Botanical garden from the future

Gardens by the Bay

Sometimes it pays not to have a specific plan what to do in a city. While wandering aimlessly along the Singapore river, I caught sight of Marina Bay Sands, a resort that Lonely Planet describes as a "fish slapped on top of three towers". I recall seeing photographs of this resort on the internet some time ago and since it looks so intriguing, I went to have a closer look.

Marina Bay Sands

Behind the resort I noticed signs directing towards Gardens by the Bay and I followed them. I was completely blown away by what I saw! It's a high tech futuristic botanical garden that opened recently, just a few months ago, that's why it's not on the tourist circuit yet.

Canopy walkway among the supertrees

The first thing one notices are the artificial trees. I wondered what's the purpose of artificial trees in Singapore, where real trees grow everywhere. I discovered that the trees - called supertrees - symbolize sustainability. They are steel structures with solar cells at the top and plants such as orchids and bromeliads growing along the sides. The power from the solar cells illuminates the supertrees at night. The plants are watered by a sophisticated system that collects rainwater and redistributes it via irrigation systems. Visitors can walk high above the ground among the supertrees on a canopy walkway.

The garden includes two conservatories, round buildings that received the "2012 Building of the Year" award. The tropical conservatory houses a tall structure covered in tropical plants and a waterfall. Visitors ride an elevator to the top of the structure - it's 7 floors up - and then gradually walk down steel walkways that wind through the structure.

Tropical conservatory

Walkways through the conservatory structure

Decorations among the planted gardens include steel statues of insects that remind me of Terminator.

Steel fireflies adorn the reservoir

I'm so glad I discovered this garden. I never would have imagined that a botanical garden could be made to look so futuristic.