In 2008 Gustafson Porter + Bowman were joint winners of the Gardens by the Bay competition, and received the commission to design Bay East in Singapore. This allowed us the opportunity to further explore the use of Rhino to create a series of complex curvilinear landforms that resemble the large tropical leaf shapes found in the region. Our concept design creates a series of themed garden spaces along the 2 kilometre-long waterfront of the newly-created Marina Bay, punctuated by a visitor centre, restaurants and cafes, spa, bathing pools and events spaces. Water inlets, cut deep into the plan of the park, attract breezes from the newly-created fresh water reservoir between the Kallang and Singapore rivers. Waterfalls and pools, fed by the bay, help oxygenate stagnant water and are cleansed through gravel and aquatic plant filtration in the water gardens. Surrounding the water inlets are mounds, terraces, slopes, and steps which create a three dimensional and elevated landscape, with views across the bay towards the city centre and the new Cooled Conservatories at Gardens by the Bay. The three-dimensional fluid nature of the landscape design was explored entirely in Rhino. Due to the scale of the project, it was not feasible to execute in clay. The software allowed us to coordinate the design of the landscape with building forms which were integrated below and within the planted landscape. We exchanged 3D files with the collaborating architects (Hamiltons) to refine the relationship between water levels, pathways, buildings, and the new waterside gardens.
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Below Concept sketches for land movement Below left + opposite page Model of landform illustrating the subtle change in level