A showcase of Singapore’s City in Nature vision to the world.
As one of the greenest and most popular pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai, the Singapore Pavilion brought to life our nation’s vision of becoming a sustainable, resilient and liveable City in Nature, through a green and self-sufficient ecosystem in Dubai’s desert environment. Attracting 1.2 million visitors during its six-month run, the Pavilion – themed “Nature. Nurture. Future.” – fused nature with architecture with the use of bold and creative design strategies, and innovative technology.
Designed by a multi-disciplinary team helmed by WOHA, the pavilion was a lush re-creation of Singapore’s tropical urban landscape, housing 80,000 plants from more than 170 plant varieties and an integrated system of greenery, energy and water management within an efficiently designed 1,550 square-metre site. Working towards a net-zero energy target, a roof canopy with 517 solar panels provided for the pavilion’s energy needs, including an on-site groundwater desalination facility that catered for the pavilion’s water needs. This included irrigation for the extensive greenery, as well as 51 mist fans that helped to lower ambient temperature by 6-10°C throughout the naturally-ventilated pavilion.
A prototype of regenerative design, the pavilion used an integrated system of greenery, energy and water management to restore, renew and revitalise energy sources and materials.
Through an experiential green journey layered with digital solutions and art, pavilion visitors learnt about how Singapore has risen above its physical limitations to shape itself into a sustainable and liveable city of the future. The pavilion’s biophilic design and architecture showcased nature at its core as an urban solution, enveloping visitors in a lush three-dimensional space anchored by three 9-metre tall modular cones draped in vertical greenery and capped with a hanging garden, and further layered with tropical trees, verdant shrubs, vibrant orchids and plants of ethnobotanical value.
Cross section of the Singapore Pavilion, with plants selectively placed at various zones to create a multi-layered green space.
Visitors were treated to a multi-layered green experience that paid tribute to Singapore’s journey towards growth, sustainability and resilience. © Patrick Bingham-Hall / Singapore Pavilion @ Expo 2020 Dubai
Microclimates were created through a careful planting strategy, and with innovative solutions such as dry misting and solar pipes, tropical plants in spaces such as the Rainforest Cone were able to thrive. ©Expo 2020 Dubai
Featuring more than 50 varieties of orchids, the Flower Cone was a celebration of Singapore’s creative spirit and co-creation with nature . ©Expo 2020 Dubai
Programmes held in partnership with the Expo organisers and Singapore government agencies also provided a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration. Industry professionals were able to deepen their understanding of Singapore’s efforts in food resilience and water sustainability, and visitors were also able to experience Singapore’s multi-faceted culture. This helped Singaporean brands, talents and companies to showcase their expertise and offerings to a global audience, facilitating the discovery of new markets and opportunities.
The Singapore Pavilion showcased a curated selection of homegrown brands to visitors from all over the world.
The pavilion’s distinctive and thoughtful design was recognised by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) at the Expo 2020 Awards, winning it the Gold Award in the Architecture & Landscape category, the first in the history of Singapore’s participation in World Expos; and back at home, a Special Categories merit award at the 2022 SIA Architectural Design Awards. The accolades underscore the pavilion’s objective of inspiring the global community with Singapore’s unique perspective and spirit of ingenuity towards sustainability, and to establish a foothold for the pavilion’s showcase of forward-looking innovations to be adapted elsewhere to create sustainable, resilient and liveable cities.
Singapore unveiled the new Dendrobium Expo 2020 Dubai orchid hybrid on 22 January 2022, in honour of the World Expo and to commemorate Singapore Day at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The Singapore Pavilion hosted esteemed delegates from around the world, including His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, Minister of Defence and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.