Prevue July/August 2013 - (Page 64)

T he Singaporean “bumboat” was once used to ferry goods from incoming freighters up the Singapore River. Today, planners can privatize the 50-pax vessels to travel along the river and its starting point in Marina Bay for dining, shopping and history tours. You can access almost everywhere you want to meet in Singapore via the fun bumboats within a short time. That’s because the convention center district, most of the major hotels and the downtown business district are all wrapped around Marina Bay. I’m not sure any metropolis this large can feel this small and closely connected, making it a breeze to get around. As such, Singapore is an urban planning utopia with a militant focus on sustainability. Almost everywhere our group visited was within eyesite of water and/or vast green parks. As Singapore erects more buildings, it develops more reclaimed land for parks to maintain air quality and the ratio between the built and natural environments. This all comes crisply into focus at the new Gardens by the Bay, separating Marina Bay from the South China Sea. The 250-acre park and “Supertree Grove” are straight out of science fiction. Twelve towering steel trees towering 80-160 feet high are covered with native ferns, vines, orchids and bromeliads. Eventually the plants will cover the steel. In the center of each, water containment and solar cells help make the park self-sustaining. There’s also a walkway connecting the Supertrees for a vertiginous “walk in the park.” At the top of the tallest tree, IndoChine Restaurant seats 100 with glass walls and a wraparound balcony. It’s an aweinspiring venue for group events, especially during the twice nightly laser shows over Marina Bay. “We see ourselves as the New York Central Park of Singapore, or Hyde Park in London,” says Darren Oh, assistant director, over a cup of tea at IndoChine. “We aim to share a story with Singaporeans and visitors about how the design of a building can harness as much energy as possible and consume as little as possible.” At the end of the park, the waterfront Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are two enormous glass greenhouse structures, again, like something out of Alien. The Cloud Forest has a long walkway winding around a mountain covered with exotic plants and flowers. The cold mist inside from the 100-foot waterfall makes it seem like you’re walking through a cloud. After an hour, your skin feels like you’ve spent a day in the spa. Next door, the Flower Dome showcases flora from all of the world’s climate zones. In the center, Jubilee Hall is one of the city’s most popular corporate meeting spaces for 700 seated. For large groups outdoors, The Meadow hosts 15,000 pax next to the Supertree Grove. MARINA BAY SANDS & SKYPARK There’s an elevated walkway from Gardens by the Bay into the base of the 2,561-room Marina Bay Sands Singapore. Easily the most monumental and expensive hotel construction project this century, the Marina Bay Sands consists of three sloping towers connected at the top by SkyPark, the world’s 64 | prevue magazine 62-67_Singapore.indd 64 7/3/13 2:00 PM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue July/August 2013

Planner's Pick: New Zealand
Fresh Meets: Autograph Collection
Bureau Buzz: Monterey County
Good Business: South Africa
sea Shores: Small Ship cruising
The Local Kitchen
Special Section: Caribbean
Dominican Republic
On Location: Hilton/LXR, Puerto Rico
On Location: The Broadmoor
The South, Florida & Las Vegas
Singapore
On Location: Starwood Resorts, San Diego
On Location: Travaasa Austin
On Location: Moon Palace Cancun
On Location: IRF Cancun
Check Out: Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana

Prevue July/August 2013