About

There is no doubting the dominance of the steel-framed ‘tree’ plantation, towering over Gardens by the Bay with 12 of the large metal structures in the central groove and half a dozen others placed in other parts of the garden. To add drama and impact to the Gardens, the Supertrees are designed to a scale that would become instantly recognizable in views across the site and offered the opportunity to create vertical gardens in the tropics. Their heights range between 25m to 50m, About as tall as a 16-story building rising significantly above the canopy of trees in the gardens.  An elevated walkway between the Supertrees would allow dramatic views across the rest of the Gardens while offering a unique experience of exploring the Supertree canopies. The 50m tree housed a treetop bistro. At night, the Supertrees come alive with lighting and projected media. Over 162,900 plants comprising more than 200 species and varieties of bromeliads, orchids, ferns, and tropical flowering climbers have been planted on the 18 Supertrees. species include the Tillandsia stricta from Brazil, Tillandsia fasciculate from Panama, Cattleya maxima from Ecuador, and Pseudorhipsalis from Costa Rica.

 The Supertrees illustrate man’s attempts at re-creating nature’s balance. Like dominant trees in the rainforest, they support a living skin of epiphytes, ferns, and flowering climbers, creating sky gardens in tropical Eden. They are fitted with advanced environmental technologies that mimic the ecological functions of trees – photovoltaic cells harness solar energy for the functioning of the Supertrees just as how trees would photosynthesize; rainwater harvests collected rainwater just as how trees assist in cloud formation and bring rain. Conservatories – Spring in Perpetual Summer: Located at the waterfront, the Conservatories provide an iconic image for visitors coming into the city from the airport. Designed as the world’s largest single-span grid shell glass systems, the Conservatories are fitted with advanced energetics. This allows the Conservatories to replicate cool conditions for the display of an increased range of plant varieties that could be brought into flower. The Conservatories utilize renewable energy for cooling, energy generated from the burning of horticultural waste, resulting in an energy budget that is no more than that of a well air-conditioned building in Singapore. The Conservatories provide an all-weather edutainment space within the Gardens, as well as a cool alternative when the outdoor Gardens get warm and humid. Over 200 difference species of plants and flowers cover the exterior of these tall upright gardens and twice a night they are a centerpiece of the gardens’ light and music show (at 19:45 and 20:45), casting a glow over the park, and making you feel like you are in a modern fairytale.

Each Supertree comprises four major parts:

• Reinforcement concrete core – Inner vertical structure that upholds the Supertree.
  
• Trunk – A steel frame that is attached around the reinforcement concrete core.
• Planting panels – Installed on the trunk in preparation for the planting of the living skin.
• Canopy – Shaped like an inverted umbrella, the canopy was assembled and hoisted via a hydraulic jack system (except the 50-meter Supertree canopy which was assembled at its final height).

Timings