The largest indoor waterfall in the world is under construction in Singapore. It is part of the extension of the new airport Jewel Changi Airport, a remarkable achievement in terms of engineering and sustainability.

In recent years, Marina Bay in Singapore has become world-renowned. Mainly thanks to the park “Gardens by the Bay”, one of the largest environmental and urban projects in the world. In total, there are nearly 101 hectares of biodiversity, which are divided into three gardens nestled in the heart of the city, opposite the central business district. The largest, “Bay South”, has a dome that is home to hundreds of thousands of rare flowers, trees and plants, many of which are endangered. It is a vegetal version of Noah’s ark: it brings together African baobabs, Mexican cacti, a thousand-year old olive tree and nearly 250,000 species of plants from the four corners of the planet.

A biomass power plant will recycle 500,000 tonnes of annual horticultural waste, producing energy and fertiliser. With its 18 structures in the shape of giant trees, Gardens by the Bay is an ecological utopia. It has totems of 50 metres high that are used in the reproduction of birds and insects as well as the collection of wastewater. Each evening, a free light and sound show illuminates the “supertrees” in bright colours – a bit like a Christmas tree under the equator…

But the show doesn’t stop there. The neighbouring dome, which looks like a decor out of Avatar, has a 35-metre high waterfall, where water falls down an artificial hill with plenty of rhododendrons, orchids and tree ferns. To this day, it is the largest indoor waterfall in the world. The various levels of Cloud Mountain, in the middle of ferns and other vines and entirely man-made, can be visited. To get to the top, you need to take a lift. There, you discover a lost world, with plants dating back to the prehistoric era.

Plant airport

The Gardens of the Bay, opened in 2012, is but one of the many projects in the new Marina Bay area. The port with its many cranes will soon move to another part of the island. It will be replaced by a large beach. Changi Airport, just 20 minutes away, will open Jewel, a giant vegetated complex, which will have the largest indoor waterfall in the world.

Designed by Safdie Architects, this “vortex of rain” will fall from the highest level of the airport and will be surrounded by hanging gardens, labyrinths of mirrors and artificial clouds. And if the waterfall will have water and light effects, the extravagant airport of Jewel Changi hides yet another jewel: the Canopy Park. A park of five floors, 50 metres long and 23 metres high, built on bridges that hang in the middle of the trees. As from 2019, young passengers will be able to “get lost” in the clouds”, between water lilies and garden terraces, while admiring the landings and departures of aircraft through the glass roof.

Tags: airport, Gardens by the Bay, indoor waterfall, Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore