ITE College East students emerge top at inaugural Landscape Design Challenge

Children’s Chillout Garden by ITE College East won Gold award in the Landscape Design Challenge
at Singapore Garden Festival 2016

After weeks of designing, implementing and maintaining a garden of their own, 24 tertiary students are now richer in their experience of landscaping and horticulture.

Today, H.A.D (acronym for members’ names – Hayati, Afifah, Danish) from ITE College East were crowned champions of the first-ever Landscape Design Challenge held at Singapore Garden Festival 2016. They beat seven other teams to win the Gold award and $2,400 worth of shopping vouchers.

Called “Children’s Chillout Garden”, the Nitec in Facility Technology (Landscaping Services) students’ garden is conceptualised to be a safe outdoor space where children can play while enjoying sensory learning. It comprises a mini maze using landscape materials and a sand pit as the centrepiece. There is also a dedicated area for young ones to rest. To add vibrancy to the display, the team used a diversity of plants such as Bird’s Nest Fern, and Heliconias which are brightly coloured.

Aimed at encouraging more youth to consider a career in the landscape industry, the Landscape Design Challenge tested participants on their creativity and horticultural knowledge as they raced to create a garden from scratch with a limited budget and timeframe. The live competition lasted four hours on 23 July (Saturday). Besides design and plant selection, competitors were judged on their ability to maintain their plots during the Festival.

Coming in second and third were two teams studying Landscape Architecture at Singapore Polytechnic. “Garden of Harmony” – designed to be vibrant, warm and welcoming for visitors – won Silver, while the Bronze award went to “Garden of Serenity” which aims to help visitors slow down and appreciate nature.

All eight competing gardens are currently on display at The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay, until 31 July (Sunday), as part of Singapore Garden Festival 2016.

For more information about SGF, please visit www.singaporegardenfestival.com or Facebook page www.facebook.com/SGGardenFest