Supernature: Bay South at Gardens by the Bay | Keith French | TEDxAmsterdam

[Music]

[Music] one step beyond I would like to

one step beyond I would like to

one step beyond I would like to introduce you to a garden a unique

introduce you to a garden a unique

introduce you to a garden a unique garden a garden which demonstrates the

garden a garden which demonstrates the

garden a garden which demonstrates the power a garden can bring to a city its

power a garden can bring to a city its

power a garden can bring to a city its people and its nature the garden is

people and its nature the garden is

people and its nature the garden is based self gardens by the bay in

based self gardens by the bay in

based self gardens by the bay in Singapore Singapore is just a few miles

Singapore Singapore is just a few miles

Singapore Singapore is just a few miles from the equator and is always hot and

from the equator and is always hot and

from the equator and is always hot and humid when you step outside you

humid when you step outside you

humid when you step outside you typically want to run for shade or

typically want to run for shade or

typically want to run for shade or shelter or if you like me to run back

shelter or if you like me to run back

shelter or if you like me to run back inside to get a blast of air

inside to get a blast of air

inside to get a blast of air conditioning to cool down so enabling

conditioning to cool down so enabling

conditioning to cool down so enabling people to appreciate plants in a

people to appreciate plants in a

people to appreciate plants in a comfortable environment was a key part

comfortable environment was a key part

comfortable environment was a key part of our design thinking as well as the

of our design thinking as well as the

of our design thinking as well as the introduction of Mah more plant diversity

introduction of Mah more plant diversity

introduction of Mah more plant diversity and color Singapore doesn’t have any

and color Singapore doesn’t have any

and color Singapore doesn’t have any seasons it’s just wet or dry but always

seasons it’s just wet or dry but always

seasons it’s just wet or dry but always hot as a landscape architect our

hot as a landscape architect our

hot as a landscape architect our particular design approach is about

particular design approach is about

particular design approach is about connecting people with nature

connecting people with nature

connecting people with nature so how could we use this garden to

so how could we use this garden to

so how could we use this garden to really showcase plants in all their

really showcase plants in all their

really showcase plants in all their forms colors textures and functions and

forms colors textures and functions and

forms colors textures and functions and there are understand their importance to

there are understand their importance to

there are understand their importance to us as humans in the 21st century these

us as humans in the 21st century these

us as humans in the 21st century these images showed a starting context for

images showed a starting context for

images showed a starting context for their sites the garden was to be the

their sites the garden was to be the

their sites the garden was to be the focus of the extended downtown area of

focus of the extended downtown area of

focus of the extended downtown area of Singapore it was on reclaim land and

Singapore it was on reclaim land and

Singapore it was on reclaim land and overlooked by the huge Marina Bay Sands

overlooked by the huge Marina Bay Sands

overlooked by the huge Marina Bay Sands Hotel how could a garden sit in this

Hotel how could a garden sit in this

Hotel how could a garden sit in this context the garden was also to be

context the garden was also to be

context the garden was also to be surrounded in the future by high-rise

surrounded in the future by high-rise

surrounded in the future by high-rise buildings and skyscrapers it was an

buildings and skyscrapers it was an

buildings and skyscrapers it was an unknown and changing city context but

unknown and changing city context but

unknown and changing city context but also a vast scale to design a garden the

also a vast scale to design a garden the

also a vast scale to design a garden the site area is equivalent to 90 football

site area is equivalent to 90 football

site area is equivalent to 90 football pitches the project also had to capture

pitches the project also had to capture

pitches the project also had to capture the vision of Singapore the city in a

the vision of Singapore the city in a

the vision of Singapore the city in a garden and to create a popular community

garden and to create a popular community

garden and to create a popular community garden as well as a landmark destination

garden as well as a landmark destination

garden as well as a landmark destination it was also to try and hopefully grab

it was also to try and hopefully grab

it was also to try and hopefully grab the world’s attention it was a unique

the world’s attention it was a unique

the world’s attention it was a unique challenge with huge ambition the

challenge with huge ambition the

challenge with huge ambition the starting point for me was to understand

starting point for me was to understand

starting point for me was to understand what is a garden what are the key

what is a garden what are the key

what is a garden what are the key ingredients of a

ingredients of a

ingredients of a and how does it differ from a park how

and how does it differ from a park how

and how does it differ from a park how can a garden become a part of everyday

can a garden become a part of everyday

can a garden become a part of everyday city life and how can we create a garden

city life and how can we create a garden

city life and how can we create a garden of the future when we don’t know what

of the future when we don’t know what

of the future when we don’t know what the future city context will look like

the future city context will look like

the future city context will look like there are many ways to describe a garden

there are many ways to describe a garden

there are many ways to describe a garden but the definition that inspired our

but the definition that inspired our

but the definition that inspired our approach not only spoke about the beauty

approach not only spoke about the beauty

approach not only spoke about the beauty of gardens but also about their

of gardens but also about their

of gardens but also about their potential to evoke wonder and to create

potential to evoke wonder and to create

potential to evoke wonder and to create unknown experiences gardens are also by

unknown experiences gardens are also by

unknown experiences gardens are also by their very nature artificial and in need

their very nature artificial and in need

their very nature artificial and in need of management and care so it seemed to

of management and care so it seemed to

of management and care so it seemed to me that there was also an opportunity to

me that there was also an opportunity to

me that there was also an opportunity to the verb a new approach to the future

the verb a new approach to the future

the verb a new approach to the future management of our landscapes in cities

management of our landscapes in cities

management of our landscapes in cities I’ve always been interested in their

I’ve always been interested in their

I’ve always been interested in their finding the hidden connections within a

finding the hidden connections within a

finding the hidden connections within a project the hidden systems to create an

project the hidden systems to create an

project the hidden systems to create an ecosystem with enhanced sustainability

ecosystem with enhanced sustainability

ecosystem with enhanced sustainability cycles linking together and feeding off

cycles linking together and feeding off

cycles linking together and feeding off one another I really like this early

one another I really like this early

one another I really like this early diagram that we produced which explored

diagram that we produced which explored

diagram that we produced which explored the idea of these integrated strategies

the idea of these integrated strategies

the idea of these integrated strategies for energy water and resources whilst

for energy water and resources whilst

for energy water and resources whilst creating a healthy habitat for people

creating a healthy habitat for people

creating a healthy habitat for people and Wildlife it also started to

and Wildlife it also started to

and Wildlife it also started to introduce the idea of the super trees or

introduce the idea of the super trees or

introduce the idea of the super trees or what we called the super trees which

what we called the super trees which

what we called the super trees which would serve as the environmental engines

would serve as the environmental engines

would serve as the environmental engines for the conservatories providing both

for the conservatories providing both

for the conservatories providing both cooling and energy energy production the

cooling and energy energy production the

cooling and energy energy production the garden also needed a strong underlying

garden also needed a strong underlying

garden also needed a strong underlying design narrative and concept to make

design narrative and concept to make

design narrative and concept to make this project unique to Singapore we

this project unique to Singapore we

this project unique to Singapore we settled on the idea of using new orchid

settled on the idea of using new orchid

settled on the idea of using new orchid as the inspiration or the metaphor for

as the inspiration or the metaphor for

as the inspiration or the metaphor for the gardens the orchid is actually the

the gardens the orchid is actually the

the gardens the orchid is actually the the national flower of Singapore this

the national flower of Singapore this

the national flower of Singapore this conceptual narrative then translated

conceptual narrative then translated

conceptual narrative then translated into the landscape design with the

into the landscape design with the

into the landscape design with the standards of the orchid stretching out

standards of the orchid stretching out

standards of the orchid stretching out becoming the path network across the

becoming the path network across the

becoming the path network across the gardens the flowers the special Gardens

gardens the flowers the special Gardens

gardens the flowers the special Gardens the leaves the three-dimensional earth

the leaves the three-dimensional earth

the leaves the three-dimensional earth forms and the roots the underlying

forms and the roots the underlying

forms and the roots the underlying infrastructure the two conservatories

infrastructure the two conservatories

infrastructure the two conservatories the two chord conservatories sit

the two chord conservatories sit

the two chord conservatories sit beautifully on the marina waterfront and

beautifully on the marina waterfront and

beautifully on the marina waterfront and were the key anchors of the garden

were the key anchors of the garden

were the key anchors of the garden creating a cool house in the tropics in

creating a cool house in the tropics in

creating a cool house in the tropics in a sustainable way was a huge challenge

a sustainable way was a huge challenge

a sustainable way was a huge challenge and the engineers developed a

and the engineers developed a

and the engineers developed a sophisticated strategy for the cooling

sophisticated strategy for the cooling

sophisticated strategy for the cooling using a biomass boiler and liquid

using a biomass boiler and liquid

using a biomass boiler and liquid desiccant technology to deliver a carbon

desiccant technology to deliver a carbon

desiccant technology to deliver a carbon neutral cooling system inside the

neutral cooling system inside the

neutral cooling system inside the conservatories we wanted to create two

conservatories we wanted to create two

conservatories we wanted to create two very different garden experiences two

very different garden experiences two

very different garden experiences two different worlds if you like the flower

different worlds if you like the flower

different worlds if you like the flower dome is the theater of plants it was

dome is the theater of plants it was

dome is the theater of plants it was also about capturing the essence of the

also about capturing the essence of the

also about capturing the essence of the plants the flowers descents of the

plants the flowers descents of the

plants the flowers descents of the Mediterranean plant world one of the

Mediterranean plant world one of the

Mediterranean plant world one of the most popular annual events in the flower

most popular annual events in the flower

most popular annual events in the flower dome is actually tulip mania you may

dome is actually tulip mania you may

dome is actually tulip mania you may appreciate those every year a mass of

appreciate those every year a mass of

appreciate those every year a mass of refrigerated bulbs are flown from here

refrigerated bulbs are flown from here

refrigerated bulbs are flown from here in holland by KLM and then transferred

in holland by KLM and then transferred

in holland by KLM and then transferred to the flower dome the tulip bulbs are

to the flower dome the tulip bulbs are

to the flower dome the tulip bulbs are planted out and after a few days they

planted out and after a few days they

planted out and after a few days they bloom and the flower field is

bloom and the flower field is

bloom and the flower field is transformed hundreds of plants and trees

transformed hundreds of plants and trees

transformed hundreds of plants and trees from around the world was source for the

from around the world was source for the

from around the world was source for the conservatories these were what we called

conservatories these were what we called

conservatories these were what we called many of these were the VIPs of the

many of these were the VIPs of the

many of these were the VIPs of the project the very important plants these

project the very important plants these

project the very important plants these included the amazing baobab trees from

included the amazing baobab trees from

included the amazing baobab trees from Africa and Australia as well as these

Africa and Australia as well as these

Africa and Australia as well as these beautiful 600 year old olive trees from

beautiful 600 year old olive trees from

beautiful 600 year old olive trees from Spain these trees were shipped in

Spain these trees were shipped in

Spain these trees were shipped in special containers from around the world

special containers from around the world

special containers from around the world to Singapore and one of the big old

to Singapore and one of the big old

to Singapore and one of the big old baobab trees was actually out at sea for

baobab trees was actually out at sea for

baobab trees was actually out at sea for over 60 days and when it arrived in

over 60 days and when it arrived in

over 60 days and when it arrived in Singapore and transferred to the site it

Singapore and transferred to the site it

Singapore and transferred to the site it caused huge traffic jams throughout the

caused huge traffic jams throughout the

caused huge traffic jams throughout the city the cloud forest dome is a distinct

city the cloud forest dome is a distinct

city the cloud forest dome is a distinct contrast to the flower dome it is a more

contrast to the flower dome it is a more

contrast to the flower dome it is a more immersive journey through a lush exotic

immersive journey through a lush exotic

immersive journey through a lush exotic cloud forest environment with mists and

cloud forest environment with mists and

cloud forest environment with mists and waterfalls it was inspired by the

waterfalls it was inspired by the

waterfalls it was inspired by the tropical montane areas of Mount Kinabalu

tropical montane areas of Mount Kinabalu

tropical montane areas of Mount Kinabalu in sabah

in sabah

in sabah the design think it was really just to

the design think it was really just to

the design think it was really just to put a mountain in the middle of the dome

put a mountain in the middle of the dome

put a mountain in the middle of the dome and to clove it in greenery but rather

and to clove it in greenery but rather

and to clove it in greenery but rather than simply create a sort of false

than simply create a sort of false

than simply create a sort of false mountainside or or fake rock face we

mountainside or or fake rock face we

mountainside or or fake rock face we developed the idea of the mountain as

developed the idea of the mountain as

developed the idea of the mountain as this lattice structure with a living

this lattice structure with a living

this lattice structure with a living render skin that could be planted and

render skin that could be planted and

render skin that could be planted and support greenery the mountain is 35

support greenery the mountain is 35

support greenery the mountain is 35 meters high and supports a waterfall

meters high and supports a waterfall

meters high and supports a waterfall which transforms at night through

which transforms at night through

which transforms at night through lighting you experience it by traveling

lighting you experience it by traveling

lighting you experience it by traveling to the top in a lift and then winding

to the top in a lift and then winding

to the top in a lift and then winding your way down around and through the

your way down around and through the

your way down around and through the mountain on these series of suspended

mountain on these series of suspended

mountain on these series of suspended quais the usual experience of the garden

quais the usual experience of the garden

quais the usual experience of the garden is totally immersive and when the

is totally immersive and when the

is totally immersive and when the misters are on you are transported to

misters are on you are transported to

misters are on you are transported to this sort of misty eerie environment of

this sort of misty eerie environment of

this sort of misty eerie environment of the cloud forest at the heart of the

the cloud forest at the heart of the

the cloud forest at the heart of the garden are the super trees for the

garden are the super trees for the

garden are the super trees for the gardens to compete with the scale at a

gardens to compete with the scale at a

gardens to compete with the scale at a city they needed to have something of

city they needed to have something of

city they needed to have something of equal scale and distinction we wanted to

equal scale and distinction we wanted to

equal scale and distinction we wanted to create a unique centerpiece that by day

create a unique centerpiece that by day

create a unique centerpiece that by day would become these amazing vertical

would become these amazing vertical

would become these amazing vertical gardens and then at night be transformed

gardens and then at night be transformed

gardens and then at night be transformed into a spectacular nighttime destination

into a spectacular nighttime destination

into a spectacular nighttime destination the inspiration for the super trees was

the inspiration for the super trees was

the inspiration for the super trees was in part the valley of the giants near

in part the valley of the giants near

in part the valley of the giants near there per from Southwest Australia but

there per from Southwest Australia but

there per from Southwest Australia but also the magical scenes experiences of

also the magical scenes experiences of

also the magical scenes experiences of the forest scene in princess monarchy

the forest scene in princess monarchy

the forest scene in princess monarchy the studio ghibli animation they evoked

the studio ghibli animation they evoked

the studio ghibli animation they evoked this of a sense of science fiction but

this of a sense of science fiction but

this of a sense of science fiction but are real big an expressive in scale and

are real big an expressive in scale and

are real big an expressive in scale and color they were designed and imagined by

color they were designed and imagined by

color they were designed and imagined by landscape architects and engineers and

landscape architects and engineers and

landscape architects and engineers and artists fusion of design nature and

artists fusion of design nature and

artists fusion of design nature and technology we always wanted the super to

technology we always wanted the super to

technology we always wanted the super to have this lightness of structure to be

have this lightness of structure to be

have this lightness of structure to be connected to the gardens and to have a

connected to the gardens and to have a

connected to the gardens and to have a color to contrast with the city skyline

color to contrast with the city skyline

color to contrast with the city skyline in the background we all saw the super

in the background we all saw the super

in the background we all saw the super trees as the garden counterpoint to the

trees as the garden counterpoint to the

trees as the garden counterpoint to the conservatories helping to change the

conservatories helping to change the

conservatories helping to change the center of gravity and draw in visitors

center of gravity and draw in visitors

center of gravity and draw in visitors and people into the real heart of the

and people into the real heart of the

and people into the real heart of the gardens there are 18 super trees in

gardens there are 18 super trees in

gardens there are 18 super trees in total and they range in height from 25

total and they range in height from 25

total and they range in height from 25 to 50 meters with a bar at the top of

to 50 meters with a bar at the top of

to 50 meters with a bar at the top of the tallest tree they also support an

the tallest tree they also support an

the tallest tree they also support an aerial walkway we’ve suspended tension

aerial walkway we’ve suspended tension

aerial walkway we’ve suspended tension wires within the canopies like the

wires within the canopies like the

wires within the canopies like the gardens we wanted him to work hard in

gardens we wanted him to work hard in

gardens we wanted him to work hard in terms of their sustainability and they

terms of their sustainability and they

terms of their sustainability and they perform a number of important

perform a number of important

perform a number of important environmental functions these includes

environmental functions these includes

environmental functions these includes not only providing shade for people but

not only providing shade for people but

not only providing shade for people but also supporting solar panels for the

also supporting solar panels for the

also supporting solar panels for the lighting and energy production as well

lighting and energy production as well

lighting and energy production as well as assisting with the exhausting and

as assisting with the exhausting and

as assisting with the exhausting and venting one of the super trees actually

venting one of the super trees actually

venting one of the super trees actually hides a 37 meter high chimney contained

hides a 37 meter high chimney contained

hides a 37 meter high chimney contained within its trunk connected back to the

within its trunk connected back to the

within its trunk connected back to the biomass boiler at nights the super trees

biomass boiler at nights the super trees

biomass boiler at nights the super trees come to life and they are transformed

come to life and they are transformed

come to life and they are transformed through the lighting

through the lighting

through the lighting the main Grove of the super trees is now

the main Grove of the super trees is now

the main Grove of the super trees is now a popular destination for both residents

a popular destination for both residents

a popular destination for both residents and visitors and it’s become a unique

and visitors and it’s become a unique

and visitors and it’s become a unique public space for the city and one of the

public space for the city and one of the

public space for the city and one of the great things is watching how public life

great things is watching how public life

great things is watching how public life plays out there the botanical diversity

plays out there the botanical diversity

plays out there the botanical diversity of the gardens is now considerable the

of the gardens is now considerable the

of the gardens is now considerable the gardens now contain over 280 thousand

gardens now contain over 280 thousand

gardens now contain over 280 thousand plants from every continent except

plants from every continent except

plants from every continent except Antarctica it’s also really exciting to

Antarctica it’s also really exciting to

Antarctica it’s also really exciting to see that the gardens are now home to new

see that the gardens are now home to new

see that the gardens are now home to new wildlife in the city such as this family

wildlife in the city such as this family

wildlife in the city such as this family of smooth-coated otters and whilst the

of smooth-coated otters and whilst the

of smooth-coated otters and whilst the the plants are the main focus or the

the plants are the main focus or the

the plants are the main focus or the stars of the gardens there is a series

stars of the gardens there is a series

stars of the gardens there is a series of places for people we always wanted

of places for people we always wanted

of places for people we always wanted the gardens to become the sort of garden

the gardens to become the sort of garden

the gardens to become the sort of garden living room of the city and to capture a

living room of the city and to capture a

living room of the city and to capture a range of different atmospheres and moods

range of different atmospheres and moods

range of different atmospheres and moods and characters and I think one of the

and characters and I think one of the

and characters and I think one of the the great things I take from this kind

the great things I take from this kind

the great things I take from this kind of project is watching people experience

of project is watching people experience

of project is watching people experience the gardens at first hand and using

the gardens at first hand and using

the gardens at first hand and using their own imagination and different ways

their own imagination and different ways

their own imagination and different ways of engaging with the different spaces I

of engaging with the different spaces I

of engaging with the different spaces I think the sense of playfulness within

think the sense of playfulness within

think the sense of playfulness within the gardens and the wide appeal across

the gardens and the wide appeal across

the gardens and the wide appeal across all ages and coaches has helped them

all ages and coaches has helped them

all ages and coaches has helped them mate to make the gardens of real success

mate to make the gardens of real success

mate to make the gardens of real success since their opening in 2012 they’ve now

since their opening in 2012 they’ve now

since their opening in 2012 they’ve now had over 25 million visitors to imagine

had over 25 million visitors to imagine

had over 25 million visitors to imagine a project like this it is all about

a project like this it is all about

a project like this it is all about collaboration and throughout the project

collaboration and throughout the project

collaboration and throughout the project I think there was a real blurring of the

I think there was a real blurring of the

I think there was a real blurring of the design boundaries and it’s not clear

design boundaries and it’s not clear

design boundaries and it’s not clear where say the engineering or the

where say the engineering or the

where say the engineering or the horticulture or the architecture or the

horticulture or the architecture or the

horticulture or the architecture or the landscape design starts the stops and I

landscape design starts the stops and I

landscape design starts the stops and I think this is a great reflection on the

think this is a great reflection on the

think this is a great reflection on the amazing collaboration that existed right

amazing collaboration that existed right

amazing collaboration that existed right through the team with the client the

through the team with the client the

through the team with the client the designers the contractors and the

designers the contractors and the

designers the contractors and the gardener’s we’re also very proud to see

gardener’s we’re also very proud to see

gardener’s we’re also very proud to see that gardens by the bay was featured in

that gardens by the bay was featured in

that gardens by the bay was featured in the BBC’s planet Earth documentary with

the BBC’s planet Earth documentary with

the BBC’s planet Earth documentary with Sir David Attenborough and used as a

Sir David Attenborough and used as a

Sir David Attenborough and used as a reference for city greening and the

reference for city greening and the

reference for city greening and the coexistence of man and nature here is a

coexistence of man and nature here is a

coexistence of man and nature here is a short clip

short clip

short clip [Music]

[Music]

[Music] but perhaps the most spectacular example

but perhaps the most spectacular example

but perhaps the most spectacular example of city greening is this Grove over

of city greening is this Grove over

of city greening is this Grove over super trees

these 150 feet high metal structures are

these 150 feet high metal structures are now full of life

now full of life

now full of life creepers have been planted to grow over

creepers have been planted to grow over

creepers have been planted to grow over the outermost branches

this is a new urban world that we have

this is a new urban world that we have now designed and built with others in

now designed and built with others in

now designed and built with others in mind

mind

mind [Music]

[Music]

[Music] create the space and the animals will

create the space and the animals will

create the space and the animals will come

come

come [Music]

is this a vision of our cities of the

is this a vision of our cities of the future

future

future [Music]

[Music]

[Music] it could be possible to see wildlife

it could be possible to see wildlife

it could be possible to see wildlife thriving within our cities across the

thriving within our cities across the

thriving within our cities across the planet

we hope that Gardens by the bay conveys

we hope that Gardens by the bay conveys something to the wider world about the

something to the wider world about the

something to the wider world about the importance of beauty and wonder in our

importance of beauty and wonder in our

importance of beauty and wonder in our parks and gardens and we hope it

parks and gardens and we hope it

parks and gardens and we hope it inspires others to go one step beyond

inspires others to go one step beyond

inspires others to go one step beyond and to bring the power of nature

and to bring the power of nature

and to bring the power of nature integrated thinking and imagination into

integrated thinking and imagination into

integrated thinking and imagination into the heart of our future cities

the heart of our future cities

the heart of our future cities [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]