Singapore, Singapore
2017 - 2022
Rifle Range Nature Park
Located near Bukit Timah Nature Reserve – one of the last primary forests in Singapore – Rifle Range Park was designed with the aim of preserving the island's rainforest ecosystems, which are under threat from development and human activity. Restoring forest and wetland habitats, the park has revived native ecosystems while ensuring its longevity through carefully designed visitor amenities and opportunities to interact with local heritage.
Project details
Client
National Parks Board
Status
For over 30 years, much of the former quarry site that is Rifle Range Park was abandoned, resulting in a degraded landscape with poor soil conditions and overgrown scrub vegetation. Because of this, one of the project’s main objectives was enhancing biodiversity in the park.
Identifying opportunities to do so, the project was informed by a comprehensive nine-month baseline study on plant and animal life on site. As a result, elaborate planting strategies were implemented to improve soil quality, attract fauna, and facilitate the park’s transition to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, the adjacent primary forest. The park design has revived the area, restoring its natural forest and wetland habitat, integrating water-sensitive solutions, fauna protection, heritage conservation, and inviting visitors into an engaging natural environment.
Reviving biodiversity
Over the course of the initial nine-month study, a significant issue was surfaced: that is the high numbers of roadkill along Rifle Range Road, where wildlife sought food. To protect the diverse and endangered wildlife, the design established safe routes in the form of culvert and arboreal crossings, including aerial rope bridges and nest boxes. These connections now allow wildlife to safely access the park and extend to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, while also enabling visitors to observe animal life up close in their natural habitat. Rifle Range Park is now home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including endangered species like the Sunda Pangolin and Horsfield's Flying Squirrel.
Water management plays an essential role in reviving ecosystems and habitats. With this in mind, at the heart of the park lies a freshwater wetland created from the backfilled quarry. This environment offers optimal conditions for the settlement and regeneration of endangered odonates and birds, like the Dwarf Wisp and Straw-Headed Bulbul. Beyond the creation of the freshwater wetland, we carefully restored and widened streams to prevent erosion and create a favorable environment for aquatic life. Also employing various water-sensitive design solutions, such as swales and raingardens, the design incorporates elements that cleanse and utilize rainwater for natural irrigation.
An educational journey through nature and heritage
Attracting people to the park, the design also includes a network of natural hiking trails, as well as a range of amenities for visitors, such as a pavilion, public restrooms, a shelter, and a parking lot, all of which have been integrated visually into the natural landscape. Trails and activity nodes have been thoughtfully designed to accommodate a wide range of users, from adventure seekers to those with mobility impairments, promoting health and well-being and fostering appreciation for the natural environment.
Preservation was a key concept in the design of Rifle Range Nature Park as the site has a rich history, that is valuable for future generations to learn about. Signage along Glider's Boardwalk highlights the park's history of biodiversity and Hindhede Link preserves the structures and paths from the days of the Kampung settlements, retaining their character and legacy. Similarly, the design of the Rambai Boardwalk, the trail from the park entrance to the Quarry Precinct, was also curated to preserve this heritage and pass on the nostalgic stories that once lived within the Kampungs of the site. Another area preserved was the cliff face that bore witness to the area’s rich history with immense conservation value as one of Singapore’s few untouched geological features, which can be celebrated from above at the Colugo Deck.
01/08
Singapore’s first net-positive energy nature park
Strategically incorporating solar panels to harvest energy surpassing the projected annual operational energy requirements of the site, Rifle Range Nature Park sets a new standard for sustainability in becoming the first net-positive energy nature park in Singapore.
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Country Market Director
Associate Director
Design Director, Landscape
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