Changi Airport's Jewel: A Decade In The Making

when was jewel changi airport built

Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore is a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex surrounded by and linked to the main terminal buildings at Singapore Changi Airport. The complex, also known as 'Jewel', was conceived in 2013 to maintain Changi Airport's status as a major aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. It officially opened on 18 October 2019, six months after its soft opening, and has since become a tourist attraction in its own right.

Characteristics Values
Opening date 18 October 2019
Soft opening date April 2019
Cost S$1.7 billion (US$1.2 billion)
Visitors per day 300,000
Visitors in the first six months 50 million
Total gross floor area 135,700 m2 (1,461,000 sq ft)
Number of storeys 10 (five above-ground and five basement levels)
Number of retail and dining outlets 280-300
Number of hotel rooms 130

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Jewel Changi Airport's soft opening

Jewel Changi Airport, also known as Jewel, is a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex surrounded by and linked to the main terminal buildings at Singapore Changi Airport. It was conceived in 2013 to maintain the airport's status as a major aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. The complex covers a total gross floor area of 1,461,000 square feet (or 135,700 square meters) and has 10 storeys—five above ground and five basement levels.

Jewel's soft opening took place in April 2019, and it officially opened on 18 October 2019, six months after its soft launch. During this time, it received 50 million visitors—about 300,000 per day—exceeding its initial target of 40–50 million visitors for the first year.

The centrepiece of Jewel is the Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall at 40 metres (130 ft) high. It is surrounded by a terraced forest setting, the Shiseido Forest Valley, which is one of Asia's largest indoor gardens, spanning five stories and approximately 22,000 square metres (240,000 sq ft). The Forest Valley houses around 3,000 trees and 60,000 shrubs of 120 species that live in high-altitude tropical forests around the world.

Jewel also includes the Canopy Park, which features gardens, walking trails, restaurants, and a 164-foot-long Canopy Bridge. The park includes a suspension bridge called the Mastercard Canopy Bridge, located 23 metres (75 ft) above the ground, offering panoramic views of the Rain Vortex. In addition to its natural attractions, Jewel boasts over 280 shops and restaurants, early check-in facilities, a YotelAir hotel, and the Changi Lounge for fly-cruise and fly-ferry passengers.

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The Rain Vortex

Jewel Changi Airport, also known as Jewel, is a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex linked to the main terminal buildings at Singapore Changi Airport. It was conceived in 2013 to maintain the airport's status as a major aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. The centrepiece of Jewel is the Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall at 40 metres (130 feet) high. It is surrounded by a terraced forest setting, the Shiseido Forest Valley, which houses around 3,000 trees and 60,000 shrubs of 120 species.

The Vortex is an iconic feature of Jewel, visible from the airport's interterminal train, which crosses through the gardens, and the Skytrain connecting the terminals. The Mastercard Canopy Bridge, a suspension bridge located 23 metres (75 feet) above the ground, offers panoramic views of the Vortex. The Discovery Slides, consisting of four integrated slides, also provide a unique perspective of the Vortex and the surrounding Forest Valley.

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The Shiseido Forest Valley

Jewel Changi Airport, a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex, was officially opened on 18 October 2019, six months after its soft opening. The complex, which is surrounded by and linked to one of the passenger terminals of Changi Airport in Singapore, was built to maintain the airport's status as a major aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

Now, let's delve into one of its key attractions, the Shiseido Forest Valley.

The SENSE Art Installation

Within the Shiseido Forest Valley, visitors can embark on a sensory journey with the SENSE art installation, a collaboration between Shiseido and the Japanese art collective teamLab. This innovative experience engages the senses of scent, sound, sight, and touch, offering a calming and serene escape from the bustling airport. The SENSE of SCENT, for instance, is based on Shiseido's extensive aromacology research, featuring the Ultimune scent crafted by Dr Tomonori Ueda, a senior fragrance design researcher at Shiseido. This soothing aroma is designed to relieve stress and impart a sense of calm.

The Rain Vortex

At the centre of the Shiseido Forest Valley stands the magnificent Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall at 40 metres (130 feet) high. This engineering marvel recirculates rainwater, pumping it to the roof to create a breathtaking freefall through a round hole. The waterfall flows at an impressive rate of up to 37,850 litres (8,330 imperial gallons or 10,000 US gallons) per minute, contributing to the cooling and airflow in the landscape. An acrylic funnel at the bottom prevents splashing and reduces the sound of the cascade.

Discovery Slides and Foggy Bowls

Adding to the excitement of the Shiseido Forest Valley are the Discovery Slides, featuring four integrated slides, including two tube slides and two sliding surfaces. These slides offer a fun way to move between levels while providing a unique perspective of the Forest Valley and the Rain Vortex. For those seeking a more whimsical experience, the Foggy Bowls offer a chance to jump into concave bowls filled with mist, creating the magical illusion of playing among the clouds.

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Canopy Park

Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore was officially opened on 18 October 2019, six months after its soft opening. The centrepiece of the complex is the HSBC Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall at 40 metres (130 ft) high. The waterfall is surrounded by a terraced forest setting, the Shiseido Forest Valley, which spans five storeys and approximately 22,000 square metres (240,000 sq ft).

At the topmost level of the Jewel complex is the Canopy Park, a recreational playground spanning 14,000 square metres (150,000 sq ft). The park includes two gardens: the Topiary Walk, which features animal-shaped topiaries, and the Petal Garden, which has seasonal floral displays. The Mastercard Canopy Bridge is a suspension bridge located 23 metres (75 ft) above the ground, offering panoramic views of the Rain Vortex. The park also includes a glass-bottomed bridge, a hedge maze, a mirror maze, and an event plaza for 1,000 people. Visitors can explore the lush gardens, enjoy interactive sculptures, and take in the views of the Forest Valley and Rain Vortex from the Discovery Slides. The Foggy Bowls offer a unique experience, allowing visitors to jump in while mist is released to create the illusion of playing among the clouds.

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Changi Airport's status

Jewel Changi Airport, also known as Jewel, is a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex surrounded by and linked to the main terminal buildings at Singapore Changi Airport. It was conceived in 2013 to maintain Changi Airport's status as a major aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. The airport is located in the district of Changi, at the eastern end of Singapore and approximately 12 miles (20 km) northeast of Singapore's central business district.

Jewel was built over the former open-air car park in front of Changi Airport's Terminal 1. It expanded Terminal 1's arrival hall and baggage reclaim areas by 70%, increasing the terminal's handling capacity from 21 to 24 million passengers per year. The complex covers a total gross floor area of 1,461,000 square feet (or 135,700 square meters) and has 10 storeys—five above ground and five basement levels. It is directly connected to Terminal 1, and accessible from Terminals 2 and 3 via pedestrian bridges, with the interterminal train also crossing through the gardens.

Jewel's centrepiece is the Rain Vortex, the world's tallest indoor waterfall at 40 metres (130 ft) high. It is surrounded by a terraced forest setting, with the Shiseido Forest Valley, an indoor garden spanning five storeys and approximately 22,000 square metres (240,000 sq ft). The valley houses around 3,000 trees and 60,000 shrubs of 120 species that live in high-altitude tropical forests around the world.

Jewel also includes about 300 retail and dining outlets, early baggage check-in aviation facilities, the YotelAir hotel, gardens, attractions, and leisure facilities such as the Discovery Slides, Foggy Bowls, and the Changi Experience Studio, a 3,000 square metre space with interactive games and displays relating to the airport's history.

Frequently asked questions

Jewel Changi Airport was opened to the public in April 2019, with an official opening in October 2019.

Jewel Changi Airport is a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex surrounded by and linked to the main terminal buildings at Singapore Changi Airport. It features gardens, attractions, a hotel, dining outlets, and early check-in facilities.

Jewel Changi Airport was conceived in 2013 to maintain Singapore Changi Airport's status as a major aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. It was built to double the airport's capacity by the mid-2020s and to create more opportunities for Singapore and Singaporeans.

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