest experience and selection of plants that visitors will see in Jewel.
The 4-storey incline of the Shiseido Forest Valley also influenced the types of flora selected. For example, the shrubs chosen are shade-tolerant and have adapted to space constraints, just as understorey plants have in real forests. Whether dining at spots overlooking the Shiseido Forest Valley or strolling through the trails, visitors to Jewel can expect an awe-inspiring experience when they walk through this climate-controlled space.
The National Parks Board (NParks) recently unveiled the Forest Restoration Action Plan for the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Nature Park Network. The Action Plan will chart the restoration that will be undertaken over the next 10 years to regenerate the secondary forests in the Nature Parks buffering the two Nature Reserves, as well as disturbed patches within the Reserves. This will assist the forests to regenerate and approximate a mature forest landscape in time.
The Action Plan seeks to strengthen the resilience of our native rainforests by restoring ecological processes, and enhancing the biodiversity and ecological connectivity in these areas. This will improve the habitats for native biodiversity. It is also timely to assist with the succession of the early secondary rainforests to more mature and diverse rainforests over time. This will strengthen the resilience of our forest landscapes to climate change, and will be achieved through a science-based approach that will involve the sustained planting of native rainforest species.
The approach will comprise the planting of a framework of native species that are nitrogen fixing to naturally improve the soil condition, and those that will attract dispersers and pollinators. The regenerating forest will be assisted further by the removal of invasive weed species. Dominant primary rainforest species, which might be limited by dispersal or are rare in occurrence, will also be introduced. In restoring these forests, efforts will also be directed towards the regeneration of riparian vegetation alongside natural streams to further conserve this sensitive habitat.
The Forest Restoration Action Plan is integral to NParks’ habitat enhancement and restoration programme under its Nature Conservation Masterplan (NCMP). Launched in 2015, the NCMP charts Singapore’s plans for biodiversity conservation.
The Action Plan was announced during a recent tree-planting session to mark the commencement of restoration efforts at the upcoming Rifle Range Nature Park, which will be completed in 2020. It is one of the areas to be restored under the Action Plan.
Oasis Terraces in Punggol is Singapore's first new-generation neighbourhood centre.
The seven-storey Oasis Terraces is located along Punggol Drive and adjacent to Oasis LRT station. It houses a neighbourhood centre, a polyclinic, and a sheltered community plaza. It is envisioned to be a place that provides fun shopping, promotes healthy living and fosters community bonding.
Oasis Terraces overlooks the waterfront and boasts a community plaza with a state-of-the-art LED display for screening and advertising opportunities. At Oasis Terraces, residents and visitors can satisfy their retail and lifestyle needs, all under one roof.
At a recent launch event for the 160th Anniversary celebrations of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the National Parks Board (NParks) unveiled their plans for the 8 ha extension to the Gardens along Gallop Road. Comprising an arboretum which will hold 200 to 300 species of dipterocarp forest species, Singapore’s first permanent collection of botanical art on display, a restored ridge-top habitat and a biophilic play area, the Gallop extension brings the total area of the Gardens to 82 hectares – the largest in its 160-year history. For the first time in Singapore, visitors of all ages and abilities will be able to explore and appreciate native forest ecology in one location, furthering the Gardens’ mission of connecting people with plants.
As Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Singapore Botanic Gardens has a rich history of research, conservation, education and recreation.
With its rolling terrain of open lawns framed by landscapes of native plants and forests, and featuring two conservation buildings, the Gallop extension will continue the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ heritage roles in research, conservation, education and recreation. As a natural extension of the Gardens’ Nature Area which covers 6 ha of primary rainforest and the Learning Forest, the Gallop extension will enable visitors to learn about forest ecology and the importance of conservation in a single location when it opens in late 2019. The extension will also buffer against urban development surrounding the native flora and fauna within the Gardens’ UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read more about the various new features of this green project here.
Fourth Avenue Residences by Allgreen Properties Limited is a collection of 476 exclusive homes nestled amidst lush greenery and bungalow areas in the prime district 10 of Singapore. It is served by Sixth Avenue MRT Station at its doorstep and surrounded by prestigious schools.
From Fourth Avenue Residences, you are connected to the rest of the island via major expressways. Sixth Avenue MRT Station is right at the doorstep of Fourth Avenue Residences. Residents will enjoy a direct covered linkway to the station.
Fourth Avenue Residences is the perfect canvas to express your personal taste and lifestyle. Ranging from 1 to 4-bedroom, every unit has a practical layout that is flexible enough to accommodate your changing needs.
UnPackt is the first zero-waste specialty grocer and wholesaler in Singapore to offer packaging-free shopping. Following the debut of their well-received flagship store, they recently established their second store in the heart of the central business district at Downtown Gallery.
You can pick up quality groceries and daily lifestyle products in your own containers. UnPackt helps you to minimize food waste and excessive plastic packaging, while saving you money on your grocery bill.
Unpackt is also a social enterprise which aims to employ single parents and elderly, with an aim to cultivate a conscious community within the neighbourhood.
Gardens by the Bay's new outdoor garden attraction, Serene Garden, is a unique horticultural garden inspired by the minimalist concept of Japanese zen gardens. A tranquil 2-hectare space located just a stone’s throw from The Meadow, visitors can get a brief respite from the hustle and bustle of the city life as they enjoy an intimate encounter with nature.
Serene Garden, a calm and peaceful green space is just a short stroll away from the popular Supertree Grove. Taking 3 years to conceptualise and build, the outdoor themed garden offers scenic views of the city's beautiful skyline as its backdrop while bringing visitors closer to nature — truly a uniquely Singaporean experience.
Serene Garden is open daily from 5.00am to 2.00am to the public and admission is free. Read more about Serene Garden here.
As part of enhancement plans announced earlier this year to restore the rich history of Fort Canning Park, the National Parks Board (NParks) will be refreshing the Archaeological Dig exhibition for the first time in 17 years. First completed in 2001, the 17-year-old site houses an archaeological dig site, artefacts found around Fort Canning Park and educational panels on the history of the artefacts. NParks will be improving the exhibition area to allow for more hands-on interactive spaces. Interpretation panels on the various soil layers and embedded artefacts will also be updated and improved.
The historically significant site will include a new outdoor garden and the area will be renamed Artisan’s Garden as it is believed to be the site of a 14th century palace workshop. The existing shelter of the exhibition will be expanded to include a wider gallery space, new interpretative panels and display showcases. There will be three zones within the new site. The first zone will have an introduction to the site as well as an open space for workshops. There will also be a sand pit where organised groups can experience simulated hands-on archaeological excavation activities. The second zone will have multimedia educational panels on the artefacts including recent discoveries, giving a glimpse of past life on the hill. Artefacts from the 14th to 19th centuries will also be on display. The third zone will feature interactive educational play features for visitors of all ages to learn about archaeology and the history of the site. As part of educational opportunities for visitors to learn more about archaeology and the history of Fort Canning Park, NParks will also be developing a range of archaeology-related programmes and activities.
The site will be closed from November 2018 and reopened in June 2019.
Reprovisions is a new zero-waste bulk store which is now open in Jurong Point. You can even get freshly grounded nut butter (without any additional oil, salt or sugar) on the spot!
Reprovisions is a bulk food store where you can purchase various unpackaged items through the weigh-and-pay concept.
They serve your needs and cravings as they stock healthful foods such as superfoods, nuts and dried fruits, as well as eclectic indulgences such as long licorice candies and handmade chocolates. They also cater to homemakers and cooking enthusiasts with their range of spice blends, Asian mixes and staples.
At Reprovisions, they aim to provide you with items from the best sources, so you can refill and relish with them!
A green corridor adjacent to the Bukit Timah First Diversion Canal (between Holland Green and Holland Plain) is now open.
Reaching almost 1km in length, this green corridor features rain gardens, vegetated swales, and wetland systems. The diverse native plants and forest tree species provide a conducive environment for flora and fauna including the Grey Heron, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Malayan Water Monitor and many dragonflies.
The green corridor runs along Holland Plain and you can get there via Holland Road or Holland Link.
Jelutung Harbour Park has officially reopened after a major facelift and it is now a recreational hotspot for the Sembawang GRC residents.
The new water play area and an iconic adventure / interactive playground, along with an inclusive play area for children of all ages, especially for children with physically challenged and special needs are the major highlights of the revamped park.
The new water-feature playground in Jelutung Harbour Park operates from 9.30am - 9.30pm daily and it is something not to be missed!
A new Entrance Plaza with an improved amphitheatre also allow for more group gatherings or community events in the future.
Residents can also enjoy the enhanced basketball court and BBQ pits in the park. All these features make Jelutung Harbour Park a great destination for the whole family!
Nestled in the green leafy suburb of Greenwood, Mo & Jo Sourdough Burgers is an intimate 30-seater restaurant with outdoor seating and it is also child & dog friendly. Take the opportunity to sit at the bar to watch their chefs create your favourite burger in the open kitchen.
Mo & Jo Sourdough Burgers serves up honest burgers, where simplicity is key, where burgers are made from real bread and filled with wholesome good quality ingredients.
Eunoia Junior College will move into its permanent Bishan site at the end of 2019, ready for the commencement of the school term in 2020. The Bishan campus is situated at the junction of Sin Ming Avenue and Marymount Road, overlooking Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and both Bishan and Ang Mo Kio estates.
Eunoia Junior College will be the first high-rise junior college in Singapore, with two academic blocks 10 and 12 storeys high respectively. A library with splendid panoramic view towards Bishan Park sits at the top two floors of the 10-storey block, allowing all to be inspired by the green serenity of Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. A 900-seater theatre will be equipped for performances, seminars and cohort-based lectures, on top of a range of seminar rooms, learning rooms, science laboratories and other special programme rooms.
The college will also be the first school in Singapore with an elevated track and field stadium as part of its infrastructure. A full 8-lane track, field, space for sports and games, and a viewing gallery will be located at the top of the structure adjacent to Marymount Road. The field shelters various student interaction areas from the sun and rain, including music rooms, CCA rooms, a dance studio, a multi-purpose hall, a 900 pax auditorium and various arcades for mass activities.
It is specially designed with features that bring about restorative effects to our mental well-being and relieve stress. The garden includes edible and fragrant plants, a calming water feature and is wheelchair-friendly.
Threpeautic Garden at Choa Chu Kang Park is the first of its kind in the western part of Singapore. There are three other such gardens at HortPark, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Tiong Bahru Park. Two more will be opened by the first quarter of 2019, bringing the total to six around the island.
The National Parks Board (NParks) has opened the approximately 1 hectare Ethnobotany Garden at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This new themed garden is the first in Singapore where visitors can learn about plants used by indigenous cultures of Southeast Asia; and it features a centre for ethnobotany which complements the outdoor landscape with an interpretive exhibition of artefacts and interactive elements.
The Ethnobotany Garden is in the Gardens’ Bukit Timah Core and located at an area historically known as the Economic Garden. This section of the Gardens was previously a space for experimentation with plants that had potential commercial applications, many of which were first derived from traditional uses.
Development of the Ethnobotany Garden is aligned with 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 enhances the Gardens’ role as an educational provider, which is in line with UNESCO’s mission.
From the first half of 2020, residents of Sembawang will have a uniquely designed Bukit Canberra – an integrated sport and community hub, that will inspire them to live better.
To be opened in phases, the 12-hectare hub will provide amenities such as a hawker centre, indoor and outdoor sport facilities, a polyclinic, a senior care centre, green spaces for community farming and lifestyle related amenities for the community within a lush and naturalistic environment.
The revamped Sustainable Singapore Gallery at Marina Barrage presents an overview of Singapore’s commitment to sustainable development. While there are exhibits that chart the milestones which brought about the high quality living environment Singaporeans enjoy today, the focus in many parts of the Gallery is on the challenges ahead and the steps people in Singapore need to take together as a nation to keep the country smart and green.
The Gallery is organised into six zones, tracing Singapore’s response to climate change, our water management strategies, zero waste initiatives and efforts to keep Singapore clean, green and sustainable, including investments in renewable energy.
The interactive panels and multi-sensory exhibits will appeal to the young and old. There are also interesting artefacts such as a porcelain figurine presented to Dutch economist Dr Albert Winsemius in 1993 after he famously lost a wager, with Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his team, that the Singapore River could not sustain life.
Admission is free to the 1,618 sqm gallery. Free guided tours are available for booking through PUB website. Read more about the gallery and its different zones here.
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has awarded the BCA Universal Design* (UD) Mark to 26 exemplary projects this year. Kampung Admiralty is one of four completed developments, to clinch the apex UD Mark (Platinum) award.
Kampung Admiralty designed by WOHA Architects comprises two 11-storey residential blocks and offers 104 units of Studio Apartments. Integrated with healthcare, eldercare, childcare and commercial facilities, Kampung Admiralty serves as a one-stop hub that encourages social interaction and active living through its innovative design, communal spaces and sustainable features.
As reflected in its name, Kampung Admiralty is envisaged to foster greater community bonding and reignite the kampung spirit of yesteryear.
Kampung Admiralty is Singapore's first integrated development that adopts UD principles extensively to create an inclusive, well-designed and user-friendly environment for senior residents of all abilities to live comfortably and independently. For instance, the development incorporates a 900-seater hawker centre which is well-lit and well-ventilated as well as a medical centre which brings specialist care and day surgeries targeted at common ailments faced by the elderly. In the flat, elderly-friendly features include grab bars, the use of non-slip vinyl floor, the installation of retractable laundry hanger and built-in induction cooker. The active-ageing hub also offers day programmes for seniors and has day care and rehabilitation services for those with greater needs.
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.
Share on : 
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
Digg
Email This
, 33 Hendon Road
