Credit Courtesy Finbarr FallonBjarke Ingels Group
Happy Cinco de Mayo. Today’s good news story comes from the Good News Network.
Skyscraper Bursting with 80,000 Plants Opens in Singapore
If you’re planning a trip to the other side of the world’s richest city-state, Singapore’s “biophilic” CapitaSpring tower is now fully bursting with a publically accessible urban forest.
In Singapore’s business district, you have to go 17 to 20 stories above street level to find vast open greenery. On CapitaSpring’s “Green Oasis” floor, accessible to the public, a spiral path winds through gardens and small replicants of tropical forests, like the kind that stood there before Singapore came to be.
On the roof, three rooftop market gardens supply fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers to three on-site restaurants, and trees grow in nooks in the building’s facade as often as windows.
Ground broke in 2018 under the supervision of two of Europe’s most significant architecture firms—Carlo Ratti Associati and the Bjarke-Ingels Group.
“Due to the unique character of Singapore’s urbanism—both extremely dense and green—we decided to make the design a vertical exploration of tropical urbanism,” founder Bjarke Ingels said in a statement, adding that the tower is “like a vision of a future in which city and countryside, culture and nature can coexist.”
The 51-story building houses over 80,000 trees and plants across 90,000 square feet of landscaped area.
It reflects the belief of the nation’s founder, Lee Kuan Yew, who referred to the city-state as a “garden city.” Despite 6 million people filling an area smaller than Greater London, plants are easy to come by and are, in fact, a legal requirement in building regs.
The good news here is that if an effort is made in Singapore to ensure a dense Uban area has a proliferation of plants, such an effort can happen anywhere. Today’s JohnKu talks about creativity in urban planning. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Our Cities by John W. Howell © 2023
Alabaster lights,
Gleem on the city walkways . . .
Could accent the green.
Fiction Favorites 
What a remarkable thing, and like you said, achievable anywhere. The example has been set, in a big way. Hopefully the movement grows.
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That’s so cool. Think I saw a video about stuff like this years ago.
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Singapore is filled with examples.
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Most amazing! Wonderful.
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Thank you, Annette.
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Brilliant John and the way we should be building all our glass cities.. so much more healthier for the occupants as well as they plants breathe in and out…hugsx
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Love it!
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Thank you, Jill. 😁
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This is magnificent! I wish more builders felt this way. Singapore and Mr. Ingles.
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Yes. We could do a lot more here. Thanks, GP.
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This is a wonderful concept. I believe they have some wonderful public gardens there, too.
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They do. It is an amazing place. I went there from Taipei probably the dirtiest city in the world to the cleanest. The contrast was unbelievable.
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That’s interesting too.
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Yes it is.
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It’s extraordinary what we humans can achieve if inspired and committed. Thank you, John, for sharing this story and offering a great JohnKu.
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Thank you, Gwen. Humans can do a lot with the proper motivation. 😁
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How cool! Thanks for sharing, John.
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I is cool. Thanks for the comment, Joan.
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What an amazing concept. You can never go wrong with more trees in my opinion.
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I agree, Teri. Thanks.
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That is a wonderful thing that could be incorporated around the world.
A friend of mine lives in a condo complex called Tropical North (in Montreal). The condos all have inside balconies that face a huge tropical garden that goes all the way to the top. It’s rather cool (though not accessible to the public, of course.)
Have a wonderful Friday, John 🙂
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I so agree, Dale. The gardens in Singapore are available to the public which makes them quite special.
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It must be so magical to see “live” 🙂
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Singapore is a definite place worth the visit.
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Maybe one day…
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😊
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Nice, having so much greenery in a big city. Thanks for sharing, John. 🙂
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It is nice, Tim. Thanks for the comment.
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Thanks for these great posts, John.
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Thank you, Tim.
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A valiant attempt to bring nature into the congested city. I love it!
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it is a valiant attempt, Jan. Thanks.
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What a brilliant idea! And think of all the oxygen those plants are providing to the building’s occupants! Not to mention their soothing effects. But someone has to water them!
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Yes, the downside is they need care. Thanks, Noelle.
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Wow, I would LOVE to see that! What a wonderful concept, and here’s hoping it catches on world-wide.
Another great Fri-Yay post, John. Thanks so much for sharing the positive news that’s out there. YOU ROCK, my friend! 😀 ❤ 😀
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Thank you, Marcia. I think it is something that the world should take notice.
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It is, indeed, and I’m glad you’re doing your part to be sure folks learn about it. Thanks, again! 😀
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😊
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Kind of reminds me of a modern version of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. I love that plants are a building requirement. Great post, John. Have a lovely weekend.
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Good point, about the hanging gardens, Staci. 😁
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Great idea John but I sure would hate to be the guy that has to water all of those plants. Have a good weekend!
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You’d need a really long hose. Or a watering can from Walmart or Menards (you can save big money at Menards.)
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Sounds like a good idea, Tom. Complex line for sure.
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You’d need a really long hose. Or a watering can from Menards (you can save big money at Menards).
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Yup.
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Should like it would be a life time of guaranteed employment
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I love this good news for nature! Very encouraging!!
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It is Liz. Thanks for the visit.
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You’re welcome, John.
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😁
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That’s really cool, John. Thanks for sharing!
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I loved the story so it was easy to share. Thanks, Vera.
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What a great idea! Of course, I’m sure somebody would complain about the greenery irritating their allergies, ha.
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Here they would for sure.
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Happy Cinco de Mayo John. This is so gorgeous, so vividly colorful. I would love to go to Singapore some day. Than you for the virtual tour. ☕️☕️
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You are welcome, Holly. I was there once and did enjoy it.
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A dream come true!
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I suppose it was.
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😊
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I love this idea, John 🙂 Thanks for sharing it with us
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I love it too. Thanks for letting me know you liked it.
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I remember seeing photos of that hotel, but didn’t see information about it. That there’s “a legal requirement in building regs” is surprising, cool, and fascinating. Thanks for sharing something so positive, John. Hugs.
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Thank you for your visit, Teagan. Hugs back.
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So much of what Singapore is known for has been built since I was last there 20 years ago!
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True. Still was pretty amazing 20 years ago.
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Ah, the JohnKu is a perfect complement to the lush green in a dense urban area.
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Thank you, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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It sounds like hanging gardens, I have always wanted to see those… Happy Cinco de Mayo!
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Thank you, Milena Delayed Happy Cinco de Mayo to you as well
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How cool! It would neat to see it wouldn’t it?
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I applaud what they are doing but I am sad that no one realized their mistake when they first started cutting down all the greenery.
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Well man’s first inclination is to clear out all the pesky stuff
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[…] Take a wild ride; Take a wild ride; the jetsons.; Jet Screamer; [ the speed of light; TGIF; Zenith – City of the Future; Not A Future City; Telosa, America’s $400-Billion Future […]
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Fab idea and share. I hope this catches on! 🙂
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It would be nice.
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🙂
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😊
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It’s a great idea whose time is long past coming.
We have too many half empty sky scrapers in Toronto.
Since Covid, with many people still working from home, there are some totally empty skyscrapers.
Some are being turned into condos.
I’ve always thought some could be turned into vertical urban farming entities.
Lovin’ the JohnKu!!
OX OX 🐂🐂
I’ll be getting my OX shots together, soon. 💋
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I agree with you. 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂
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🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂
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🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂
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LOL
Okay, but I’m going back to basics next time!
🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂
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🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂They are growing
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JEEZ!!!
I herd that!
🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂 Back to basics!
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Whew, thank heavens. OX OX OX OX
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Interesting story, John. Isn’t Singapore the same country that outlaws gun chewing in public? I love the idea of the plants growing in odd environments.
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Yes they do outlaw gum chewing. The penalty is to be whipped with a cane.
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Ouch! I recall that incident a number of years ago when the American boy was caned for spitting out gum on the street, I believe.
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Yup.
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Great idea, dear John. Maybe, other cities will follow it. We need more green & mo oxygen.
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So true. Too bad blue chicken is not good for the atmosphere.😊
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😂😂😂👍👍👍 The blue chicken country is full of cactuses & palm trees. Africa as it is, you know.😱😪
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Ah ha. Did not know where the blue chicken came from.
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😂😂😂 I wonder myself, dear John. I think it’s time to investigate it. 😎😎😎🍤🍤🍤🍻
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We need to find the answer. 😁😁😁 🔎
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Definitely, dear John. Sherlock Twiggy & Lucy Watson might be a good help for that.😎😎😎
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I think so too.
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love it. thank you for sharing, John W.howell
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