The Bath-based landscape architect behind Singapore’s iconic Supertrees tourist attraction and the current Superbloom display at the Tower of London is calling for more city spaces to be turned over to nature to boost biodiversity, tourism and wellbeing.
Andrew Grant RDI, founder of pioneering landscape architecture practice Grant Associates was lead designer on the globally recognised Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, pictured, which this week celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Andrew, pictured below, believes it is now more important than ever for biodiversity-rich green spaces to be intentionally cultivated in order to combat the climate emergency:
“Gardens by the Bay demonstrates the possibility of using landscapes, plants and nature to create powerful places where people can come together and be inspired,” he said.
“The whole project’s approach to integrated planning and design serves to signify Singapore as the City in a Garden.”
He describes Gardens by the Bay as the perfect fusion of nature, technology and art and its legacy and impact is sizeable 10 years on.
“Its success shows how, as landscape architects, we can positively influence and transform cityscapes into areas that add more value to people and planet, supporting human wellbeing and fuelling urban biodiversity,” he added.
Following completion of the project, Andrew was awarded the title of RDI Royal Designer for Industry in recognition of his global work.
He is now a founding member of the UK Landscape Architects Declare – a movement for landscape architects around the world to act in response to the climate breakdown and biodiversity collapse.
His environmentally focused work has recently extended into the Tower of London Superbloom project, pictured below, the biggest transformation to the Tower of London’s historic moat in 150 years.
The nature-focused attraction, which opened a month ago, celebrates the value and importance of nature to the nation’s collective wellbeing.
New paths, walkways and viewing points offer a fresh perspective on the Tower’s ancient walls, while a 17.5m four-lane slide offers a unique way for people to enter the moat.
This year is also an anniversary for Grant Associates, marking 25 years of it delivering environmentally focused landscape projects across the world.
Back in 2006 the firm led the competition-winning team for Gardens by the Bay to design the 54 hectares (130 acres) of the £500m project.
One of the largest garden projects in the world, the masterplan took inspiration from Singapore’s national flower, the orchid, expressing its beauty through the exotic gardens and the physiology of the flower through the sophisticated infrastructure for managing energy, water and waste.
Since opening, millions of visitors have been wowed every year by the attraction, in particular by its 18 visually stunning Supertrees – measuring between 25m and 50m high – which serve as vertical gardens displaying tropical flowering climbers, epiphytes and ferns.
At night, these canopies come alive with lighting and projected media, with an aerial suspended walkway offering visitors a truly unique perspective on the gardens.
Andrew said: “Gardens by the Bay is a landscape spectacle based on plant diversity and which provides visitors with a first-hand appreciation of so many aspects of the natural world that are becoming endangered as our planet continues to be placed under such huge pressure.
“Our brief as a design team from day one was to deliver a one-of-a-kind botanic garden offering visitors from Singapore and around the world the chance to experience plants and natural habitats that they wouldn’t otherwise get to experience, both outside and within giant biomes.”
Grant Associates’ work aims to reconnect people with nature in insightful, delightful and distinctive ways while addressing the global challenges of urbanisation, the climate crisis and biodiversity extinction.
Its design process is underpinned by a knowledge of human behaviour, nature and ecological science combined with innovative design technology.
