Biophilic Architecture in Singapore - Ep 115

Over the past decade, Singapore has emerged as a very forward-thinking "green" city-exploring the outer reaches of biophilic design and green architecture principles, which is a concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions.
In this episode, we go on a tour of three iconic biophilic buildings, including the Oasia Hotel in Downtown Singapore, the Kampung Admiralty, and the Waterway Cascadia.
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[@Nhoj31neirbo47]

The shot at 4:38 captures how Singapore is realizing its biophilic goals. Modern architecture and urban layout is often dehumanizing. In response, in the 1980’s interiorscaping blossomed. Now biophilic design is greatly expanding on fulfilling people’s primal need to be in a natural environment. Singapore is on the cutting edge of conceptualizing and implementing this rapidly evolving approach to transforming human spaces. Parks, green belts, etc., have been incorporated into urban areas for decades. Now green roofs, walls and buildings will surround people right where they live and work with the natural world. Biophilic design is a significant contributor to the positive sea change in humanity’s environmental impact beginning to be effected by many organizations worldwide. Concepts as varied as the watershed garden to telecommuting can mitigate and gradually remediate the destructive consequences of the Industrial Age. ~ This is an amazingly high quality video!

[@summerrayneoakes]

Thanks as always for your thoughtful additions. And glad you're enjoying the quality we're putting behind these videos!

[@suburbanhomestead]

If youtube's algorithm was an actually intelligent entity that was actually concerned about humanities future, this video would be featured front and center in the homepage. This video is superbly made and can inspire people to make their world better.

[@summerrayneoakes]

Thank you for your thoughtful comment. And it does give us some good for thought about creating an alternative algorithm for the betterment of humanity!

[@forestroom8615]

Wow! What a dreamland!!! Hope that this is the future of our cities!

[@stlstlstltsi]

this is what the future looks like. imagine if all buisness buildings and apartment complex that would integrate plants and nature, it would be amazing

[@summerrayneoakes]

We just had legislation passed in NYC that all new buildings need to have green roofs! So stoked!

[@optimistic_biologist]

You have been making me so proud to be a Singaporean, great video as always!

[@summerrayneoakes]

Glad you enjoyed and you can find value in your heritage!

[@jclaypool66]

Having places that are more community-minded are awesome. The elderly are not just "put away" somewhere, they are around children and gardening which keep all ages thriving among the congested city. Love your videos!

[@jonnachan1561]

I'm singaporean,the greenery is what i miss most whenever i'm out of singapore.

[@universalsugarcanes]

also, fun fact! most of the parks in singapore are connected by a walkable/cycle path, so theoretically you could walk from the Punggol Waterway to Bedok Reservoir to Pasir Ris Beach

[@wheelix5797]

Correct, so you know alot about the country

[@mdebasree9]

This kind of architecture should be integral part of all the cities where there is so much pollution

[@barbll000]

Wow. This is so amazing and uplifting to see when a city decides to increase green space even if it means less income for them. The payoff is obvious. Singapore is setting an amazing example for the rest of us. Thanks so much Summer for sharing.

[@nirvana4life66]

This actually made me so happy I teared up a little 😢 so glad to see them put back the nature they took with the buildings. Hopefully the u.s. will catch up and do the same.

[@user-ow7bi3se2b]

Hahahah I did the same!!

[@edifynika7179]

I know!

[@hengjohn]

Same.

[@Denverbruce]

Imagine the fresh air in this green city 🌱😍

[@onestrangeanimal3212]

We should be building like this in every city on the planet!

[@raining_houseplants2646]

The whole wide world needs to incorporate this method in the megacities ! Can't really believe these can be done on such a scale! Modern marvels 🌱🌱🌱

[@farmplantsandseeds]

My permanent home here in Queensland Australia is an old motel, (I’m not retired btw), but oh boy, imagine if the developer back in the 50’s, had put this much scope, imagination, care, and love of nature in this motel, as there is in the Oasia Hotel ! - That green space is FANTASTIC. A privilege staying there. An experience truly to be grateful for.

[@universalsugarcanes]

you appreciate Singapore’s beauty more than us locals do hahaha 😂

[@summerrayneoakes]

Sometimes we forget what beauty looks like when it's right under our own noses!

[@mlo3627]

@@summerrayneoakes I'm Singaporean and totally agree 👍

[@clubalc]

Yes. We Singaporean typically live in a big garden. We call our country ‘Singapore’ A Garden City.

[@user-vt5ln7qq4j]

Garden City is an old description. The new description used by the Government is now "City in a Garden".

[@niconiconii5266]

@@user-vt5ln7qq4j City in the nature.

[@Angelwrites]

The outside of the apartment buildings are so lush with greenery! I'd love to see that in Dallas, Texas or Portland, Oregon! Thanks for sharing!

[@kriskrischi7571]

I wish that Americans would do more of this in the cities. I quite like nature and love to be surrounded by it.

[@PamsPrettyPlants]

Singapore is so on my list of places to see from these episodes! I wish we did more of this here in the states!

[@philipsabater2885]

it's beautiful, If Summer lived here she would probably have cuttings from every plant in her apartment from the community garden lol. I really love the camera shots throughout the video amazing quality!

[@sgxpress95]

Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority have schemes and incentives that give grants to developers that put back 100% or more of their total site area for greenery in various means such as rooftop or vertical greenery. Just to point out, the housing estates that were featured in the video is all public housing. New Public Housing projects that sprung up over the years have incorporated greenery into the living spaces.

[@valiumk.9489]

Wow, I wish this was "adopted" by more cities, especially big, crowded cities, such as Athens. We have the perfect climate for so many plants, edible or not and so much wasted space, like flat roof terraces and balconies, it's just a shame we are not a much "greener" city. Maybe one day. Thank you for this inspirational video!!

[@marshallkiganjo6248]

It is really inspiring how they are able to incorporate nature into the built environment.

[@jsanon1634]

Excellent presentation. Interesting, enlightening and enjoyable.... modern and beautiful infras that are close to nature.

[@Ohmyblackcat]

Thanks summer for this video, I'm an architect and landscaper designer based in Brazil but for now I can't visit Singapore and u helped me see these amazing places and green trends. The shots are great, really easy to feel the space u are into.

[@summerrayneoakes]

So thrilled I can bring them to you Samantha.

[@thepipingbagbakery4399]

What a dream! Singapore...now a bucket list item!

[@ThePlantUtopia]

I love this video. I wish it was like this in the states. I think if we incorporated nature like this with the buildings we live in then we would be much happier and more relaxed in the US.

[@edifynika7179]

Plant Utopia Completely agree

[@ja-uh9gz]

I love this! After all of the defoliation of the past 100 years there, people are realizing how important plants are to the planet.. and are coming up with very creative and clever ideas to integrate them back into modern life. I loved this tour, it's inspirational and would love to see this catch on in more cities. Thank you for the tour!

[@summerrayneoakes]

Me too!

[@aviaja2008]

I loved all of the urban bio fill. It is the most healthy way to ensure a healthy environment for all living creatures. I would love to see that in all cities around the world ;)

[@TheMandom88]

Go to 72 storey Raffles City. Look out from the top and you will be surprised to see more greenery that covered the island, u might wonder where are the houses and apartments far away. But they are actually underneath trees on top of buildings .

[@Shane988]

Studying Green Building & Sustainability in Temasek Poly it's an amazing course

[@CuriousVixen1]

I love watching videos about biopholic structures. There isn't enough quality content about this on KZbin. I'd absolutely love it if you did more videos exploring places like this 💚

[@summerrayneoakes]

Trying my best! Thanks for the vote of support.

[@paecpc]

I was a cabin crew for many years, and each time when I was back from my flight, I couldn’t help feeling how beautiful Singapore is, even though other countries have its beauty’s tool! Thanks for sharing!

[@MiuMiuG]

The 'cat's whiskers' plant is traditionally used to help control diabetes. You can boil the leaves and flowers until you get a tea coloured liquid, water that down and drink it to lower your blood sugar. But you do need to be careful as with most DIY remedies, an overly strong dose can send your blood sugar down too low. Correct me if I'm wrong anyone. But that's what I saw people do when I lived in Malaysia ;)

[@cck53sg]

Thank you, MM G, found your comment by accident. Now our family are regular drinkers and it help to bring down blood pressure together with regular exercise as well . It works '- )

[@universalsugarcanes]

the communal gardens are my favourite parts of Singapore, every housing estate has one and it’s so interesting to see how different communities like to decorate it! there’s one near my house which is decorated with the characters from the Studio Ghibli films, super cute!

[@summerrayneoakes]

Thanks for sharing your personal experience!

[@myshanamakisi6063]

Visted Singapore and Malaysia in 2015, absolutely beautiful. This side of the world, is light years ahead with innovation. They truly know how to work with nature.

[@linus5778]

Malaysia innovative?... Hmmm, I've never heard anyone say that about Malaysia before. Is it clean and safe like Singapore too?

[@jimw8615]

Linkermahn indeed, will love to see a similar video of Malaysia like this. I doubt there is. Though they have national parks.

[@jennifercongdon4583]

How can so many Americans think we are " number one" ? Amazing what you showed us about Singapore and what is being done environmentally in the construction of its buildings and waterways. Thank you so much for this .Of course, this follows the deforestation which took place, which is tragic. But environmental awareness is evident in this new construction.

[@sgxpress95]

Tragic, up and coming Tengah New Town is dubbed as "Forest Town". But they have to deforest the the area as it serves "Low conservation value" to the environment.

[@exs1803]

@@sgxpress95 Forests and swamps have to make way for towns. Where else you think people going to stay, what homes are they going to have. They are going to live in trees??? There are forests reserves in Singapore where nature and the environment is preserved. And developments such these try as much as possible to create and maintain a clean, green, and eco friendly environment. Where else do you see this, especially in Asia?

[@iddybiddyladybugleeza262]

One of my favorite field trips 🥰👍🏼👍🏼

[@SequoiaElisabeth]

Of all the vids you have done so far, I like the "Plant One on Me" series most. I love the travel log and seeing how plants are grown in various locations around the world. Your format is informative, fun, and lighthearted which is most enjoyable. I get your sense of discovery and love for plants that I share, so thank you for sharing!

[@Iskiebabes]

You do such an amazing job to highlight our greenery here in Singapore. I live around the area where you were in Punggol and am truly blessed to see the greenery daily.

[@TheJournalofBiophilicDesign]

Beautiful walk through the city, looking at the planting, design, sustainability aspects too. Thank you for really interesting coverage. Love the landscape on top of the car park to have a park for children to play in. Great filming, showing the greenscapes in the distance, really gives an overview of what can be done to create a Biophilic city.

[@tbz1551]

This is just amazing to see. Thank you for opening my eyes to all of this...and so well done. Your content continues to be so superb 🙌🏻💚🌿🌻

[@WanderingNoldo]

So nice to be back in Sg. My local friend actually took me to see the Oasia last time I was there (feb 2018)

[@gardenfullofcolour]

Stunning!! There is hope for our planet then

[@johomusic]

I've been dreaming about exactly this since I was a little kid! I wish the biophilic design principles extend to more and more cities, I guess we need to push it somehow :) Beautiful episode, Summer.

[@summerrayneoakes]

Thanks Nina. And thank you for chiming in and watching.

[@johomusic]

@@summerrayneoakes Always! :)

[@susannehirschauer5443]

So beautiful

[@Juanro_7]

This is great. It’s great to see landscape architecture merged with everyday urban buildings.

[@iamjograd]

Great job SG for taking the Biophilia concept seriously! Thanks SummerRayne for this feature. I wish more communities will do this.

[@cherylyeo25]

thanks for once again, allowing me to be grateful and appreciate my homeland MORE! yes, high quality video and love the way you pronounce kampung... which is village I am sure you are aware of. yes, we ARE aiming for more and more nature into our urban life and wow, the research which you went / shown in this short video. Am at awe! much love from Singapore! hope to see you here soon!

[@jeanpatrickbaclayon798]

I am very happy that my love for plants as an Architecture student can be in harmony!! Thank you

[@impopquiz]

You can walk to Coney Island from there too. A small island of wild trees and plants.

[@goddess131]

thank you so much for this excellent video. I love seeing all these different Singapore videos you have done. Your Singapore videos remind me of my recent trip to Singapore and I also loved seeing the different buildings that have plants visible on them, on top or a section in the middle of the building with beautiful trees in them.

[@deyaniragomez7169]

That is beautiful❤💙💚 One more place in my bucket list!

[@summerrayneoakes]

I'd like to go back myself!

[@deyaniragomez7169]

I'm still waiting for plants to grow money so I can travel😂

[@fenikkusu5467]

Doing a thesis about biophilical architecture. Thanks for the vid!

[@ZaihasSyakhir]

Oh yeah those cat whiskers are edible and it is consumed as medicinal tea when dried. My parents has them.

[@lexieandcece]

It appears that the USA is so far BEHIND this awesome way of living. This government should pay attention to what is being accomplished by other countries to make life more beautiful and healthy. I love your field trips. They are both educational and enjoyable to view.

[@liong5552]

Didn't mean to be rude, but when America declares being the Greatest Country in the World closes the door to see the best in others. America should really stop focusing on itself, wars, politics and whole lots of negatives. The world is a pretty large place for amazing things to happen or discover. We can all learn from each other.

[@noblevictory2200]

🤗🌸🦋🐝 how absolutely glorious

[@avaf1084]

Amazing! Thank you for sharing.

[@koreyratering4662]

Epic design and video coverage.

[@elainefigueira1]

Beautiful place!

[@alexcontreras6103]

LOVED THIS!!

[@piratkopieringno]

Thank you for taking us with you Summer! This is amazing! I’m gonna go ahead and try to connect with people to create something similar in my own country🌿🥳

[@summerrayneoakes]

Fantastic! Glad this can be inspiration.

[@AmbientWalking]

Thank you for this wonderful tour!

[@jamiemulchinock2442]

Cool video🌿 And the plantation problem in Singapore is real, but if you can't grow along on the ground then build upwards 🌱

[@dinianas4693]

Omg I’m from Singapore and I live a few blocks away from kampung Admiralty! Keep up the amazing work with your videos they just keep getting better every time always enjoy them :)

[@fatinshariff5607]

wow this is my fav episode so far! such a cool concept they have and inspirational for other big cities! thanks for sharing!

[@chenalindelossantos967]

THIS IS SO AMAZING!

[@kevin080592]

currently reviving my interest on biophilia by incorporating as much plants I can lay my hands on into my home and singapore never falls short in inspiration

[@escapism2to1]

I absolutely love following you along on these field trips. They are always so incredibly interesting! I can not wait to visit Singapore some day!💚

[@paulineng6177]

Thank you for sharing this city in the garden concept that I heard but not really seen it. Really appreciate this concept for our climate and keeping the air fresh and this development is the way to go for city planning and development. Good job and I am proud of Spore!

[@dbag96]

This was such a good episode.

[@gypsyh2690]

That was amazing; I was once privileged enough to see parts of Singapore and I love that you're bringing education towards more communities and Ideas.

[@nickduplooy8845]

ferocious forest chickens... Stuff like this is why I subscribed

[@summerrayneoakes]

hahah. subtle humor.

[@9562a4]

Amazing content

[@AdamArzemy]

This just shows hoe Singapore Govt really involved in making the city Green. I’m suprised they even have a “kampung” for elderly.

[@Cerraigh82]

I adore your field trip videos. Gives you hope for humanity to see what people can design when they actually stop to think about sustainability.

[@juanpablovaldesmaya1407]

This is such a good video, your content is just amazing. Great job!

[@Alypinkflower]

i love the community garden.. should def incorporated something similar in our city too

[@MyPlantWorld]

Nice information 😍😍😍

[@GeetaandRajeev]

Very beautiful

[@roberthartley8105]

Just Sooooo Beautiful......Thank you for sharing, Angel Blessings.

[@summerrayneoakes]

Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for tuning in.

[@m.f.8807]

such an amazing video so well done great filming technoque etc.

[@lennylim188]

Thank you for visiting our city and for making these videos!

[@jessicacroll5774]

This is incredible! What an inspiration for better urban design in the future! This video should have more views!!!!

[@1989kd]

A blueprint for our future. Amazing.

[@okititi9829]

Great video

[@amandinep.1315]

So interesting !!!

[@imazharmaqsood]

Good work and amazing place. wish to live that place

[@imazharmaqsood]

@Hean Tan thanks very much

[@ahmedelsheikh9079]

That was amazing and charming thanks. thanks for the camera man as well. I really appreciate his work .

[@princesslunakusuma8322]

i love the hotel!

[@LFLeung]

Summer Rayne from Homestead Singapore. Yeap, I can totally see she moves to Singapore hahaha :D

[@haobin_LeGrow]

I follow your video and visited 3 places, it’s so amazing！

[@basosplants784]

Hi I am george and I am from georgia.I am so excited about this video.I love plants so much

[@summerrayneoakes]

So glad you enjoyed George from Georgia!

[@NewmaticKe]

m.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/attractions/cloud-forest/visitor-information.html

[@lnwon8836]

I'm from Singapore and living in an HDB flat. My living room overlook the roof top garden of our estate's multi storey carpark similar to the one seen in this video. There are plenty of greenery with Thai basil plants, Pandan leaf plants and lemongrass grown in the garden but I hardly see anyone there.

[@hawkhea7527]

There’s otters here at Punggol too

[@kitbash1991]

Oddly missed this episode. Watched it today and saw you featuring punggol, which is where I reside. Punggol is a beautiful area to stay in!

[@inzamamulhaqhaq6680]

Omg I love everytime

[@LisanAlgayeeb]

wow! im singaporean and havent been to these places. putting them on my bucket list!!

[@ramatyagi8165]

Thank you for the tour. Would appreciate if you could show us how do they water the plants.