Most people’s mental image of Changi Airport in Singapore is that of a very busy and modern facility — home to perhaps the best airline in the world, Singapore Airlines. I believe the photo below illustrates this…
Changi Airport has developed a reputation for integrating greenery throughout its terminals. The airport is massive and features extensive indoor (and outdoor) gardens. It is estimated there are as many as 750,000 individual plants within the airport and surrounding it. There are vertical walls filled with thousands of plants (living walls), orchids, palm trees, and landscaped areas, together creating a relaxing environment for travelers.
I snapped these photos while walking through Changi, and did not have time to delve into all the gardens within the airport. The best known is the Jewel, which is connected to Terminals 1, 2, and 3. It is five stories tall and includes the world’s tallest indoor waterfall (the Rain Vortex). Specialty gardens within the airport include a Cactus Garden, a Butterfly Garden, a Sunflower Garden and Discovery Garden
The airport maintains its own nursery (around 3 hectares). Plants are watered with automated irrigation.
It would be nice to see something similar duplicated around the globe. The greenery really does seems to help reduce the stress of traveling.
