Cloud Forest & Flower Dome
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Flower Dome & Cloud Forest - by lucylin from Pixabay
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Description
The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are the two cooled conservatories of Gardens by the Bay (South Garden) in Singapore. They were designed by WilkinsonEyre and Grant Associates as a showcase of sustainable buildings and are both among the world's largest column-less glasshouses in the world. The Flower Dome has a Mediterranean climate (cool and dry) with eight gardens made up of plants from semi-arid regions. The Cloud Forest has the moist conditions found in the tropical highlands of SEA, Central and South America. The key feature is the 42m tall Cloud Mountain.
Access & Transport
Located along the Marina Reservoir, within Gardens by The Bay (South); it is walking distance from MBS and the Esplanade / Singapore Flyer Marina area across the Helix Bridge. The closest MRT is 'Gardens by the Bay' (TE line) with Bayfront (Downtown, Circle, TE lines) a short 5mins walk away. There are also bus stops along Bayfront Av. and Marina Gardens Dr as well as onsite parking.
Instructions & Recommendations
Closed once a month for maintenance (dates available on the website) This activity can be combined with a visit of the Gardens by the Bay and ArtScience Museum (next to MBS).
Environmental & Social
Sustainable engineering enables a reduction of 20% in energy consumption (more details here: https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/about-us/our-gardens-story/sustainability-efforts.html) but we are still looking at cooling large structures in an equatorial climate + the construction would have been resources intensive. Socially neutral
Conclusion
The Cloud Forest and Flower Dome are marvels of design and engineering, but one has to wonder if this is not a little over the top to showcase plants from different climates. Notwithstanding such philosophical question we would highly recommend it to those with keen interest in plants & flowers or with a very flexible budget - for the others, the free Gardens by the Bay is probably sufficient.
Key positive
Nothing quite like it elsewhere in the world (that we are aware of)
Refreshing weather
Visually pleasant gardens
Key negative
Some sustainability credentials but still a lot of electricity and construction materials used to showcase plants...
Suitability
Suitable for all ages and accessible for visitors with reduced mobility
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
May 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 30m
est. visit time:2h 30m
Monday09:00 - 21:00
Tuesday09:00 - 21:00
Wednesday09:00 - 21:00
Thursday09:00 - 21:00
Friday09:00 - 21:00
Saturday09:00 - 21:00
Sunday09:00 - 21:00