Singapore – Guoco Midtown, the second flagship integrated mixed-use development of GuocoLand Limited (“GuocoLand”), will transform the city’s skyline, as well as its landscape, when completed in phases starting from 2022. Building on its strong track record in green and sustainable developments, GuocoLand has upped the ante by introducing a game-changer with the most extensive privately-developed collection of gardens in the Central Business District (CBD).
Known collectively as Guoco Midtown Gardens, 30 thematic gardens and landscaped spaces spanning 3.8 hectares (ha) will turn the 3.2 ha of prime land in the Beach Road-Bugis district into a new leisure destination. The gardens are ‘weaved’ like a botanic tapestry into Guoco Midtown’s built environment, extending from the ground floor to various levels at the podium and all the way to the rooftops of the towers. Ten of these gardens are publicly accessible, providing the community with a chance to immerse themselves in nature and partake in public events – right in the heart of the city.
Mr Cheng Hsing Yao, Group Managing Director of GuocoLand Singapore, said: “Our vision for Guoco Midtown is to bring about a transformation of the neighbourhood into a new business and lifestyle destination in the CBD. One of the new identities of the future ‘Midtown’ of Singapore is a botanic garden in the city – one that is knitted into the urban fabric of an integrated mixed development.”
“The biophilic design of Guoco Midtown also demonstrates how the private sector can play a role in a whole-of-nation effort to contribute to the Singapore Green Plan 2030. Guoco Midtown’s city in nature concept is built upon these principles to make our city greener, more liveable and promote a sustainable lifestyle with green transportation and green buildings,” added Mr Cheng.
Guoco Midtown is the result of GuocoLand’s collaboration with many preeminent design firms. Australia’s Denton Corker Marshall led by Design Director Adrian Fitzgerald helms the overall site over at Beach Road, while four-time President’s Design Award winner Yip Yuen Hong of ip:li Architects designed the latest addition to Guoco Midtown – the 558-unit Midtown Modern with its twin residential towers and a retail podium.
Ortus Design is the landscape architect tasked with integrating nature into the multiple components of Guoco Midtown, from its office tower, retail clusters to the two residential developments. This is not the first time Mr Chia Jui Siang, Partner at Ortus Design, has collaborated with GuocoLand, having been involved in the landscape design for Goodwood Residence and Martin Modern in his previous employment before setting up Ortus Design.
With a total of more than 350 species of plants, including several rare and endangered native species, these gardens are part of GuocoLand's efforts to create a green destination to connect with the surrounding community through recreation, wellness, in-nature dining, events and placemaking activities.
Some of the publicly accessible thematic gardens include a Native Garden of indigenous plants and orchids; Midtown Market with an epiphyte collection that forms a hanging garden above the public space; Forest Giants Walk with its tall tropical forest trees; Water Garden with a fresh waterside plant collection; and Eucalyptus Plaza for people and cyclists to rest.
GuocoLand has long been a strong supporter of sustainable principles, and was awarded the Green Mark Champion award in 2020 by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for achieving a substantial number of Green Mark buildings at Gold level or higher. Guoco Midtown’s office component and residential tower Midtown Bay are both certified Green Mark Platinum, while Midtown Modern is targeted to achieve Green Mark Gold Plus certification in time.
