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Mandai Bird Paradise opened on 8 May 2023, replacing Jurong Bird Park which closed on 3 January 2023. Mandai Wildlife Group decided that Jurong Bird Park would be relocated to a much larger park at Mandai Lake Road, consolidating with the three existing wildlife parks together with a new Rainforest Wild Park to form an integrated nature and wildlife precinct known as the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which was renamed as Mandai Bird Paradise.

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Research the history of the place or the place in its previous iteration

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Research the history of the place or the place in its previous iteration

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It first began with the need to expand the capacity of Changi Airport’s Terminal 1 as well as its open-air carpark. This led to a strategic vision with the conception of Jewel as a gem of a destination, to augment Changi Airport’s position as a leading air hub globally and boost its appeal as a stopover destination for travellers.

The stunning result is a mixed-use development with gardens, attractions, retail, dining, a hotel and facilities to support airport operations. This integration of nature with engineering marvels housed under a striking glass and steel dome is poised to make headlines.

Before Changi Airport opened in 1981, commercial flights landed in Paya Lebar Airport, which had begun operations in 1955. However, within two decades, Paya Lebar’s shortcomings became obvious. The alternative was to build a new airport in Changi, taking over the former Royal Air Force base there. Such an airport would be located away from the city centre and flights into and out of Changi would be over water. In addition, there was the possibility of future expansion by reclaiming land. Site preparations began in June 1975, which eventually involved demolishing 558 buildings, exhuming 4,096 graves and clearing nearly 200 acres (80 hectares) of swampland. Given the scale of the Changi Airport project, the construction process inevitably encountered numerous challenges. Takao Kitamura, the director in charge of international operations at Takenaka Komuten, the main contractor for the airport’s passenger terminal building, recalled that after the company began work on the project, the price of sand rose by about 300 percent, and labour costs rose by 50 percent.

As with any big event, there were a number of dry runs before actual operations commenced on 1 July 1981. The first test flight, a Boeing 747, touched down at 7.25 pm on 13 May – two weeks before the big day.16

The first flight with paying passengers, SQ 100, landed on 31 May at 9.50 am. It was a chartered flight with 246 passengers, comprising mainly families with children. Organised by a travel agent, the flight had taken off from Paya Lebar Airport and flown up the east coast of peninsular Malaysia to Mersing before turning back and touching down at Changi.

Changi Airport began operations on 1 July 1981 with just one terminal and one runway. Work on the second runway was completed in 1983 and commissioned the following year. To cope with increased passenger traffic, Terminal 2 was opened in November 1990, while Terminal 3 began operations on 1 January 2007. In 2006, the Budget Terminal commenced operations. This was built in response to the increasing trend of low-cost travel in the region, but it closed in 2012 to make way for the construction of Terminal 4, which opened in 2017. Over the years, Changi also improved on its connectivity with the city centre. In 2001, the Changi Airport Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East-West Line was opened. Such a link had not been viable back in the 1980s when most of the land around the airport was relatively undeveloped. In future, the airport will be accessible from the city via the Thomson-East Coast Line as well. In 2008, Changi Airport Group was formed as a result of the corporatisation of Changi Airport. One of the key projects it subsequently embarked on was building Jewel Changi Airport, a large shopping and entertainment complex that opened on 17 April 2019. A joint venture between Changi Airport Group and CapitaMalls Asia, the project took three years to gain the approval of Singapore’s Cabinet.

https://www.jewelchangiairport.com/en/our-story.html

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It first began with the need to expand the capacity of Changi Airport's Terminal 1 as well as its open-air carpark. This led to a strategic vision with the conception of Jewel as a gem of a destination, to augment Changi Airport's position as a leading air hub globally and boost its appeal as a stopover destination for travellers.

The stunning result is a mixed-use development with gardens, attractions, retail, dining, a hotel and facilities to support airport operations. This integration of nature with engineering marvels housed under a striking glass and steel dome is poised to make headlines.

Connected to T1, T2 and T3

Hotel facilities

2,500 car park spaces

Accessible from Changi Airport MRT station

A partnership between Changi Airport Group and CapitaLand was forged, resulting in a meaningful collaboration between two truly Singaporean companies and the creation of the country's next iconic landmark.

2022

Tripadvisor - Travellers' Choice Award 2022

Marketing Excellence Award
- Excellence in Retail/ Shopper Marketing (Silver)- Excellence in Relationship Marketing (Bronze)- Marketing Team of the Year (Gold)
SRA Retail Awards 2022
- Best Efforts in Centre Management (Shopping Centre)

2021

Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2021: The Best Luxury Shopping Mall in Singapore

President*s Design Award 2021 - Design of the Year

Singapore Tourism Award - Outstanding Shopping Mall Experience Award

Tripadvisor - Travellers' Choice Award 2021

BCA Awards 2021 - Construction Excellence Award

INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AWARD 2021

2020

Global RLI Awards 2020: Most Innovative Retail & Entertainment Project

Singapore Good Design Award:
- Experience Design- Architecture
Singapore Tourism Award:
- Breakthrough Contribution to Tourism Award- The Best Attraction Experience Award- The Best Shopping Mall Experience Award
SIA Architecture Awards 2020: Building of the Year and Design Award

Prix Versailles 2020: Special Prize Interior (Shopping Malls)

TEA Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement - Airport Destination Experience

2020 Nikkei Superior Products and Services Awards

2016

MIPIM Asia Awards 2016: Best Futura Project

2016 International Architecture Award

MAPIC Awards 2016: Best Futura Shopping Centre

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It first began with the need to expand the capacity of Changi Airport's Terminal 1 as well as its open-air carpark. This led to a strategic vision with the conception of Jewel as a gem of a destination, to augment Changi Airport's positioning as a leading air hub globally and boost its appeal as a stopover destination for travellers.

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Emotive and expressive photos that capture the spirit of the place.

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Emotive and expressive photos that capture the spirit of the place.

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Emotive and expressive photos that capture the spirit of the place.

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Emotive and expressive photos that capture the spirit of the place.

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Physical aspects of Changi and how it helps us paint our main picture

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Physical aspects of Changi and how it helps us paint our main picture

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multiple passenger terminals

multi-purpose complex

forest valley, indoor oasis, controlled entry points and crowd control

various stores, cafes and restaurants after check-in

canopy park:

walking trails, gardens, play areas to foster physical activity, playfulness and social interaction

abundant natural light, extensive use of glass and open spaces which creates a recreational, bright and airy atmosphere

glass facade and captivating interior design: visually pleasant environment that engages inhabitants

The physical aspects of the airport and canopy park highlights the amount of investment and attention to agricultural details, showing how far Singapore has came economic-wise, from a poor island that barely has enough to get by to a major centre of wealth that could afford to invest handsomely in infrastructure. This goes to show how despite Singapore’s unprecedented existence, we still managed to drastically develop ourselves within a short amount of time.

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Mandai Bird Paradise is home to 3,500 birds of 400 different species, 24 of which are threatened in the wild. The 8 aviaries in the bird park are meant to emulate the natural habitat of the birds, while also giving visitors an immersive experience. There is an average of 3,000 visitors to the bird park every day, and can even go up to 5,000 during the weekends and public holidays. There also had been 600,000 total visitors, both local and international, from the park's initial opening in May 2023 to November 2023.

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Many kids remember going to Mandai Bird Paradise (then Jurong Bird Park) with their families as it is a common family activity in Singapore.

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The defence fortifications in the jungle at southern ridges

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An edited photo of Bird Paradise. Many birds of different species surround the staff.

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Even though this photo is edited, it showcases the wide variety of birds in Mandai Bird Paradise. This includes many endangered species like the Asian songbirds.

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Identify the connections / relationship between the place and Singapore’s national interest, especially in the context of a globalised world.

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Identify the connections / relationship between the place and Singapore’s national interest, especially in the context of a globalised world.

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Safeguard Our Air and Sea Lines of Communication

Changi Airport is consistently ranked as the best airport in the world with iconic facilities.

There are 100+ airlines operating in Singapore Changi Airport, flying to 400+ cities. About 7,400 flights arrive or depart at Changi each week.

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Identify the connections / relationship between the place and Singapore’s national interest, especially in the context of a globalised world.

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Identify the connections / relationship between the place and Singapore’s national interest, especially in the context of a globalised world.

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Safeguard Our Air and Sea Lines of Communication

Changi has such good facilities and attractions, including multiple terminals, stores, food and beverage and Jewel Canopy Walk, visitors will be able to have great experiences travelling within Changi Airport. This wou”d make Changi Airport more popular among  tourists, keeping the airport open. This is especially important as many people fly around the world. Singapore’s airport being as great as possible is important to attract tourists and protect our air lines of communication.

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Identify the connections / relationship between the place and Singapore’s national interest, especially in the context of a globalised world.

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Identify the connections / relationship between the place and Singapore’s national interest, especially in the context of a globalised world.

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Secure Our Way of Life and Values

Singaporeans also find Changi Airport and Jewel attractive, visiting them often even for non travel related activities. This is because of the lush greenery present in the airport as well as the entertaining experiences offered there. For example, the mirror maze. Singaporeans are also familiar with the rich history of the airport. These would eventually lead Singaporeans to be proud of their country, and to be United in appreciating singapore’s efforts.

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Following theSG101 website, Singapore’s national interests are as follows:

1. Beyond self-interest: As Singapore aims to be an inclusive community, wheelchair rental services and wheelchair-accessible toilets are provided to ensure those with disabilities are also able to enjoy their time at the park. To attract more visitors into Singapore, our locations need to be easily accessible for everyone.

1. Beware of fault lines: The shift of Jurong Bird Park to Mandai was to provide a larger area for the park to expand and provide a better home for the birds and the opportunity to create a more sustainable and eco-friendly environment. This aligns with one of Singapore’s fundamentals of constant improvement. Continuously improving our tourist attractions will attract more visitors to Singapore as well.

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In these lessons, what you will Do:

i. Sit in the groups assigned to you by your teacher.

ii. Do independent online research and analysis of the place of interest you have

chosen for your learning journey.

iii. Research the history of the place or the place in its previous iteration. Find

emotive and expressive photos that capture the spirit of the place.

iv. Consider the physical aspects of the place and you could also include thought-

provoking statistics if it helps you consolidate the big picture you want to

capture.

v. Identify the connections / relationship between the place and Singapore’s

national interest, especially in the context of a globalised world.

vi. You will need to find a way to situate the place into the hearts and minds of

Singaporeans.

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One possible way is to incorporate some of the elements of the Jurong Bird Park to the new Mandai Bird paradise while still keeping the Park’s authenticity. This is because the park visitors, especially the local visitors, are probably more accustomed to the old Jurong Bird Park since it has already operated for many years. This could create a sense of nostalgia from the older park visitors who have been visiting the old park for many years.

However, the park must also include some new elements that are unique, especially for the younger generation. Since the younger generations are more technologically advanced, the park could include some more advanced attractions that could include for example, an interactive exhibit or infographic that describes the different birds on the park. This could make the park more interesting for the younger generations as they make find the standard/old kind of exhibits boring. The bird park can include some high tech exhibits while keeping some traditional exhibits for the older generation. This would make the Bird Paradise more inclusive for everyone

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Launched in 2008, the Southern Ridges is a smart tactic by Singapore’s city planners the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to better package and market some of the existing nature assets in the south of Singapore. Take a few beautiful but under-utilised hill parks – Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park, link them together with some architecturally delightful bridge connectors – Henderson Waves and Alexandra Arch, add in some elevated walkways for interest and pizzazz – Forest Walk and Canopy Walk, throw in a flower garden – Hort Park, and voila, you have a spanking new integrated trail, one that offers expansive views of the south of Singapore.

The park, opened in 1988, was built upon an original hill park. A fairly large park, Kent Ridge Park is bordered by a business technology park called Science Park (not the green kind of park) and ends at the National University of Singapore (NUS) campus on the West side.

The area, which used to be known as Pasir Panjang Ridge, is a historical site as one of the last battles of Singapore – the Battle of Pasir Panjang, was fought on this site. There is a separate war history trail in this area, the Kent Ridge Heritage Trail, which starts from Clementi within NUS, to Bukit Chandu

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https://padlet.com/estabel_lee/gardens-by-the-bay-graphic-organiser-35rn16y2zd2e4n4c

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iii. Previously located on Jurong Hill and known as Jurong Bird Park, the idea of a permanent aviary was proposed by Dr Goh Keng Swee. Work was started in 1969, and opened to the public in 1971. There are 5,000 birds of 400 species in Jurong Bird Park, of which 24% are of threatened species, the highest percentage in any zoo worldwide.

In 2016, the Mandai Wildlife Group announced that the Jurong Bird Park would be relocated to a much larger park at Mandai Lake Road by 2020, consolidating with the three existing wildlife parks together with a new Rainforest Wild Park to form an integrated nature and wildlife precinct known as the Mandai Wildlife Reserve.

iv. Bird Paradise spans 17 hectares and is home to 3,500 birds from 400 species, of which 24 per cent of the species are threatened. Designed to encourage discovery at every turn, Bird Paradise welcomes guests into immersive and naturalistic mixed-species habitats in eight large walk-through aviaries that reflect different biomes of the world, from dense African rainforests, South American wetlands, Southeast Asian forests to Australian dry eucalypt landscape, and more. Other unique experiences include Ocean Network Express Penguin Cove, a state-of-the-art penguin habitat, and animal presentations at the 2,000-seater Sky Amphitheatre.

v. Singapore today has many programmes to promote its conservation efforts, especially by the National Parks Board. Previously, similar to Singapore's efforts, Jurong Bird Park was designed to contribute to conservation efforts. Its Breeding and Research Centre focuses on propagation of threatened species and research on breeding biology. Not only that, the Mandai Wildlife Group joins the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and has committed to reducing its organisation-wide greenhouse gas emissions at a pace and scale required by climate science to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Singapore, in the area of education has shifted to grooming self directed and digital learners. Mandai Bird Paradise has also incorporated that in their enrichment programmes through their initiative: Virtual Programmes From The Wild.

vi. One way to situate Mandai Bird Park into the hearts and minds of Singaporeans is to incorporate cultural aspects. This can be done by organising and hosting events or performances that showcase and educate Singaporeans on the significance of birds in our culture. For example, in Chinese culture, the magpie (喜鹊) is associated with happiness as well as good fortune. In Malay culture the songbird (merbah jambul) is valued and celebrated for it's song. This reflects the multicultural society present in Singapore, a trait many Singaporeans are proud of. These events and performances can be made even more special by showcasing exclusively local artist. By doing so it helps Singaporeans create memories, that they feel a sense of connecting and belonging to, within Mandai Bird Park.

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The Southern Ridges trail is in line with Singapore's national interest as it enhances the appeal of Singapore as a sustainable tourist destination. This also helps showcase Singapore's resolve and their efforts towards green urban planning.

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History and features of the Southern Ridges (iv)

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History and features of the Southern Ridges (iv)

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If you enjoy walking or cycling in lush open spaces, do not miss the great outdoor experience that

the Southern Ridges offers. Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, it is one of the latest and most exciting recreational destinations that Singapore offers.

The most distinguishing feature about the Ridges

is the seamless experience it offers to visitors – the 9-kilometre chain of green, open spaces spanning the hills of Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park are mostly connected by nature pathways and bridges.

The other highlights of the Southern Ridges are

the Forest Walk and Canopy Walk – bridges cutting through the adinandra belukar, a distinct type of secondary forest where the forest regenerates after exhaustive agriculture exploitation. These trails are excellent for bird watchers to observe birds in their natural habitats. You can also find a rich variety of flora and fauna here.

Gain a deeper insight of Singapore’s history as you walk on the Ridges. Take beautiful photos of wild flowers and birds, and panoramic shots of the city, harbour and Southern Islands from strategic spots along the Southern Ridges.