THE BOTANIC CENTRE : SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS

Abstract

Singapore's image of a garden City is made possible by a century of botanic expertise and knowledge accumulated at the Botanic Gardens Singapore's success in greening a heavily built up environment makes it a much quoted model for others. Her expertise in developing a garden city in the tropical region and a densely built up environment in such a short space of time is a source which can be tapped by other developing countries in the region. At the moment, there is no place to go to for such imformation, no showcase to document the development of Smgapore as a Garden City which is of great interest, to the numerous tourists visiting Singapore and no information centre for those interested in our rich botanic heritage in Singapore, except the Botanic Gardens which has been relegated in the minds of the public to a recreational role ill befitting its years of accumulated excellence in the botanic field. The Gardens has also reached a stage in development where its role of education and research must be re-emphasized. As Singapore grows into a more developed and affluent society, there is an increasing awareness of the quality of our environment as Singaporeans take pride in our clean and green city together with an awakening sensitivity and responsibility we feel towards our environment. This new outlook can be fostered and nurtured by the development of a botanic centre where such information can be readily available and complement the fine living collection at the Botanic Gardens, which together with educational programmes could instill in the populance an awareness of our natural environment and protect a distinctive unique image as befitting one of the great tropical botanic gardens in the world. Architectural issues : It is only when the landscape is considered in relation with the spaces to be enclosed that a meaningful character can be endowed on the Architecture. Architecture is not an isolated composition, but a composition related to nature. This follows from the assumption that the contextual issue of the architectural role in a garden setting is of importance. Nature can be used as a metaphor for architecture There is in nature a unity of form, purpose and character, which also exists in architecture when ideas of life, creation and movement are followed in the creation of architecture The way shaped are arranged in nature gives rise to our sense of beauty as we are sub consciously linked together as a part of a larger totality. Objectives To explore the relationship between the architecture and the landscape and the integration between them especially on the contextual issue of the architectural role in a landscaped garden setting. To provide an environment conducive to botanic interpretation and explore the integration of environmental concerns pertaining to both the people and the plant exhibits into architecture