Solving Complex Nature-Integration Challenges at Mandai: From Hygroscopic Walls to Metalwork Engineering

Mandai Rainforest Resort and Mandai Bird Paradise are cornerstone developments within the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, each designed to bring visitors closer to nature through thoughtful and immersive experiences. 

GWS Living Art was engaged across both sites to design and implement a series of advanced planting systems, custom-built features, and large-scale architectural greenery.  From pioneering hygroscopic climbing systems at Bird Paradise to engineering complex green roofs and fabricating oversized stainless-steel chandeliers for the Resort, the projects demanded a blend of horticultural expertise, material innovation, and technical problem-solving. Both sites presented unique challenges, pushing us to refine our methods and fabricate components in-house, allowing us to deliver green solutions that achieve both aesthetic and functional goals.

Scope of Work: Green Engineering, Horticulture, and Custom Fabrication

The Mandai Bird Paradise and Mandai Rainforest Resort projects covered a wide spectrum of green engineering, horticultural integration, and custom fabrication. At Bird Paradise, this included designing and installing hygroscopic climbing systems, selecting and trialing native plant species suitable for bird habitats, and integrating greenery directly into rockwork structures to achieve a naturalised landscape appearance.

For the Rainforest Resort, we delivered multiple green roofs across complex architectural forms, including sloped and domed structures. Interior spaces were enhanced with live green walls and preserved moss installations, supported by specialised grow lights for low-light areas. The project also included the full redesign and in-house fabrication of six large stainless-steel chandeliers, originally planned in fibreglass but re-engineered to achieve a high-polish mirror finish. Together, these works contributed to the resort’s immersive natural atmosphere and elevated guest experience.

Objectives: Engineering Green Solutions for Complex Environments

The overarching goal across both developments was to design green solutions that enhanced the natural identity of the spaces while remaining perfectly aligned with the architectural vision.  This included prioritising the use of native and wildlife-supporting plant species, especially within Bird Paradise and bringing nature into the resort’s interiors through carefully integrated indoor greenery. Another objective was to ensure that all greenery, whether on steep slopes, domed surfaces, or interior walls, were designed for long-term performance with minimal maintenance. Ultimately, the aim was to blend aesthetics, sustainability, and functionality into a cohesive experience across both sites.

Project Highlights & Challenges

Mandai Bird Paradise Green Wall

At Mandai Bird Paradise, the introduction of hygroscopic planting systems marked one of the most innovative aspects of the entire project. The Gaia Wall system was selected for its ability to retain moisture and support moisture-loving climbers and ferns, an essential requirement for creating lush, naturalistic habitats within the aviary environment. A significant component of the work involved trialling native species, including Causonis trifolia, a three-leaf wild vine that produces dark berries favoured by birds. This species was carefully tested alongside other ferns and climbers to ensure compatibility with the hygroscopic substrate and overall site conditions.

Planting into the rockwork required an unconventional approach, as the structures did not include traditional planters. Instead, the greenery had to be integrated directly into the rock features, demanding customised anchoring methods and early planting strategies to allow creepers to climb, spread, and stabilise prior to opening. This early establishment period proved critical, enabling the greenery to mature into a naturalised, seamlessly integrated landscape. Despite being an unprecedented undertaking in Singapore, the combined system of hygroscopic walls, native climbers, and integrated rockwork planting resulted in a successful, thriving habitat that elevates the visitor experience within the aviary.

Challenges

One of the key challenges at Mandai Bird Paradise was identifying plant species that could thrive within the hygroscopic system while also contributing to its ecological value. A variety of plants and ferns were extensively tested to ensure that they would climb effectively, produce suitable fruit for birds, and integrate seamlessly with the Gaia Wall systems. The rockwork planting presented another layer of complexity, as it did not utilise conventional soil-planter systems. The planting had to be embedded directly into the rock features, which required precise planning, careful root anchorage, and early installation to allow the creepers and ferns to establish before opening.

Liana Canopy Green Roof

The sloped green roof at the Liana Canopy was installed on gradients ranging from 20 to 35 degrees, a configuration that required careful detailing to ensure stability and long-term plant health. On steep slopes, gravity can make it difficult for plants to establish, particularly for species such as creepers that struggle to grow upward against the incline. Irrigation also behaves differently on sloped surfaces, with water tending to run downslope, leaving upper sections drier while moisture accumulates at the lower edges. Without proper design, this can result in uneven plant growth or barren areas at the top of the slope.

The lightweight, soil-less Gaia Mat system adapted well to the slope, allowing for efficient installation and secure anchoring of vegetation without the risk of soil slippage. Unlike conventional soil-based systems, which are heavier and prone to movement without substantial structural support, the Gaia Mat remained stable across the entire gradient. Despite the complex geometry, the installation progressed smoothly and resulted in a visually continuous, healthy layer of greenery.

Challenges

At Mandai Rainforest Resort, unconventional roof geometries introduced additional engineering considerations. While the Gaia Mat system could accommodate curved and sloped surfaces, detailed coordination was required to secure the mats and maintain consistent plant performance on slopes ranging from 20 to 35 degrees. Careful attention to these factors ensured long-term plant establishment and visual continuity across all roof forms.

Function Room Dome Roof

The dome-shaped green roof above the function room introduced a different level of complexity due to its curved surface. The team selected a palette of native species and hardy vegetation to create a naturalistic, low-maintenance aesthetic suitable for the roof’s exposure. An automatic irrigation system was included to ensure consistent plant health across the dome. The result is a rooftop landscape that softens the building’s form while improving thermal performance.

Challenges

The interior green walls required special attention. Their arching profiles, combined with the transition into preserved moss, demanded bespoke detailing to maintain visual continuity. Ensuring that the installations improved the acoustics and atmosphere of the interior spaces while remaining low-maintenance added another layer of complexity.

Indoor Green Walls and Preserved Moss Features

.Inside the resort, the lobby and boardroom feature vertically curved green walls designed to transition seamlessly into preserved moss installations. This combination adds depth, texture, and warmth to the interior environment while offering acoustic benefits. The arching profiles required precise detailing to maintain continuity between live planting and preserved moss. These installations provide a natural, calming visual centerpiece without the need for intensive maintenance, ideal for indoor hospitality settings.

Customised Metal Works – Mirror Finish Chandelier

One of the most technically demanding elements was the fabrication of six large stainless-steel chandeliers measuring up to five metres in width. Originally specified in fibreglass, they were redesigned in stainless steel for a more refined and durable finish. Standard metal sheets were too small to create the required forms, and early welding attempts left visible joint lines. GWS Living Art ultimately fabricated the chandelier frames in-house, developing a proprietary method to eliminate weld marks and achieve a flawless mirror finish. The completed chandeliers now serve as signature sculptural features within the resort.

Challenges

The fabrication of the stainless-steel chandeliers posed an entirely different challenge. The fixtures were large (up to five metres in width) and standard metal sheets were far smaller than required. Welding multiple plates together resulted in visible joint lines that compromised the mirror finish. External fabricators struggled to achieve the seamless surface required, prompting our team to take the process in-house. Through extensive refinement, we developed a proprietary method for achieving a flawless finish across all six chandeliers.

Redefining What’s Possible in Green Infrastructure

Mandai Rainforest Resort and Mandai Bird Paradise demonstrate the power of integrating greenery and design innovation to elevate visitor experiences in nature-based destinations. These projects pushed GWS Living Art to explore new methods, whether trialling native plants for wildlife habitats, engineering greenery for complex architectural forms, or developing in-house fabrication capabilities for large stainless-steel features. The result is a collection of spaces where architecture and nature coexist seamlessly, reflecting the Mandai Wildlife Reserve’s vision while setting new benchmarks for sustainable, technically advanced greenery installations in Singapore.

If you’d like to learn more about our approach to green engineering, custom fabrication, or nature-integrated design solutions, contact us through our contact form to learn more