The initial idea of developing a world-class garden
right in the heart of Singapore’s new downtown was
mooted at a time when Singapore was seeking to
reinvent itself as a global city of distinction. This
was the time when the country sought to remain
a forerunner in the global arena amidst intense
competition from emerging markets. From being a
‘Garden City’ where green spaces are interspersed
around the island, the idea of becoming a ‘City in
a Garden’, in which the entire country was seen as
one big garden was embraced. This paradigm shift
in planning set the stage for Gardens by the Bay to
take shape.