LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
Issue link: https://landscapearchitect.epubxp.com/i/274582
56 Landscape Architect and Specifier News Supertree Grove Arguably the most stunning element of Gardens by the Bay is the Supertree Grove, an art meets arbor display of 18 reinforced concrete tree-like structures ("Supertrees") towering 25 to 50 meters. There are over 162,900 plants of 200 species (bromeliads, orchids, ferns, tropical flowering climbers) planted on the Supertrees. Eleven of the Supertrees incorporate photovoltaic cells that help cool the cooled conservatories. At night, the trees have dazzling light effects and projected media. An aerial walkway suspended from the Supertrees offers visitors a spectacular perspective of the gardens. Enter the World of Plants Strolling through the World of Plants is a multisensory encounter with nature, and also informative. Visitors discover how plants disperse their seeds, how mushrooms benefit rainforest communities, how plants adapt to adverse environments and view some of the most primitive plants on earth. Flowers, fruits in bloom and tropical lowland palms abound. In the Secret Life of Trees one can see and learn how to identify different types of tree species. The Web of Life offers impressive topiary of animals indigenous to Asia: orangutans, pangolins (sharp-scaled, toothless anteaters) and hornbills (long, down-curved billed birds of bright colors). Cooled Conservatories Just up from the Children's Garden are two impressive, large cooled conservatories, or biomes—the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, both designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects— Above The rainforest Trail offers a spider net, hill climbing ropes and spinner bowls. Top Left & Middle The rainforest Tree Houses are a jungle adventure set within a thicket of quick growing ficus trees. The tree houses are perched 4 and 7.5 meters high above a 130-meter long trail. The tree houses give children close interaction with trees. Elevated platforms and shelters link to ropewalks, steps, ramps and slides. There are also sound making devices, telescopes, climbing nets and hammock seating. 50-63.indd 56 2/26/14 4:52 PM