Detail

Diploma in Landscape Architecture (DLA) Year One students embarked on a design journey for the Floral Garden at Japanese Garden, Jurong Lake Gardens (JLG). This collaboration with Singapore Polytechnic (SP) was launched with a briefing to students on 24 Apr 2024 by representatives from the National Parks Board (NParks), Mr Jason Wright and Dr Wilson Wong; and JTC Corporation, Mr Tan Jian Hao. Students were tasked to design for a plot at the Floral Garden.  

 Senior Lecturer, Mr Idris Bidin who coordinated this collaboration with NParks and JTC made it possible for SP DLA students to be part of the showcase for community stewardship at the Floral Garden in Singapore’s Third National Garden, JLG. 

Images above: Mr Wright, Dr Wong and Mr Tan briefing DLA students in SP campus.

Images above: An Ideation Workshop was designed for students to start working on the design of the plot in Floral Garden. The Floral Garden project was incorporated in the module, Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) in DLA’s Year One curriculum as the project objective aligns with teaching and learning of planting design and plant knowledge in the landscape architecture discipline. This collaboration also enables students to be involved in industry related project.

Images above: Team 3’s design proposal was selected. The design scheme worked around the Japanese Garden theme with a central curvilinear band representing meandering water flow. Plants with white flowers complemented the design scheme which signifies purity and a sense of cleansing.

 The collaborators felt that the selected design scheme was simple yet effective in relation to the concept given by NParks. The selection of plants and materials are easily available, and maintainability was taken into consideration in the design as well.

 The students from Team 3 were given the opportunity to implement their design, by installing all materials and planting the plot in the Floral Garden at a JLG preview event held on 21 Jul 2024. The hands-on experience gave students a sense of ownership and pride as the merits of their design were recognized and they could see their design come to life. It was a fulfilling Sunday morning indeed!  

Images above: On-site briefing by Mr Aow Jie Wei from NParks on implementation day, students learnt planting techniques and safety measures related to hands-on experience.  

“Participating in the Jurong Lake Garden design project was an enlightening experience that underscored the intricate nature of landscape design. Through many rounds of reviews and changes, I learned the value of patience and the importance of continual refinement to ensure the best outcomes.

Visiting the garden to install the chosen plants provided a hands-on experience that extended beyond the classroom. The process was long and tiring but ultimately rewarding, teaching me practical skills like the technique to use a small changkol for planting and essential safety measures to prevent accidents.

This experience not only broadened my design understanding but also instilled a deep appreciation for the effort and teamwork involved in bringing a project to life.”

DLA Year One student, Tan Rui Ann from Team 3

Images above: This valuable session enable students to experience planting to achieve desired outcome in relation to the design proposal. This out-of-classroom activity was hard work but very satisfying and a day worth spent at Floral Garden, JLG.  

When asked what was most valuable for teaching and learning in this collaboration, Mr Idris deemed students’ exposure to an industry-related activity enabled him to introduce NParks and JLG to Year One students in an extra meaningful way. Students who were able to experience the hands-on planting also managed to mingle with participants from other Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs).

Visiting JLG made Mr Idris recall another milestone event on 27 Apr 2019, during the official opening of Lakeside Gardens in JLG. In 2019, he mentored students to create a miniature garden display in conjunction with the Singapore Garden Festival’s inaugural Horticulture Show.  

Images from top: Mr Idris with external collaborator, Dr Wong from NParks in 2019. A close-up view of the miniature garden display. Mr Idris facilitated students’ interaction with MP Foo Mee Har, the then Minister Lawrence Wong who officiated Lakeside Garden Opening in 2019 and Minister Desmond Lee.