Singapore Institute of Technology

The landscape of the SIT campus is conceived as a living system that makes water visible, useful, and educational. The Campus Heart features three bioretention basins, including rain gardens and a single tier cleansing biotope – treating 43% of site runoff. At the Campus Court, these strategies continue with layered wetlands and ponds – forming a layered system that treats 40% of runoff. Across the site, harvested rainwater is reused for irrigation and daily needs, such as washing. These landscapes were not designed as hidden infrastructure, but as part of the campus identity.

Sky garden terraces, a soilless green roof, and vertical greenery are included in the design to contribute to thermal performance and create recreational spaces. From the outset, the campus design prioritized the retention of mature secondary forest trees, using them as anchors for the new landscape framework. Sensitive ecological measures were taken throughout the planning and construction process, with detailed tree mapping, protection of existing vegetation, and the careful transplanting of mature trees where removal was unavoidable. Tree protection and buffer zones were established prior to construction to safeguard the preserved secondary forest. In areas where temporary workspaces were required, ecological restoration was phased to allow nature to recover gradually and reduce habitat fragmentation.

The 91,000 m² campus landscape unfolds through a series of connections, from the biophilic Campus Heart which includes a preserved mature secondary forest, to the waterfront-facing East Zone along the Serangoon Reservoir. Elevated bridges and pedestrian decks link key zones, encouraging movement across indoor-outdoor spaces. Courtyards open into trails and placemaking nodes support informal learning and intergenerational use, while community parks and open green spaces host sports, orientation events, and gatherings.

In Singapore, greenery lost to construction must be replaced through Landscape Replacement Areas (LRA), as defined by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). The framework expands the idea of landscape to include not only planting but also water features, sky terraces, and hardscape plazas. At the campus, 100% of the displaced greenery has been reinstated as LRA, including green roofs, ecological ponds, and sky gardens. These features enhance biodiversity, protect existing habitats, and contribute to a welcoming campus environment.