Today we have the pleasure to air the Closing Keynote Address “Gardens by the Bay, Singapore” by Andrew Grant from our inaugural 2011 Greenroofs & Walls of the World(TM) Virtual Summit on greenroofs.tv and our GreenroofsTV channel on YouTube.

Gardens by the Bay is an amazing new major public park from the visionary green leadership of Singapore National Parks, ready to debut in two days!  This is one of my favorite presentations, too.

At the time of filming and putting together landscape architect Andrew Grant’s fantastic PowerPoint presentation last September, 2011, Gardens by the Bay was well under construction with many areas almost finished.

Of course, it is finished now!  So Andrew added new video and photos of the last few months to his presentation for an updated version, such as the gorgeous photo below of the lighted conservatories and Supertrees covered in multi-covered epiphytic plants, putting on a magical night show:

Following an international design competition in 2009, the team led by Grant Associates was selected to prepare the masterplan for Marina South Gardens in Singapore as part of the National Parks Board Gardens by the Bay project.

The design is based on the shape of an orchid, and because of this Haven Kiers and I included this project in our 2010 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design in our #3 spot, “Biomimicry as Eco-literacy & Holistic Design.”

At the heart of the design are the 25, 30, 37, 42, and 50m Supertrees – vertical structures to sustain air plants and climbers, provide water harvesting and spectacular light displays, and much more.

Visit the Grant Associates website for the Gardens by the Bay case study.

Aramis and I met Andrew in November, 2010 when we we both presented at the International Skyrise Greenery Conference in the beautiful tropical island nation of Singapore.  Of course, he spoke about the progress of this stunning project, and we found out later that not only is Andrew and his team very talented, he is a really nice guy!

Fortunately, Gardens by the Bay was one of the sites on our tour of Singapore, and you can see some of my photos of the construction taken from some high vantage points, here the Marina Barrage followed by the even spectacularly higher Marina Sands Hotel:

More info:

Andrew Grant is a landscape architect, principal and Director of Grant Associates located in Bath, UK. Andrew Grant BA (Hons), CMLI, Hon FRIBA, studied Landscape Architecture at Heriot-Watt University/Edinburgh College of Art, 1977-1982.  Andrew formed Grant Associates in 1997 to explore the emerging frontiers of landscape architecture within sustainable development.

His approach is driven by a fascination with creative ecology and the promotion of quality and innovation in project work.  He has built up experience in all scales and types of projects from sub-regional planning to the detailing of the smallest piece of new landscapes.  He is a member of CABE Space and the South West Regional Design Panel.

In Andrew’s keynote address he gives the participant an overview on “Gardens by the Bay, Singapore.”  Gardens by the Bay consists of three distinctive waterfront gardens in the heart of Marina Bay that will define Singapore as the world’s premier tropical garden city.  The presentation shows the scope and content of this spectacular 101-hectare project with particular reference to the innovative use of vertical planting and ecological management systems.

18 ‘Supertrees’ provide a framework for vertical gardens rising 25 to 50m above the ground.  Strategies for sustaining planting within the cooled conservatories and the specific designs for the 40m high ‘mountain lattice’ within the cool moist conservatory are discussed along with spectacular graphics and construction photos.

By the way, Gardens by the Bay will be officially unveiled on June 29!  Andrew is in Singapore for the opening of the project and says that it is all looking spectacular and especially the Supertrees and Cloud Forest Mountain.

We can’t wait to return to Singapore and visit this awesome site.  If you are fortunate enough to live or be visiting there, please send us some photos!  Visit the Gardens by the Bay website here.

Enjoy!  Visit greenroofs.tv to see “Gardens by the Bay, Singapore” or click below:

Watch earlier videos on our exclusive Virtual Summit greenroofs.tv play list, or see the following Virtual Summit videos now available on our GreenroofsTV channel on YouTube:

If you’re looking for an overview, make sure to see our 2011 Virtual Summit Highlights video (6:18) and our 2011 Virtual Summit Trailer (2:59).

Well, folks, that’s it for all of the video presentations from the Greenroofs & Walls of the World(TM) Virtual Summit 2011!  Next week we’ll show my very short 1:57 VS2011 Summary and Virtual Summit Close video, and then you’ll have to wait over a year from now to see more on greenroofs.tv and our GreenroofsTV channel on YouTube.  Unless, of course, you join us for our second Greenroofs & Walls of the World(TM) Virtual Summit 2013!

Speaking of which, we are in the planning stages for our second virtual conference venture, to be held in February through March, 2013 with many more expert speakers, trade show exhibitors, and lots of cool new features.  You’ll need to register for it to see all of the live presentations and Q & A sessions, unlimited video, audio and text chatting as well as visiting live reps in the spectacular Expo, bigger and better than last year!

Stay tuned for some exciting announcements soon.

~ Linda V.