Changi Airport uses greenery and cooling to combat Singapore’s tropical heat

Singapore – 04.08.2026: In Singapore’s year-round hot and humid climate, Changi Airport is more than a transport hub. A recent report also describes it as a publicly accessible refuge from the tropical heat. This ambition is particularly evident in the Jewel complex at Terminal 1: beneath a wide-span glass roof, retail and dining areas meet spaces for relaxation and a lushly planted indoor landscape. Many people visit the complex independently of air travel, for family outings or private celebrations, for example.

At the center of Jewel, the Rain Vortex plunges 40 meters over seven stories. According to the airport operator, it is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. It is surrounded by the multi-level Forest Valley, with winding paths through tropical vegetation. More than 2,000 trees and palms, as well as over 100,000 shrubs, grow across around 21,000 square meters of landscaped space. The planting shapes the sense of space, but does not replace technical cooling.

The glass facade is designed to let in daylight while limiting heat gain. Double-glazed, energy-efficient glass is used for this purpose. In the high halls, chilled ceiling panels absorb heat. The water used in the process is reused to reduce the energy required for air conditioning. Green spaces, subdued sunlight and building technology thus form a joint system intended to make stays comfortable despite tropical outdoor conditions.

The uppermost area is home to the approximately 14,000-square-meter Canopy Park. It includes gardens, walking paths, net installations, mazes and seasonally changing flower displays. The airport promotes it as a leisure destination for different age groups. The fact that parents deliberately come here with their children points to a special feature of the project: Jewel is at once airport infrastructure, a shopping center and a climate-protected public space.

The facility is receiving additional attention as Singapore expands its preparedness for climate impacts. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment has declared 2026 the national Year of Climate Adaptation. The densely built city-state expects higher temperatures, greater fluctuations in rainfall and rising sea levels. Accordingly, shaded walkways, cooled indoor spaces and heat-conscious building design are gaining importance.

For outdoor workers, Changi Airport Group is also expanding its protective measures. These include additional water dispensers, cooled rest modules, sun-protective clothing and more flexible breaks during periods of high heat stress. Jewel itself remains an energy-intensive cooled indoor space, but it demonstrates how architecture, vegetation and building technology can work together in Singapore’s adaptation strategy.