Every avid traveller and architectural fan would have heard about New York’s exceptionally stunning architectural project, The High Line. The greenway was constructed from an abandoned railway and is a popular attraction amongst New Yorkers and tourists alike. Its roaring success has inspired many global cities such as Sydney and Seoul to follow suit.

Of course, no two construction ventures will ever be identical and New York City’s High Line can ultimately only serve as an inspiration.

Singapore is set to come up with its very own version of New York City’s The High Line on the Rail Corridor – the former rail line will be transformed into a park that will stretch across 24 kilometres, making it 10 times longer than The High Line.

The 24-km long Rail Corridor will actually cut through the entire tiny but mighty Singapore, with 122 public access points throughout the massive space. The large-scale project aims to be more than just an elevated park, with an ambitious goal of seamlessly integrating the nation’s communities like never before.

The complex task is led by Japanese architecture firm Nikken Sekkei, whom would be working with reputable companies Arup Singapore and Tierra Design.

With eight special activity nodes designated in the grand plan, Rail Corridor would be more than just an “attraction”.

It intends to integrate itself into the daily lives of locals, where one could immerse in leisure, dining and even sporting activities etc in relaxed environments. Urban farms, fishing ponds and cycling paths are only the tip of the iceberg. How exciting!

Rail Corridor is certainly not all about building new infrastructure. Instead, the park wishes to restore life back into outdated landmarks and reintroduce them to the local community. Singapore’s age-old sites such as the heritage building Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and Bukit Timah’s iconic steel truss bridge would too be included in this gigantic communal area.

Green is one of the key components of Rail Corridor and one can anticipate an abundance of lush greenery.

It has been said that a forest walk and an observation tower would be built at the former Bukit Timah Fire Station, where it will boast 360-degree views of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. That is not all. A firefly garden and other nature walkways await!

There are bound to be pros and cons in every upcoming development and many citizens have expressed their concerns on whether the ‘resurrection’ of historical monuments would actually result in the loss of its rustic charm. While the debate is still ongoing, we cannot deny that this huge movement will mark yet another significant milestone in Singapore’s advancement.

The A-team has been painstakingly collecting feedbacks from the public and details of the finalised project would be further moulded to meet the general audience’s expectations.

The official launch date of Rail Corridor is unconfirmed, but we look forward to embrace the integrated green public space, which would hopefully reap the same success as Manhattan’s.

Photos source: NIKKEN SEKKEI

With the Rail Corridor set to be developed, one should not pass up the opportunity to see and photograph it in all of its natural glory, before it loses its identity and its atmosphere. Here are 10 uncharted nature trails in Singapore – explore the unexplored.

The new Eco-link@BKE is probably the coolest addition to Singapore, and one to be excited about most definitely.

Singapore’s urban population of 100% comes at a price, where many Singaporeans are not exposed to mother nature. Let’s face it, many are easily fascinated by greenery – even if it is just an empty patch of grassland.

But the world’s most expensive city is not all about skyscrapers – the government has been putting immense effort to promote green spaces and a recent bridge – the Eco-Link@BKE – has been constructed to promote biodiversity conservation.

Here are 5 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting Singapore’s New Eco-Link@BKE. Most importantly, do note that you are prohibited to access the ecological infrastructure by yourself. To access the bridge, you will have to pre-register online for a guided walk by National Parks.

#1 LOCATION OF ECO-LINK@BKE BRIDGE

Spanning across Bukit Timah Expressway, the Eco-Link@BKE is an eco bridge that reconnects Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve. The two nature reserves have previously been split to give way to the Bukit Timah Expressway.

The exact location of the bridge is between BKE’s Dairy Farm exit and the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) exit.

#2 YOU CANNOT VISIT IT BY YOURSELF

Caution: Entering the Eco-Link@BKE by yourselves is strictly prohibited. Offenders who fail to adhere to this regulation will be issued a warning and subsequent fines. Bear in mind that there are cameras positioned along the bridge, so getting off scot-free will not be an easy feat.

The only way to access it is via a guided walking tour.

#3 THE PURPOSE OF ITS CONSTRUCTION

As mentioned previously, the primary purpose of the Eco-Link@BKE is to restore the connections of the two nature reserves’ biodiversities in a sustainable manner. Wildlife from both forests are encouraged to cross the bridge and the ideal long-term results would be the expansion of their habitats and survival chances.

Many native flora and fauna are subjected to extinction and it is hoped that the Eco-Link@BKE bridge will reduce the likelihood.

#4 THERE ARE MONTHLY GUIDED TOURS

There are currently two guided walking tours held on the following days: 21 Nov 2015, 5 Dec 2015, 19 Dec 2015 and 9 Jan 2016. After which, there will only be a monthly walking tour starting from March next year.

The 90-minute tour is free of charge, but interested participants have to register in advance via National Parks to secure a slot.

#5 THE ESSENTIAL DOS AND DON’TS

Visitors can do their best to minimise human disturbances to Eco-Link@BKE by avoiding bright-coloured apparels, insect repellant and sunblock lotion. The scent of sunscreen will deter animals from using the bridge and similarly, faunas tend to mistake vibrant colours as danger.

To protect yourself from potential insect bites, do wear long sleeves and pants.

Here is our guide on what visitors can do at Coney Island Park – Singapore’s newest nature destination. We have also included essential information i.e. directions on getting there and what to prepare for a half-day trip.