A major issue
With its flourishing economy, Singapore seems to have been on a springboard since independence, pushing it to maintain its exceptional financial position. The Asian dragon has never ceased to prove its worth, benefiting from a privileged geographical location in Southeast Asia, a veritable commercial hub. Singapore's success in attracting foreign capital has propelled it into the top 10 of the world's economic powers, and this dazzling growth in such a small space must now be compatible with the new ecological codes. How can urban planning and vegetation be reconciled? The challenge is daunting, yet in Singapore, anything seems possible..
Pulau Ujong, the largest of the city-state's 64 islands, stretches over some 710 km2 and has a population of over 6 million, giving us an idea of the impact of modernism on the territory of yesteryear. The dizzying figures for Singapore's economic growth in no way suggest that nature still holds sway over this small area, yet this model cosmopolitan city proves that harmony is now also being established between nature and urbanism. What are the means used, in addition to the climate that favors such dense vegetation, to lay claim to gigantic greening projects?
When millions and nature go hand in hand
The equatorial climate, hot and humid, is conducive to the development of lush vegetation, visible from Changi airport to the city center, via the nature reserves in the north. With over 400 parks and some 7 million trees, the Asian city boasts a wealth of natural features. Among them, the famous Botanic Gardens, inspired by 19th-century English gardens, boast the largest number of orchid varieties in the world, with no fewer than 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids. In the heart of the city, Fort Canning Park and its immense reservoir give the impression of an urban jungle... Mac Ritchie Reservoir Park, to the north, extends over 2,000 hectares and boasts the city's oldest freshwater reservoir. As for the western part of the territory, the authorities decided to preserve the area to provide a jungle training surface for the army. To these elements offered by Mother Nature were naturally added investments with a view to generating even more green space. The area's unique concentration of great riches has also led to the use of innovative techniques, allowing for the wildest projects. Leading engineers, architects and botanists are taking an interest in the garden city, and the results seem more than convincing. The Tree House Condominium is an emblematic example: a private residence made up of four 24-storey towers, each entirely planted with vegetation, the project is a real technological feat that saves energy and water, while offering a very pleasant outlook for residents. Another fine example is theOasia Hotel, which offers a breath of fresh air among the buildings. Completely covered in vegetation, the building offers a beautiful view of the city's future construction projects.
Strong government involvement
To cope with a growing population and the inevitable disappearance of the original green spaces for the benefit of urban development projects, the Singaporean government has put a lot of resources into play, the mission being to make their city-state a good place to live. Since the proclamation of Singapore's independence on August 9, 1965, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew has made it his leitmotiv to develop the city-state into a garden city. The idea was, in addition to improving the quality of life for the locals, to become an exceptional destination attracting foreign capital and to be envied by the great megalopolises of Asia such as Seoul or Shanghai. The emphasis was therefore placed from the outset on planting trees and creating infrastructure to allow residents to enjoy as much green space as possible. In 1975, the Department of Parks and Recreation was created, a state organization proving that this greening campaign had a concrete objective. In 1996, the department became the National Parks Board, promoting Singapore's flora and controlling large sites such as botanical gardens or large national reserves. The idea is to sensitize industrialists and to organize competitions for the highest bidders and the most ambitious... Thus, through projects such as Skyrise Greenery, the government now grants subsidies to projects integrating greenery into the urban landscape, selecting engineers, botanists and architects proposing innovative projects. The objective is now to transform the garden city into a city in a garden!
Delusional infrastructures become symbols
Among the symbols of Singapore, in addition to the famous Merlion and the luxurious Marina Bay Sands hotel , you can't miss the Gardens by the Bay. The project remains without doubt the finest example of the government's strategy to promote the garden city. Comprising three gardens to the south, center and east, Gardens by the Bay covers an area of 100 hectares. A competition was launched in 2006 by the government to attract the best international projects. The result is stunning, attracting millions of visitors every year. The largest of the three, Bay South, opened in 2012, is the brainchild of Swiss architect Luc Schuiten. A true futuristic park, biodiversity seems to rule here... Two gigantic greenhouses, the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, reproduce Mediterranean and mountain climates, all surrounded by waterfalls and thousands of species of trees and plants, all beautifully maintained. The highlight of the show is undoubtedly the famous Supertree Grove, an Avatar-like walk through gigantic metal trees covered with increasingly lush vegetation. Singapore seems to be well on the way to sustainable development, with a plan summarized in 5 pillars: city in nature, sustainable future, green economy, energy reset and resilient future (www.greenplan.gov.sg). A fine challenge!
