Come 2019, travellers and local residents will have plenty more to look forward to with the opening of Jewel Changi Airport (Jewel), a 10-storey lifestyle destination located in the heart of Changi Airport. Nestled at the topmost level (Level 5) is Canopy Park, a 14,000 square-metre world-class attraction, featuring unique offerings such as play attractions, gardens, walking trails and dining outlets in air-conditioned comfort.

Taking centrestage are three first-of-its-kind play attractions - Sky Nets, Canopy Mazes and Discovery Slides - which have been specifically designed by world-renowned consultants to blend into Jewel’s unique indoor garden environment.

Changi Journeys takes a closer look at each of these three attractions.

Sky Nets

Designed to create a highly memorable and timeless experience in Jewel, Sky Nets is an attraction that will score high on both the thrill and fun elements.

Sky Nets is designed with two different experiences in mind. The first is a walking net designed to introduce a slight thrill factor as it straddles a five-storey high void. Made with a sturdy material, the walking net is fashioned like a contemplative walk in the park, but at more than 25 metres above ground.

The second net, the bouncing net, allows visitors to bounce their way amongst the trees in the canopy of Jewel. The fun level is higher than that of the walking net, and it is designed for longer dwell times. Its thrill factor comes in the form of an 8-metre high lookout at its highest point.  (More surprise features await visitors, which the Jewel office tells us will only be revealed closer to the opening of Jewel!)

Canopy Mazes

To cater to the traveller who may not be all out to seek excitement and thrill, the challenge to the design team here was to create something that would be timeless and fit in the garden, but also fun and filled with elements of surprise. The team hit upon the idea of mazes to do just that. The two mazes in Jewel are designed to offer visitors unique and totally contrasting experiences. The hedge maze allows visitors to take either a leisurely walk or a fun run through the landscaped environment with a sense of discovery.  The experience is heightened by encountering various decorative gates and finger mazes along the way, ending with a circular look-out platform for a picturesque view of the maze. 

In contrast, the mirror maze creates a space of disorientation where visitors can embark on a journey of exploration through carefully curated touchpoints. This will be the world’s first mirror maze within a garden setting, with overhead hanging plants providing an exciting contrast with the austere precision of the mirrors.  The finale chamber provides a dramatic contrast – visitors enter a fully immersive chamber with mirrors above and below them.  The only light and colour within this chamber comes from the seams of the panels that stretch dozens of metres in all directions. The mood and pulse will also be enhanced by the audio-visual content within the chamber.

Discovery Slides

The Discovery Slides in Jewel will be unlike any other. Here, a total of four slides make up the playscape where the sliding functions are integrated such that together, they create both the sculpture’s shape and a lookout platform. A single playful sculptural entity, where children of all ages, depending on their courage and ability, can find the perfect spot for sliding.

Pains have been taken to ensure that the design is “open”, because another element of the attractions in Jewel is “people entertaining people” - sharing the joy and apprehension of those on the slides will very much be part of the experience on the Discovery Slides. 

Finally, as an added touch, the entire slide will also be covered in a mirror finish, so that it not only becomes a sculptural piece that almost disappears when viewed at certain angles, but also allows visitors an added dimension to interact with the attractions in the environment.

With all the attractions in Canopy Park, Jewel is set to be a world-class lifestyle destination in Singapore, enhancing Changi’s appeal as a premier air hub.

Click here to read Changi Journeys’ interview with Ms Hung Jean, Chief Executive Officer of Jewel Changi Airport Development, who shared how the team brought this vision to life.