An increasingly important component of sustainable urban development in the twenty-first century is the incorporation of green spaces into densely built urban areas positions, and this project exemplifies current thinking. Both the urban and the natural have been carefully considered in this development. Singapore is a small island with land restraints and high-density urban living. The island state is famous for its bustling city attractions and shopping but is also surprisingly green despite urbanization. The Supertrees installation extends this paradox further.
Providing scale and dimension to the Gardens, the height of Supertrees compliments the tall developments in the Marina Bay area. Towering up to 50 meters in height, the scale of Supertrees responds to neighboring skyscrapers, operating not in contradiction but in sync with the urban environment. Supertrees brings a natural element to the space, providing a home for orchids, flowers, and various ferns that climb across the steel framework. The trees’ large canopies operate as temperature moderators, absorbing and dispersing heat, and providing shelter from Singapore's tropical sun to visitors below. Positioned just beneath the canopy, the aerial walkway leads to a treetop bar and bistro, offering a unique social space.
While the fuchsia-colored supports, canary yellow walkway, and tropical flowers create an exotic visual and have become a destination for locals and tourists alike, the Supertrees installation is hard at work. Each “tree” is made of four parts: a reinforced concrete core, trunk, planting panels of the living skin, and the canopy. Each structure in Supertrees is fitted with solar panels and rainwater catches, while simultaneously functioning as air venting ducts for nearby conservatories. Eleven of the Supertrees are fitted with solar photovoltaic systems that convert sunlight into energy, providing lighting for the Gardens at night and aiding water technology within the conservatories below. The trees act as an integral part of the overall site system. A fusion of nature and environmental technologies, this project embodies cutting-edge thinking about how we manage our resources with the charm of an old fashioned stroll in the park. Bay South and its star attraction, Supertrees, is a highly sophisticated and integrated three-dimensional network of horticulture, engineering, and architecture.
All copyright belongs to Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University.
