SINGAPORE. Changi Airport Group (CAG) has revealed plans to open a 14,000sq m lifestyle attraction Canopy Park at the ambitious new Jewel Changi Airport complex, which opens in 2019.
Developed by Jewel Changi Airport Trustee Pte. Ltd. (JCAT), a joint venture between Changi Airport Group and CapitaLand Mall Asia, Jewel is a mixed-use complex featuring a broad offer. It includes a five-storey indoor garden, play attractions, shopping and dining options, a hotel and facilities for airport operations.
Canopy Park will be situated on the top level, and will house play attractions, gardens, walking trails and dining outlets.
Three play attractions – Sky Nets, Canopy Mazes and Discovery Slides – will be central features and provide an element of interactivity to the offerings at Canopy Park. Designed by consultants from the UK, France, Germany, Singapore and the Netherlands, the play attractions have been designed for Jewel’s unique indoor garden environment, noted CAG.
The Sky Nets play attraction, customised for Jewel, combines two concepts – a bouncing and walking net. It is said to be a world first created on such a scale in an indoor environment. The highlight of Sky Nets is a void over which visitors can look down 25m to Jewel’s level 1 (see below).
Jewel’s Canopy Mazes area comprises two different maze concepts that provide a twist to traditional mazes, said CAG. The hedge maze has an elevated watch tower that offers visitors a bird’s eye view of the maze. The second maze has mirror design elements, where visitors will encounter challenges as they attempt to orientate themselves out of the maze. This mirror maze will be the first-of-its-kind to be built in a garden environment, said the airport company.
The Discovery Slides zone is designed to be both an art sculpture as well as a playground. This play attraction has a 4-slides-in-1 sculptural playscape within a garden environment where adults and children alike can experience various type of slides. The sculpture is also specially created so that observers can join in, while also having the opportunity to stand atop a 6.5m high platform that overlooks the Forest Valley and enjoy a view of the lush greenery.
Rounding off the list of attractions at Canopy Park is the 50m long Canopy Bridge, where visitors can view the striking 40m high Rain Vortex. As noted above, the Canopy Bridge which is suspended 23m above ground, will have glass panel flooring in the centre portion for visitors to look through to level 1 of Jewel.
In line with Singapore’s reputation as a City in a Garden, and Changi Airport’s reputation for its gardens and greenery, Jewel will house one of the largest indoor collections of plants in Singapore. About half of the total landscaping and greenery in Jewel will be housed at Canopy Park, which boasts over 1,400 trees and palms.
It will feature two specially created gardens – the Topiary Walk and Petal Garden. Nestled among winding walkways, the Topiary Walk houses animal-shaped topiaries at every corner, while the Petal Garden will have seasonal floral displays, adding to the overall lush environment.
Jewel Changi Airport Devt CEO Hung Jean said: “When we conceptualised Canopy Park, we envisaged an area that is not only relaxing because of the lush greenery around, but also one that is filled with timeless activities and interactions for visitors of all ages. It is our vision to pitch Jewel at the highest level and to position it as a world-class attraction for Changi Airport and Singapore.
“Canopy Park is designed with this objective in mind, and we want to create a place that will attract visitors from all over the world. Changi Airport also holds a special place in the hearts of Singaporeans, and we believe that the unique offerings at Jewel will offer them added reason to revel in the Changi Airport experience and join us in hosting the world.
“To capture tourism mindshare amongst international travellers, and elevate the Changi Experience, Jewel’s unique offerings including Canopy Park, Forest Valley and the Rain Vortex, will be a place where “Singapore meets the World, and the World meets Singapore”, right at the doorstep of Singapore Changi Airport.”
