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Ha Minh
Seen from above, the Jewel complex in Singapore’s Changi Airport looks like an elegant pearl set in the heart of one of the world’s busiest airports. In the months since Jewel opened its doors to welcome visitors, it has become much more than just another airport terminal. This dome is a new hot spot, attracting Singaporeans and visitors with its many interesting features.
The first impression passengers might get upon entering Jewel is that it is refreshingly cool since the air conditioning is always maintained at 23 degree Celsius and more than 2,500 trees add refreshing color. Everything lies in a vast domed space with a transparent glass ceiling and five above-ground floors and five basement floors spanning an area of 135,700 square meters.
World-famous architect Moshe Safdie, who designed the Marina Bay Sands building, one of the modern architectural symbols of Singapore, has successfully transformed the old car park of Terminal 1 into Jewel, which is views as “a place with great nature.” Jewel’s most outstanding feature is the Rain Vortex waterfall, currently considered the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. The water falls continuously from a height of 40 meters with about 37,850 liters of water per minute. Seen from a distance, the waterfall is like a bolt of white silk hanging from the ceiling. Changi Group, the complex’s developer, spent two years deciding on one out of seven waterfall designs. This artificial waterfall is fed by water pumped up through water pipes cleverly concealed in pillars leading up to the dome from a reservoir with the capacity of 500,000 liters lying deep beneath the structure.
At night, with a combination of lights and music, the Rain Vortex becomes sparkling and magical. Although the water falling from the top is reduced to just 20% of the average volume per minute, the light effects are impressive. In the mist created by the water, hundreds of brightly colored birds and butterflies make their appearance. The light effects also astound spectators, who sometimes find that the water seems to flow backwards, toward the distant sky, sparkling with tiny lights like stars.
Jewel also offers other recreational and entertainment options with nearly 300 shops and restaurants in the five basement floors. The complex seems to satisfy all people’s needs for entertainment, dining, and shopping. From locals to passengers on short layovers, everyone can get a taste of the tropical garden, go shopping in high-end stores, or enjoy delicacies from all over the world.
Parents with small children are not short of options as the Canopy Park on the top floor offers magical family experiences with seven creative wonders. Kids can let their dreams and imaginations wander in the mist of the Foggy Bowl or have fun jumping on the 250-meter Manulife Sky Nets, located at the highest point of the building to create the feeling that you can touch the blue sky. Discovery Slide offers straight and spiral slides and is both a playground and a contemporary artwork. Visitors can also stroll and take photos in the Topiary Walk where trees and flowers are shaped into animals; enjoy a panoramic view from the Canopy Bridge; or get lost in the Hedge Maze.
Jewel is directly connected to the T1, T2, and T3 terminals by air-conditioned pedestrian bridges. Passengers from T4, where the check-in counters of Vietnam Airlines are located, can take a free shuttle bus to T2 terminal then walk to Jewel on pedestrian bridges to experience this unique complex of aviation, leisure, sight-seeing, and shopping facilities.
