Sentosa Sensoryscape

First of its kind in Southeast Asia, Sentosa Sensoryscape is no ordinary ‘walk in the park’.

Covering an area of 30,000 square metres, it is a connector ‘extraordinaire’—a 350-metre walkway linking Resorts World Sentosa in the north and the beaches in the south, punctuated by six distinct sensory gardens, crafted to bring the island’s natural environment right into the sensory spheres of visitors and nature-lovers alike. At night, the specially designed spaces come alive with ‘phygital’ experiences, adding a new layer of interactive experiences for the visitors.

Of its architectural design, Christopher Lee, Principal of Serie Architects, representing Serie + Multiply, highlighted the two principal experiences that they wanted to create for Sensoryscape. One was the unimpeded experience of the landscape as it is; so that is why the landscape is designed to ‘flow’ from the ridge towards the beach. The other was the two-tier walkway that lets visitors approach and experience the spaces differently—via the ground level walkway that will give them one of the key viewpoints, and an elevated deck where they could peer into the structure, as it were, through the openings.¹

At the outset of the project, this precinct has been regarded as a canvas, where specially designed spaces and nodes can be weaved together to form a memorable experience as one walks along the north-south spine of Sentosa. Presently, it has evolved into a multi-sensorial walk, enhanced with interactive digital light art and augmented reality to form immersive day-to-night experiences for all guests.

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ECOLOGICAL SENSIBILITIES AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS

Together with the project team, an integrative planning and design approach has been adopted with three key strategies to achieve optimal capacity within the limited land space, whilst preserving the existing ecology within a brownfield site.

Re-profiling of the undulating terrain supported by pedestrian modelling and data-driven weather studies

The planning and design process of the main linkway included modelling and studies that were done to enable accessibility for all through Universal Design principles, optimal capacity and user comfort. Prior to the redevelopment works, the site was undulating with multiple level differences of about 10 metres that were challenging for the less ambulant guests to navigate. To ensure that optimal capacity can be provided to create a guest-friendly and inclusive thoroughfare, the design team re-profiled the ground levels of the revamped north-south spine and designed it to be barrier-free, at a gentle gradient of 1:25 to facilitate the new two-tiered walkway.

Selected existing clusters of trees were identified by the landscape consultant for preservation. This guided the placement of the new nodes i.e., the three vessels that were tucked carefully along the edge of the terrain to be less obtrusive and more integral with the landscape. The integration of landscape bends across the north-south spine also facilitates better cross ventilation and passive cooling for the sheltered lower walkway, as well as reconnecting guests with Nature.

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PROJECT DATA

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