What it is
Gardens by the Bay's Supertree The Gr0ve in Singapore features 18 tree-shaped structures standing 25-50 meters tall. The Supertrees are vertical gardens hosting over 160,000 plants from 200+ species, with built-in environmental functions: they collect rainwater, generate solar power (11 trees have photovoltaic cells), and function as air intake and exhaust vents for the adjacent conservatories. The OCBC Skyway connecting two Supertrees offers an elevated walkway through the canopy.
Why we picked this
The Supertrees are the most visited example of bio-inspired infrastructure on Earth. Singapore's approach to urban nature, treating it as critical infrastructure rather than decoration, has made the city-state a global model for biophilic urbanism. The Supertrees prove that ecological function and iconic design are not competing priorities: these structures are simultaneously engineering systems, botanical gardens, tourist attractions, and symbols of a city that takes nature integration seriously.
Key takeaways
- The 11 solar-powered Supertrees generate enough electricity to light the entire grove at night, demonstrating energy-positive landscape design.
- Gardens by the Bay attracts over 50 million visitors annually, making it the most visited nature-integrated urban space in the world.
- Singapore's Supertree design has influenced urban planning conversations in 30+ cities, demonstrating that bio-inspired infrastructure creates tourism, biodiversity, and civic identity simultaneously.