THE ULTIMATE PARK

Just five minutes’ walk separate Singapore’s banking quarter and its skyscrapers from a spectacular garden world. After just eight weeks since its opening, ‘Gardens by the Bay’ has already attracted 1 million visitors.

The 101-hectare area is divided into three sections; Bay Central Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay South Garden. The latter was opened in June 2012. Its attractions include a rainforest complete with a waterfall under a 54-metre glass dome, a 1.2-hectare greenhouse for Mediterranean and sub-tropical plans and ‘super trees’ ranging from 25 to 50 metres in height and covered in vines, orchids and bromeliads, and a large botanical garden.

Lighting Planners Associates (LPA) developed an expressive lighting concept under the motto ‘Entertainment with Organic Lighting’. Dynamic light highlights the attractions, such as the waterfall and ‘super trees’, while a discreet play of light and shadows illuminates the paths. The guidelines for the lighting master plan specified low-energy lighting and the virtually seamless integration of the luminaires, to avoid a negative impact on the quasi-natural appearance of the gardens during the day.

These requirements were met with numerous WE-EF luminaires, among others. Symmetric RAIL66 FLC projectors with anti-glare snoots outline the expressive support structure of the gigantic glass dome without offensive light pollution. Bi-symmetric FLB floodlights accent the exotic plants of the ‘Cloud Forest’ and the spiral walkway. GTX, GTY and CTY bollards together with PFL street and area lighting luminaires and STL recessed steplights also light up the paths inside and outside the greenhouses.

Architects: Wilkinson Eyre Architects
Lighting Designer: Lighting Planners Associates