Gardens by the Bay: Fully- Loaded Awesome Facts Worth Your Attention

Singapore is a beautiful and affordable destination that attracts many visitors all around. I am sure most of you have already been there. So, what strikes your mind when you hear this majestic word? I know you are thinking of its towering skyscrapers, a supersonic metro system, glitzy shopping malls, the sea, and various parks

You might get this imagery about the country as it strives to stand at the forefront of modernity and is not often associated with nature.  However, today Singapore has embraced the challenge of becoming a ‘City in a Garden’ and developing an eco-vibe for the future. And, the Gardens by the Bay, a tech nature park that spans over 250 acres on the Marina Reservoir, may be considered a part of building a sustainable green future. 

So, walk through the post to learn everything about this memorable attraction to put your best foot ahead!

Gardens of the Bay- An Overview

For those who have not yet visited there, let me tell you that Gardens by the Bay is a colossal nature park in the heart of the metropolis on reclaimed land, the marina reservoir. It is a renowned tourist hub for nature lovers and horticulturalists alike for its three waterfront gardens;

1. Bay Central Garden – 37 acres
2. Bay East Garden – 79 acres
3. Bay South Garden – 130 acres

Do you know? The massive size of the gardens can contain about 188 football fields! Cool right?

In 2005, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced this garden to become a national icon and a major urban outdoor appeal in Singapore and become a City in a Garden! 

I’ll Tell You How the Gardens by the Bay Were Built?

Initially, where the Gardens by the Bay stands now was just sea, sand and soggy soil. Then following an international design contest, Grant Associates, a landscape architecture firm, was selected in 2006 by the National Parks Board of Singapore to begin the Bay South Garden masterplan design. This is the largest of the three gardens at the Marina Bay. 

With the Grant Associates, the British design team for Bay South included:

1.  Wilkinson Eyre (architects)
2. Atelier Ten (environmental design consultants)
3. Atelier One (structural engineers)
4. Land Design Studio (museum and visitor center designers) 
5. Thomas Matthews (communication designer) took part to work on the project. 

And, the once barren site devoid of drains, roads, and electricity took shape from the Grants Associates masterplan inspired by the form of an orchid. It was built with an elegant fusion of nature, technology, and environmental regime.

Finally, in 2012, the massive garden was officially opened to the public view, and later, by 2015, it topped the bucket list of every tourist stepping onto the shores of Singapore.  Some of the unique highlights of the Gardens by the Bay are attributed to the following architects and designers:

• Wilkinson Eyre Architects designed the Cool Conservatories consisting of the Two giant biomes, the Flower Dome (1.2 hectares) and the Cloud Forest Dome (0.8 hectares), to provide an edutainment space within the gardens with flora from all climatic regions of the Mediterranean.

• Grant Associates architected the 18 Supertrees that are of a height of up to 50 metres in the iconic vertical gardens that are a wow factor. This vertical display consists of climbing tropical flowers, ferns, and epiphytes. These Supertrees come to life at night with dazzling lighting and projected media. And an aerial walkway is constructed to give a unique perspective of the floral fantasy. 

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Even the Horticulture gardens were crafted by the Grant Associates in two collections: The Heritage Gardens and The World of Plants Centre. This is a spectacular-colored foliage landscape with mass flowering that offers a spectacle of color, fragrance, and texture inside the gardens leaving a mesmerizing effect on its visitors. 

You won’t believe that the Gardens by the Bay has received three renowned awards: The Landscape Award from World Architecture News (2013), The Best Attraction in Asia Pacific from Travel Weekly (2015), and The Best Attraction Experience (2019) from the Singapore Tourism Awards.

HerAre Some Astonishing Facts about the Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

You can’t take your eyes off the ultra-modern biodomes and the bizarre Supertrees to the extensive waterfront gardens. I must say everything at Gardens by the Bay is merely magnificent. As you plan to visit this floral fantasy in Marina Bay in Singapore, here are some top facts about the Gardens by the Bay to stun you!

1. Gardens by the Bay were Designed on Reclaimed Land

A recovered land in Southern Singapore that spanned over 250 acres was used as a natural park by the Singapore Government. It was an initiative to wall the metropolis with lush greenery, influencing the city’s foliage and plant life.

2. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

With the idea to build a city in a garden, this one-of-a-kind garden was created to promote the development of lush green spaces amid the concrete structures to provide a healthy work-life balance. Having the horticulture heaven in the nation’s heart for educational and recreational purposes with breathtaking city and waterfront views, the Gardens by the Bay is Singapore’s latest addition to its UNESCO Heritage site.

3. Flaunting Architecture that Exceeds the Ordinary

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One has to appreciate the meticulous planning and unique design. The Bay South Garden became the highlight with its massive size, extraordinary tropical horticulture, innovative architecture, and gardening creativity. It drew inspiration from Singapore’s national flower (the Vanda’ Miss Joaquim’ orchid), where the themed gardens, two prominent conservatories, and the SuperTree Grove, with its rich assorted foliage from across the world, became a massive hit among tourists.

4. The Gardens by the Bay has Horticulture-Themed Gardens

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These gardens tend to preserve and showcase the horticulture heritage of Singapore from the colonial past. It also promotes the focus on the economic importance of flora in the nation and South East Asia.

The four primary themes in this heritage Garden are;

• The Indian Garden
• The Chinese Garden
• The Malay Garden
• The Colonial Garden.

5. The Whole Setup of the Garden Resembles the National Flower

The entire master plan of the garden was to showcase Singapore’s orchid, the nation’s national flower. The flower’s nickname stuck after being located initially in the garden of Miss Agnes Joaquin in 1893, which became the national flower of Singapore on April 15, 1981.

6. Each Surreal Supertree Grove has a Garden in It

One of the most iconic structures in the garden is the gigantic supertrees that tower up to 50 meters off the ground. They were primarily designed as a unique vertical garden blanketed with plants, climbers, and flowers. I highly recommend you stroll through the OCBC Skyway that connects two supertrees in mid-air to get dazzling panoramas of the entire garden. At night, these supertrees are illuminated to offer hypnotic light shows that have a lasting effect on visitors. 

7. The World’s Largest Greenhouse is in the Garden

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The Flower Dome in the Gardens by the Bay is considered the world’s largest greenhouse and has topped the Guinness Book of World Records (2015). Walking through this dome, you can get an imitated version of the cool Mediterranean climate with various exotic flowers, plants, and garden displays from five continents. 

8. There is a Special Place for Children too in the Garden

For kids, the Children’s Garden offers numerous child-friendly attractions, hanging bridges, trampolines, balancing beams, etc. It stands close to the treehouse and the adventure trial. So, you must visit the place along with your kids.

9. Futuristic Architecture Inspired the Creation of the Planet Xandar

This is a wondrous fact about the Gardens by the Bay since it was an inspiration for the movie Guardians of the Galaxy. The futuristic architecture paved the way to create planet Xandar.

There’s a place in Singapore called Gardens by the Bay which has that lush, kind of futuristic feel in terms of architecture and a very lush tropical feel.

Stephane Ceretti

10. Magnanimous Gardens by the Bay has Skyrocketing Costs

Finally, you might wonder about the cost of building such an awe and glory-filled place in the heart of Singapore. You might be shocked to know it was a costly price tag. 

SGD 893 million was the initial budget to begin the project. Later it shot up to 1.035 billion SGD. This is an estimate that doesn’t include the land’s price and the maintenance of the garden. Overall, 28 million SGD went into maintaining the conservatory buildings, and 25 million SDG went to the outdoor gardens.

Now doesn’t this bubble up your wanderlust? So, plan your trip to Singapore, and enjoy a great time in the Gardens by the Bay. The best time to visit is from November to March as the temperatures drop down around this time, making the climate moderate and pleasant. To purchase the tickets you can visit their official site. Have fun with your family and friends!

Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Pragya