Singapore is famous for its well-manicured and green public spaces, breathtaking gardens, delicious food, modern conveniences, and family-friendly places. But that’s not all. The Lion City also boasts exceptional modern innovations and architectural marvels that offer visitors a glimpse of the future—no wonder the city-state is becoming a favourite filming location for Hollywood sci-fi movies.
Perhaps you’re planning to visit Singapore soon. If so, you may want to check out some of the futuristic locations and attractions you’ll find here to make the most of your stay. From spectacular architectural marvels to high-tech farms that employ state-of-the-art agricultural methods, here are seven attractions that showcase Singapore as a city of the future.
Jewel Changi Airport
A visit to the Changi Airport and the adjoining commercial hub of Jewel is certainly a glimpse into the near future where airports are no longer mere places to catch a flight but lifestyle destinations all on their own. With the airport complex’s unparalleled architectural design, lush indoor gardens, remarkable attractions, and stellar shopping options, there are tons to see and things to do in Changi Airport that you can’t experience anywhere else.
One of the attractions in the Jewel is the majestic HSBC Rain Vortex. Towering 40 metres high, the Vortex is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall that looks straight out of a sci-fi flick. It’s a breathtaking sight you shouldn’t miss. The Rain Vortex is truly an architectural and engineering marvel because its cascading waters are not a mere attraction but also used for irrigation and as a cooling source for the complex’s interiors.
The Supertree Grove
Located in the iconic and world-class Gardens by the Bay, the Supertree Grove is home to a dozen 25- to 50-metre-tall Supertrees. These gigantic, futuristic-looking vertical gardens house more than 160,000 plants of over 200 species of climbers and tropical epiphytes, from orchids and bromeliads to ferns and philodendrons.
Take pictures, marvel at the diverse display of leaves and blooms in various shades, or enjoy the light and sound show at night when the Supertrees come to life. You can also take a trip to the Supertree Observatory, situated at the canopy of the tallest Supertree, to experience stunning views of the gardens and to get a better appreciation and preview of what city greening will be like in the future.
The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest
Recognized as the largest glass greenhouse by the Guinness World Records, the Flower Dome is another futuristic structure you can explore when you visit Gardens by the Bay. Here you’ll get the chance to get up close and personal with a wide array of unusual plants and unique blooms from different parts of the world.
Don’t forget to complete your adventure into the future by heading to the Cloud Forest, where you can feast your eyes on the grandeur of one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls and a man-made “mountain” covered with lush greenery composed of exotic plant species. To simulate the experience of strolling amidst the clouds, the temperature in this dome is maintained at low levels, and mist is sprayed at regular intervals. You also get to walk along spiralling aerial walkways to better appreciate this botanical, architectural, and engineering treasure.
The Interlace
Balancing the demands of space and privacy in compact urban areas will most likely be a pressing challenge in the years to come. However, before it becomes a huge issue, Singapore has already found a fitting solution—stacking apartment blocks in a seemingly disorganized way instead of on top of each other in a straight line.
To see such an architectural gem, check out the Interlace apartment building complex designed by German architect Ole Scheeren, located on the boundary between Bukit Merah and Queenstown. The unusual hexagonal arrangement helps ensure that the occupants enjoy the perfect balance of privacy and public space, not to mention a unique view of the surrounding area.
The Helix
Are you tired of boring bridges? Be sure to take a leisurely walk and capture social media-worthy photos along the Helix Bridge, the longest pedestrian bridge in Singapore with a first-of-its-kind double helix design patterned after the DNA structure. Aside from its aesthetic value, this design offers significant savings as it requires less steel than box girders or cable bridges. Moreover, the special duplex steel provides exemplary structural support while reducing maintenance requirements.
Tampines NEWater Service Reservoir
After exploring century-old temples along Tampines Link, you may want to drop by Tampines NEWater Service Reservoir to see the two funnel-shaped water storage towers built in the middle of grassy slopes. Unlike ordinary water tanks, these water towers look like giant alien spaceships. Consider dropping by late in the afternoon as the sun sets to capture extraordinary photographs that will surely provide futuristic and sci-fi vibes in your social media accounts.
Sky Greens
Catch a glimpse of what urban farming will be like in the years to come by visiting Sky Greens, the world’s first low-carbon, hydraulic water-driven vertical farm. Located in Lim Chu Kang Lane, Sky Greens introduced this farming system to increase local food production and maximize land use in land-scarce areas like Singapore. Join their public tours to see how this innovative farming system works and understand its advantages against past and current farming practices.
These are just a few examples of the many futuristic attractions that practically demonstrate that Singapore is living in the future. Make sure to check them out on your next trip and find similar places that will satisfy your curiosity and thirst for innovative technologies and architectural designs. Who knows? Maybe you’ll enjoy exploring such places as you would other mainstream tourist attractions.
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