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HIGHER. BIGGER. FASTER. LONGER. EACH ISSUE WE FOCUS ON A PL ACE PU NCHING ABOVE ITS WEIG H T
> The Lion City is never short of a good downpour. And it was Singapore’s generous tropical showers that inspired the architects of Jewel (jewelchangiairport. com), Changi Airport’s bright new entertainment and retail complex. At the heart of Jewel is the HSBC Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Every minute, thousands of litres of recycled rainwater flow through an oculus in the domed glass ceiling, forming the magnificent 40-metre-high waterfall. And during Singapore’s mighty weather events, the extra drops can see the waterfall flow with up to 40,000 litres of water per minute. By day, the Rain Vortex is truly mesmerising, but by night, a dazzling light and sound show make the sevenstorey waterfall an ethereal sight to behold. And while the display looks impressive, it also serves an important purpose. The rushing water provides natural cooling and airflow for Jewel’s lush indoor gardens, while large tanks below the waterfall collect rainwater to be reused and recirculated throughout the building. The watery, high-octane surprise that awaits in Singapore’s Jewel means being in transit will never be the same.
W HERE? SINGAPORE W H AT ? RAIN VORTEX W AT ERFA L L WHEN? IT OPENED ON 17 APRIL 2019 HOW HIGH? 40 METRES W O R D S _ K A I T LY N PA L M E R-A L L E N