LEAF certified developments raise bar in greening efforts

13 August 2014, Singapore – 12 new and existing developments have been recognised under National Parks Board’s (NParks) Landscape Excellence Assessment Framework (LEAF), for their efforts in providing greenery and ecologically friendly landscapes. Including condominiums, a commercial building, HDB estates and for the first time, an educational institution, this year’s LEAF recipients are:

New developments

•        Adana @ Thomson (Condominium)*

•        Clementi Cascadia (HDB estate)

•        Eco Sanctuary (Condominium)

•        Highline Residence (Condominium)

•        Sky Habitat (Condominium)

•        The Glades at Tanah Merah (Condominium)

•        Yale-NUS College (Educational Institution)

Existing developments

•        Casa Clementi (HDB estate)

•        Punggol Breeze (HDB estate)

•        SOLARIS (Commercial)*

•        Tree House (Condominium)*

•        Vacanza @ East (Condominium)

*Outstanding Projects

Three of these developments: Adana @Thomson condominium, SOLARIS and Tree House condominium have been recognised as “Outstanding Projects”, a new category for developments that have raised the bar in urban greening excellence. These projects showcase leading innovations in design and implementation of greenery and demonstrate highquality landscapes and biodiversity enhancement above and beyond the norm.

The unique features of these three projects include:

Adana @ Thomson features 100% usage of native species of shrubs, trees and creepers for its landscaping. A green gardenscape covers the entire rooftop of the development, interweaved with walkways, jogging tracks, community gardening and recreational spaces for residents. The entire development serves as an extension of Central Catchment Nature Reserve and a green corridor to the Thomson area and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.

SOLARIS consists of two towers with an atrium enveloped together by a 1.5km long landscaped ramp that spirals around the building from the rooftop all the way down to the ground level, integrating with the adjacent One-north Park.  The spiral garden, accentuated by several sky terraces, functions as a sunshade for the offices, as well as a haven for wildlife such as birds and dragonflies, as well as rainwater harvesting for irrigation.

Tree House was designed with environmental sustainability in mind. The vertical garden (which recently set the Guinness World Record as the world’s largest vertical garden), serves as natural insulation. Catwalks and cat ladders are incorporated for maintenance access, and rainwater harvesting at its base to irrigate the extensive landscape. The lush greenery at ground level and sky terraces also serves as an extension of habitats for birds and other wildlife from the nearby Zhenghua Park and Dairy Farm Nature Park.

Dr Leong Chee Chiew, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of National Parks Board and Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, said, “We are seeing more innovative landscape designs and diverse forms of greenery integrated within new residential, commercial and educational developments. These greening initiatives such as rooftop gardens, vertical green walls and green sky terraces serve to provide quality and sustainable living in an urban environment. Collectively, they contribute to island-wide pervasive urban greening and Singapore’s City in a Garden vision”.

The year’s LEAF-certified developments will receive their certificates and plaques from Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Senior Minister of State for National Development on 19 August 2014 at Gardens by the Bay, during the Singapore Garden Festival 2014 (16 – 24 August 2014).  This is the second batch of developments receiving LEAF certification since the scheme was launched last year. Nine developments received the certification then.

Factsheet: Landscape Excellence Assesment Framework

Factsheet: 12 LEAF-certified Developments