June 21, 2012 at 10:03 am

The Supertrees of Singapore

by twistedsifter

head on shot from the ground of the singapore supertrees at the gardens of the bay

 

 

As part of Singapore’s redevelopment and new downtown area at Marina Bay, the sprawling 250-acre Gardens by the Bay is an incredible public space with gardens, bridges, skywalks, parks and plants. The green development has been proclaimed a ‘horticultural heaven’. The attractions garnering the most buzz are the two massive climate-controlled biomes called Cloud Forest and Flower Dome and of course the massive man-made supertrees which are showcased below.

The biomes are equivalent in size to about four football fields and will become the new home for approximately 220,000 plants from ever continent on our planet. An interesting feature of the Flower Dome is that the horticultural waste will feed a massive steam turbine that in turn generates electricity that is needed to keep the biome climate-controlled. The two biomes are the only areas of the Gardens by the Bay where an admission fee will be charged.

As for the man-made supertrees, check out the gallery below (a mix of photographs and renderings) along with a detailed overview of these fascinating structures. Gardens of the Bay is set to open to the public on June 29th.

 

 

people walk on the supertree aerial walkway that links the giant concrete supertrees at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

 

 

Supertree Grove

Photograph by Choo Yut Shing

 

 

gardens by the bay supertrees singapore 7 The Supertrees of Singapore

 

 

gardens by the bay supertrees with one of the two biomes in the background

 

 

park visitor on one of the aerial walkways connecting the supertrees

 

 

The Gardens by the Bay Supertrees in Singapore

 
– There are a total of 18 supertrees varying from 25-50 meters in height (82-164 ft)
– Bridges and skywalks (128 m/420 ft long and 22 m/72 ft high) will connect the taller supertrees, giving visitors incredible views of the Gardens by the Bay development below
– 11 of the trees have solar photovoltaic systems to convert sunlight into energy
– The solar energy collected during the day is used to light the structures at night
– Each supertree feature tropical flowers and a variety of ferns that rise up the steel framework
– The canopies serve as temperature moderators, absorbing and dispersing heat and providing shelter to those beneath
– The trees also serve as rainwater catchers
– The supertrees will consist of nearly 163,000 plants of over 200 species
– Each tree has a concrete core, a steel trunk fitted with planting panels and a canopy at the top lifted by a hydraulic jack system
– Designed by U.K. architecture firm Grant Associates
– The public space will be open daily from 5am – 2am

[Sources: CNN, Business Insider, Daily Mail]

 

 

supertrees viewed from the ground

 

 

looking up the supertrees canopy with view of walkway and sky

 

 

Overhead Bridge

Photograph by Choo Yut Shing

 

 

gardens by the bay supertrees at night lit up

 

 

supertrees singapore at night lit up with marina bay in view

 

 

 

 

 

 

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atlantic road norway aerial photograph from above The Supertrees of Singapore