T ypologies of interior gardens at ria a nd l arge conservatories
‘Gardens in the Sky’ in the Fusionopolis complex Architect: Kurokawa Architects Planting planning:
Symbios Design (Oculus Landscape A rchitecture and urban design and Terragram Pty Ltd) Horticulture: Horti-Flora Services Pte Ltd Watering and water features: Landscape Engineering Pte Ltd Roof planting system : Zinco Singapore Pte Ltd Client: Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) Completion: 2008 Location: Singapore
Planning brief Devising ‘Gardens in the Sky’ for the Fusionopolis project as open and closed green spaces with different volumes, designs and functions.
Context The One North urban development project is to come into being over an area of about 200 hectares in Singapore. The aim is to create an autonomous town that is complete in itself, where an appropriate number of creative scientific, research and technology companies and some humanities experts are to be housed. Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa designed the ‘Fusionopolis’ complex in this context, in the form of three connected towers with vertical zoning. Energy is generated and organic waste is recycled in this multifunctional complex with apartments, offices, and public and commercial spaces. Over 10,000 m 2 of garden areas form a large public complex at street level and advance upwards through the various levels.
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Concept The original plan intended the gardens to be vertical elements linking the individual levels like stitches 2 . But this concept was diluted in the course of the project, and now simply passes through the 15 main gardens as a symbolic thread. These provide a high-quality passive recreation area for residents, neighbours and visitors. From the environmental point of view, the plants function as insulation and climate buffers, to prevent the building from becoming too hot; they absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen, and also filter pollutants out of the air. Every garden concept addresses ideas of size, location, function and the volume of the space. Design elements created especially for this project, such as water features, plant containers, or seating, reinforce the individuality of the gardens. The connecting elements in the gardens include an emphasis on verticals, a restricted range of materials for the floor coverings, the choice of plants, and the expanses of water. Tall trees anchored in the subsoil, and a wide range of creepers and climbers, are used to emphasize the vertical as a means of linking the levels. ¶
1 Sealed plant beds, with creepers as ground cover, float in the water in the gardens on level 5.