Singapore – Jewel Changi Airport Trustee, a joint venture by Changi Airport Group and CapitaMalls Asia, the shopping mall business of CapitaLand broke ground for the construction of Jewel Changi Airport (Jewel), a new mixed-use development featuring attractions, retail offerings, a hotel and facilities for airport operations, on 5 December 2014. Jewel will be built in front of Terminal 1 (T1).
At the groundbreaking ceremony graced by Minister for Transport, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, guests were given a first glimpse of Jewel’s unique architecture and design, as well as its exciting myriad of lifestyle offerings. The ceremony also marked the commencement of expansion works for T1, which will be carried out alongside the construction of the Jewel complex. The redevelopment of the 3.5 hectare site at T1, formerly an open-air car park, allows Changi Airport to expand the terminal’s footprint, thus increasing T1’s passenger handling capacity to 24 million passengers per annum.
Designed by a consortium of consultants comprising Safdie Architects led by world renowned architect Moshe Safdie, as well as Benoy and local architects RSP, Jewel features a visually stunning façade comprising of glass and steel. Beneath its façade, Jewel will be the first in Singapore to seamlessly integrate a refreshing environment of lush greenery amid other attractions and facilities within the same building. The building will have five storeys above ground and five basement storeys, covering a total gross floor area of about 134,000 square metres. It is expected to complete by the end of 2018.
Jewel will boast several unique features such as the Forest Valley, a huge five-storey garden filled with thousands of trees, plants, ferns and shrubs. Visitors can immerse themselves in the beauty of nature within this idyllic valley of verdant landscaping and waterfalls, and can even take a hike up the valley in air-conditioned comfort. About 22,000 square metres of space will be dedicated to landscaping throughout the complex.
The other centrepiece of Jewel will be the breathtaking 40-metre high Rain Vortex, expected to be the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Located at the central core of the complex, this majestic spectacle will captivate visitors with its magnificent water display. At night, the Rain Vortex will transform into an enchanting Light and Sound show with special lighting effects.
The top level of Jewel will feature park space of approximately 13,000 square metres in size, comprising gardens, walking trails, playgrounds and dining outlets. Canopy Park, with engaging and fun play facilities, is designed to be a wonderland for both the young and old. In the surrounding area, there will be food and beverage outlets where visitors will be able to enjoy al fresco-like dining while admiring views of the Forest Valley.
In addition, there will be a wide range of retail offerings including local and international brands. The integration of world-class retail brands and unique dining concepts with indoor gardens and leisure attractions will provide visitors with a myriad of experiences all under one roof – making Jewel a one-of-a-kind lifestyle destination for both local residents and tourists.
