Gardens by the Bay set to bring in S$1b over next 10 years

Channel NewsAsia 9 Nov 07

SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan on Friday unveiled details of a S$900 million plan to turn Marina South into a lush Eden.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Mr Mah said the Gardens at Marina South is set to be a major tourist attraction, bringing in 2.7 million more visitors each year.

Tourism receipts are also expected to reach some S$1 billion over the next ten years, due to flagship events like the Singapore Garden Festival. The 54-ha development, which is expected to be completed by 2010, will also have space for retail shops and events.

Mr Mah said the world-class city garden will add value to the surrounding real estate, but added that it is not all about numbers.

He said: "I'm sure somebody would come up and say, 'Look, if you had put apartments and offices on this land, you would have created more value!' But is this what we want? Is this what Singapore is all about?"

The two other parks – one at Marina East and the other at Marina Centre – will be built at a later date.

A water-sports area will be built at Marina East, while a park will be incorporated into the Formula One circuit at Marina Centre.- CNA/so

$1b promise of this green oasis
Gardens by the Bay to open in 2010; plans for 'magical' landscape finally unveiled
Tan Hui Leng, Today Online 10 Nov 07

SETTING aside prime land at Marina Bay, next to the upcoming new financial district, for a 101-hectare garden may seem puzzling to some — but there are enormous economic benefits as well as intangible value to be gained from this.

Painting a picture of what a foreign visitor would see, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said: "Imagine you are coming in from the airport … you are driving down East Coast Parkway and then, if you climb over (Benjamin) Sheares Bridge, you will see the city opening up.

"And as you go, you see the beautiful gardens opening up, especially at night. What a magical scene that will be."

At Friday's groundbreaking ceremony of Gardens by the Bay, the complete and detailed plan for this green oasis was laid out for the first time. It includes exotic conservatories housing plants from far-flung lands, themed gardens and extraordinary super-trees on top of which one might entertain.

In terms of cold hard cash, the gardens are expected to draw 2.7 million visitors annually, contributing more than $1 billion to the economy over 10 years.

Those with property in the area could also see the value of their real estate jump — by as much as $8 billion for the whole area collectively, some professional valuers estimate.

Then, there are the intangible pleasures, not just for tourists, but residents too.

Mr Mah said: "We took this position that we're going to make this a wonderful place for all Singaporeans to come and enjoy themselves."

Costing $900 million, the first phase of construction — the 54-hectare Gardens at Marina South — should be completed by end-2010. The other two gardens at Marina East and Marina Centre will be constructed after 2010.

The gardens will strive to be environmentally sustainable, using energy-efficient technology. And while the public will have free access to most areas, there will be entrance fees to some special features such as the conservatories and supertrees.

These are more expensive to build, and indeed, overall construction costs have gone up 30 per cent from the time of conceptualisation to the ground-breaking, said project director Tan Wee Kiat.

What the public pay to visit these few features will go towards offsetting the running costs for the gardens. Even so, there will be an overall deficit.

Meanwhile, the 32-hectare Gardens at Marina East will be located on the western bank of the Marina Barrage and would be an ideal venue for water sports if Singapore wins the bid for the 2010 Youth Olympics, Mr Mah said.

And the 15-hectare garden at Marina Centre could even hold the Formula 1 building, racetracks and grandstands.

Summing up the vibrancy the gardens would bring, Mr Mah said: "If you had put all apartments and offices on this land, you would've created more value. But is this what we want? Is this what Singapore is all about?"

Super sky-creepers
The 18 SuperTrees at the upcoming Gardens at Marina South are the first of their kind in the world
Tay Suan Chiang, Straits Times 10 Nov 07

IMAGINE enjoying a glass of champagne in a bar atop a giant tree, surrounded by lush greenery and with a bird's-eye view of the new Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort and the whirling Singapore Flyer.

The 50m-tall tree atop which you quaff a drop is not actually a real one though, but one of 18 similar structures called SuperTrees, which have been built to resemble trees, complete with flowers entwining a concrete 'trunk'.

That towering vision of the high life is among the plans unveiled yesterday for Gardens at Marina South, the first of three gardens for the Marina Bay waterfront. It spans 54ha and is smaller than the 63ha Singapore Botanic Gardens.

The three gardens, to be built by the National Parks Board (NParks), are intended to add vibrancy to the new financial hub emerging at the bay, adding to its 'live-work-play' concept.

Work on Phase 1 of Gardens at Marina South - covering an initial 30ha to 35ha and due to open in 2010 - began yesterday at a ground-breaking ceremony by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development.

He told reporters after the ceremony that building Gardens at Marina South is expected to cost $900 million.

When the project was awarded last year, initial estimates of the cost for the three gardens were about $300 million to $400 million.

But Mr Mah pointed out yesterday that they are set to be a major tourist attraction, 'with an estimated annual visitorship of 2.7 million, contributing approximately $1billion to the economy over a period of 10 years'.

According to him, they will also add value to the surrounding real estate and will also boost Singapore's standing as a premier garden city.

Gardens at Marina South is the largest of the three gardens. The others are Gardens at Marina East, which will have terraced water gardens, and Gardens at Marina Centre, which does not have a design yet.

British firm Grant Associates won the contract for Gardens at Marina South last year in a contest involving international landscape architects, architects and planners.

In an interview with Life!, Grant Associates director Andrew Grant, 49, painted a picture of the garden that would turn any visitor green with envy - and make a greenie even more so.

For example, as well as being an awesome sight, the SuperTrees are also functional, explains Mr Grant, whose firm, established in 1996, is known for its ecological park, Earth Centre, near Doncaster in Britain.

Some will collect rain water, which will be recycled and used in the garden. Others will have solar panels on top to trap sunlight for energy. Others will double as exhaust systems.

As well as the SuperTrees - which will be the first such structures in the world, says Mr Grant - there will be two conservatories: a cool, dry one for plants from the Mediterranean environment and a cool, moist one for tropical highland plants. These would be the largest such conservatories anywhere in the tropics, he adds.

The garden itself will be separated into three general areas. The first will have a 'plant and people' theme, exploring the cultural association of plants.

The plants will be split into four 'rooms' to reflect Singapore's multi-racial background. For example, one 'room' could have herbal plants that are used in traditional Chinese medicine, and another might have a coconut tree to reflect its Malay heritage, he says.

On another side of the garden will be a 'plant and planet' area that highlights the significant role of plants. A new rainforest will be created here and will include endangered species of plants found in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Between the two areas is what Mr Grant calls the central spine, where most of the SuperTrees are and where nature and technology meet.

Ah yes, those SuperTrees. Only one will be as high as 50m, and at this early stage, the idea of a bar atop it is only a possibility. The rest of the 18 will be about 25m to 35m tall.

Each consists of a concrete core surrounded by a net-like skin made of steel, where tropical ferns, orchids, climbers and bromeliads will grow, creating a 'trunk'.

Mr Grant says: 'I wanted to create something that will have a 'wow' factor. At night, they can be used as landmark structures when they are lit.'

At their height, these trees will be taller than real ones. Two of the SuperTrees will be connected by a walkway 20m to 25m above ground that visitors could take a stroll on.

As for the conservatories, more awe is in store there, too.

Their designer, architect Paul Baker of Wilkinson Erye Architect, says they will allow plants that are not usually seen in Singapore to be planted.

The 1.4ha cool, dry conservatory will contain an astonishing range of plants and flowers commonly found in the Mediterranean and semi-arid sub-tropical regions, such as rosemary, lavender, roses and proteas. It will also have a large central space in which a display of flowers will change every four to six weeks.

Dr Tan Wee Kiat, NParks' project director and adviser, says this conservatory will allow spring flowers to be grown in Singapore's tropical climate.

The 0.9ha cool, moist conservatory will have a tropical highland environment, with a rainforest inside and a lattice covered with orchids and mosses. It will also boast a 35m waterfall.

Mr Baker, 48, says both conservatories will have 'ribs' on their exterior that provide shade and control the heat entering them.

The temperatures in both conservatories will be kept at 23 degC in the day. 'It will always be at a comfortable temperature for visitors, regardless of whether it is sunny or raining outside,' says Mr Baker. This is his first project in Singapore.

At night, the temperatures will drop to 10 to 13 degC. 'The plants need a cooler environment to flower,' says Mr Grant.

Mr Mah says the conservatories are expected to cost $300 million to build, and to recover the cost of building and maintenance, visitors are likely to pay a fee to enter.

He adds that the conservatories will be built to be energy-efficient, and will consume less energy than an equivalent air-conditioned office building.

Mr Grant says the garden is his firm's most significant project to date, and the goal is to make it the most popular open space in Singapore. Grant Associates beat 170 firms from 24 countries to land the project, and was chosen for its vibrant and colourful concept.

Indeed the garden will be one of many hues. Mr Grant says there will be colourful shrubs planted around the garden, and especially in the conservatories. He will also be introducing new species of plants that have yet to be seen in Singapore. 'There will be thousands of species in the garden,' he says.

An existing lake will also be expanded, with a timber walkway surrounding it.

The garden will be more than a place for green lovers. In the works are also food-and-beverage outlets along the waterfront.

Mr Mah told reporters that work on the Gardens at Marina East and Marina Centre will start only after 2010.

As for Gardens at Marina South and its tree-mendous towers, Mr Grant says: 'I hope visitors go 'cor blimey' or the Singapore equivalent when they see it.'

Bay in bloom
Straits Times 10 Nov 07

A guide on what to expect at the upcoming Marina Bay gardens

# Gardens at Marina South

THE largest of the three gardens, this 54ha garden is located next to the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort. It is designed by Britain-based design firm Grant Associates and highlights include its 18 SuperTrees and two conservatories - one will be dry, the other moist.

# Gardens at Marina East

LOCATED on the western bank of the Marina Barrage, this 32ha garden by Britain-based design firm Gustafson Porter will have a more serene ambience with terraced water gardens. Work on the garden will start after Gardens at Marina South is completed.

# Gardens at Marina Centre

AT 15ha, this is the smallest of the three gardens. Its 2.8km waterfront promenade starts near the Esplanade - Theatres by the Bay and winds towards Kallang Basin. Its design will be firmed up at a later date.

Gardens to do a Garden City proud
Nisha Ramchandani, Business Times 10 Nov 07

Marina South phase to cost $900m, entire project could draw 2.7m visitors a year

(SINGAPORE) The Gardens by the Bay project - comprising three themed gardens at Marina South, Marina East and Marina Centre - is expected to draw 2.7 million visitors a year and contribute around $1 billion of tourism receipts over 10 years.

But the 101 hectare project will not come cheap. The first phase - the 54-ha Gardens at Marina South, slated for completion by end-2010 - will cost $900 million. Development of the 32-ha Marina East and 15-ha Marina Centre gardens will take place later.

Highlighting the intangible value of the gardens, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said that their worth cannot be measured in dollars and cents alone.

'Gardens by the Bay will be a national garden set in the heart of Singapore on prime waterfront land,' he said in his speech at the ground-breaking ceremony yesterday morning. 'Gardens by the Bay will offer a compelling leisure experience for Singaporeans and visitors alike. It will add value to the surrounding real estate.'

According to Mr Mah, the Gardens will boost Singapore's international standing and differentiate it from other emerging cities.

Gardens at Marina South will boast two cool conservatories - a 1.4 ha 'cool dry' conservatory and a 0.9 ha 'cool moist' one - that will exhibit flowers and plants from the Tropical Montane and Mediterranean environments.

The National Parks Board (NParks) is looking into sustainable energy and water technology for the gardens. A commissioned study showed that cooling technology can cut energy consumption for each conservatory to less than that of a comparable commercial building in Singapore of similar size.

NParks adviser and project director for Gardens by the Bay, Tan Wee Kiat, said: 'Singapore is a garden city of perpetual summer. We are bringing spring into the picture. On top of that, the challenge to our staff is to use as many species of plants that are seldom seen in our other parks. Not only that, we want to use them in very creative ways.'

Visitors can also look forward to horticultural show gardens, 'edu-tainment' gardens, a flower market, a space for events and SuperTrees.

SuperTrees are steel structures 25 to 50 metres high that will act as vertical gardens. They will feature tropical flowering climbers, epiphytes and ferns, as well as a canopy to provide shade. At night, the canopies will feature lighting and projected media.

'The most exciting part is this is the most precious part of modern Singapore,' said Dr Tan. 'If you're very pragmatic, that is sold to the highest bidder. Yet this piece of territory belongs to everybody in Singapore.'