On June, 28th 2012 Singapore unveiled a new wonder at the official opening to the public of the Bay South Garden, the latest in a series of projects which complete the huge "Gardens by the Bay" botanical and architectural complex. The whole project is an integral part of a sustainable strategy developed by the Singapore government in order to transform the city into a proper "Garden City", where a holistic approach and an all-encompassing eco-friendly programme further enhance the significance of greenery and flora within this country. Covering a total area of 101 hectares, "Gardens by the Bay" are comprised of three different coastal gardens named Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central. With its 54 hectares, Bay South is a lively and vibrant green plot that frames the best of tropical botany and garden artistry with bountiful displays of lush flowers, variegated vegetation and amazing made-man trees.
Right these giant artificial trees, the so-called Supertrees, have rapidly become the trademark of "Gardens by the Bay", embodying a perfect blend of nature, art and technology. While their artistic and natural essence is visible to the naked eye, their in-built technological features are well hidden within their multi-functional structure. They are in fact fitted with environmentally sustainable technologies - smartly camouflaged on their "crowns" and under their "roots" - that simulate the ecological functions of trees. Mimicking the photosynthesis, photovoltaic cells and solar collectors harness solar energy, which can be used to operate some functions of the Supertrees, such as lighting; moreover, the Supertrees are capable of collecting rainwater for use in irrigation and fountain displays, just the way real trees absorb rainwater for growth. They also serve air intake and exhaust functions as part of the conservatories’ cooling system.
