34 35

SingaporeBreath

fresh airin

ofWith over 3,000 hectares of

Singapore’s land space (almost 50 percent) devoted to parks,

park connectors and open spaces, one does not have to look too far for a lush green space. Besides Gardens by the Bay, which was awarded the 2014 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement, Singapore also offers other perfectly landscaped spaces, attractive parks, verdant park connectors, rooftop gardens, and unique high-rise greenery, providing delegates with one-of-a-kind settings that make for an unforgettable event.

Singapore Botanic gardenSSpread over 74 hectares and located right in the heart of the city, the Singapore Botanic Gardens boasts some of the most beautiful, tranquil and splendidly landscaped grounds in the city. The Gardens are also currently in the running to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, testament to its historic landscape features and buildings, as well as elegantly conserved lowland primary rainforest. Situated at the highest point of the National Orchid Garden and offering a panoramic view of the gardens, Burkill Hall provides a perfect and memorable setting for events. Built in 1886 and now a restored colonial house, it was home to many generations of the Gardens’ directors, which include Isaac Henry Burkill. The iconic attraction is one of the most sought-after event halls for VIP

dinners and cocktails today. It seats 100 on the upper level and 80 on

the ground floor. The Gardens make for a beautiful setting for functions and team-building activities, providing varied spaces within a lush setting for

groups to move around and explore.

Singapore has earned its reputation as a Garden City through decades of careful planning, making it the ideal city to host memorable outdoor garden events.

Fort canning parkAnother iconic landmark steeped in history is Fort Canning Park. Situated atop a hill, the park hosts many interesting spaces which lend rich historical flavour and interesting insight into Singapore’s colonial past. Fort Canning’s expansive, sprawling green lawns make for an excellent outdoor venue for cocktails and gala dinners. The Fort canning green & patio holds up to 7,000 people standing and 2,000 seated, while the Fort gate, an open area behind Fort Canning Centre, can hold up to 2,500 standing and 600 seated. A smaller space with an interesting outdoor area is raffles House. A beautiful venue set atop a hill, the air-conditioned indoor facility hosts about 150 standing and 80 seated, and comes with an outdoor lawn area with an exclusive view of the city skyline. An alternative space is the picnic terrace, which host up to 200 people. History themed ‘amazing race’ styled team-building challenges are popular at this park. Teams can participate in a race to discover clues at various significant historical sites around Fort Canning Hill, like the Battle Box, Fort Gate and Keramat Iskandar Shah (burial site of 14th century Malay King who ruled Singapore), all while learning about Singapore’s history in a fun and engaging way.

Hortpark/SoutHern ridgeSHead southwest for a rustic experience at HortPark, Asia’s first gardening lifestyle hub. Nestled in the Southern Ridges, the 23-hectare park hosts six indoor spaces and three outdoor spaces to accommodate groups from 16 to 900 guests. HortLawn is an unforgettable setting for an event, set amidst the backdrop of a beautiful Silver Garden where silver, grey and white hued plants are contrasted against a green dominated landscape. Alternatively, the larger event Lawn can hold up to 900 people. Complementing the tranquil settings, the plant Story situated in Hort Park organises team-building workshops that will

transform corporate groups into teams of urban gardeners.

LaBrador nature reServeWalk on the wild side and explore the only rocky sea-cliff in Singapore accessible to public at Labrador Nature Reserve. Home to 70 bird species and various species of marine life, the reserve is also the site of a genuine World War II fort. Guests get to soak up Singapore’s rich biodiversity and learn about Singapore’s military past at the same time. Embark on guided tours to explore the coral reef along the Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk, where you can get up-close and personal with rich mangrove flora and fauna, sea anemones, fast fishes, the odd nudibranch, and other fascinating marine organisms. For a peek into Singapore’s history, the reserve hosts genuine relics, like a World War II fort and the Labrador Secret tunnels, a series of secret wartime tunnels beneath the reserve that were built in the late 1880s by the British military. The reserve has a variety of outdoor spaces that can fit up to 150 people each. A sheltered event hall, Berlayer Shade, allows guests to enjoy the sunset and relax with the sound of the waves, while tanjong Berlayer, a private enclave, is a tranquil seaside marquee of up to 150 guests. For smaller scale team-building activities and corporate events, the port cullis plaza provides the perfect setting against the backdrop of the sea.

Bedok reServoir parkFor adrenalin-rushed high energy team-building activities, groups can have a go at Forest adventure, Singapore’s first and only treetop obstacle course. With 58 exhilarating obstacles including bridges, trapezes, logs and five giant zip lines flying over Bedok Reservoir, the tree-top adventure encourages a culture of collaboration and allows participants to harness team spirit. Once a sand quarry, the 88-hectare Bedok Reservoir Park is a water sporting haven. Try your hand at wakeboarding, windsurfing, kayaking and dragon-boating!

Round images from left to right: Burkill Hall in Singapore Botanic Gardens, Fort Canning Park, Multi-Purpose Hall in HortPark

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Labrador Nature Reserve

A slice of Kranji Countryside

Nearby water sport rental stores cater to many water sport enthusiasts. Beyond sports, nature lovers are in for a treat as the park is home to a diverse mix of flora and fauna and a great sanctuary for bird watching. Along the banks of the reservoir, you might be able to spot swallows, little herons and even kingfishers.

kranji countrySideOutside the hustle and bustle of the city in Singapore’s rural north-western corners, groups can participate in unique and enriching nature experiences that are fun and provide a great way to bond. gardenasia, a company that specialises in organising nature themed activities in Singapore’s Kranji countryside, conducts “green workshops” for corporate groups which include “DIY Terrarium” workshops as well as fruit enzyme-making workshops. Activities are held in various open and tented settings to cater for 70 to 500 people, or even over 1,000 for events like company family days. Other unique experiences include Bollywood veggies, a smaller Kranji farm that includes an al fresco area for about 80 people and a Dome area that can hold another 80. The farm offers unique corporate retreats and team-building programmes which includes discovery Harvest, an activity that involves searching for and harvesting different plants in a treasure hunt. Turn your events into a world-class experience. Tap into Dynamic Singapore!

For more information, kindly visit www.yoursingapore.com/mice

advertorial

34 35