Singapore, Singapore
2015 - 2021
National Orchid Garden
Located within a UNESCO heritage site in Singapore’s Botanic Gardens, the National Orchid Garden offers state-of-the-art facilities for conserving and showcasing the country’s prized national flower.
Project details
First opened in 1995, Singapore’s National Orchid Garden is home to plant growth facilities, greenhouses, and over 60,000 orchid plants featuring over 1000 different species. Our enhancement to the original garden was commissioned to strengthen the Botanic Gardens’ role in orchid conservation, breeding and research, as well as redefine the visitor experience – leaving visitors with a greater appreciation of the delicate flower.
Enhancements to the garden include improved circulation, spaces for orchid naming and events, the creation of a Tropical Montane Orchidetum, and optimization of the existing 1ha orchid nursery. These changes are designed to offer aesthetic, cultural, and conservation-focused experiences, with thematic displays that highlight the importance of orchids as a vital part of our natural heritage. The new National Orchid Garden now welcomes around 500,000 visitors annually.
“Working with living materials like exotic plants and orchids, the project’s landscape design grew organically – much like the life it holds.”
Jia Xin Chum
Associate Director
A journey through natural habitats
The formation of a Tropical Montane Orchidetum offers a carefully designed experience that simulates the diverse natural habitats of orchids. Visitors move along a meandering pathway, transitioning from the humid lowland forests of Singapore and Malaysia to misty montane zones and high-altitude environments. The Orchidetum features the Yuen Peng-McNiece Bromeliad Collection, Tan Hoon Siang Mist House, Secret Ravine, and the expanded Sembcorp Cool House – now four times its original size and cooled by a photovoltaic-powered system.
Carefully and sensitively crafted to integrate with the existing terrain, the design navigates around mature trees, steep slopes, and underground services. Geo-bag retaining walls support the orchids while blending into the landscape, and timber steps allow passage over delicate root systems. The pathway’s gentle gradient, combined with the omission of railings where possible, provides unobstructed views of the surrounding flora and creates barrier free access throughout the area – part of an inclusive design initiative. Navigation is enhanced by a variety of design cues, such as the sound of a trickling brook, or the smell of a specific orchid. With this, every moment is made a sensorial experience rooted in nature.
Incorporating water sensitive design
A new water drainage system serves as both a visual highlight and wayfinding element, linking the various display zones and cleansing runoff water. This system enhances the landscape architecture, guiding visitors through the space with features that are both functional and aesthetically integrated.
Among the project’s innovative solutions are an advanced chiller system that optimizes energy efficiency, rainwater collection for irrigation, and renewable energy installations. Additionally, water efficiency is bolstered by a ground cooling system and thermal stratification, ensuring the garden remains environmentally responsible while supporting the diverse plant ecosystems.
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