Sentosa Sensoryscape redefines park design, seamlessly integrating nature, architecture and technology to create a distinctive multi-sensory experience along Sentosa Island’s main artery. As the inaugural project of Singapore’s Greater Sentosa Master Plan, this two-tiered walkway links the island’s bustling attractions in the north with its tranquil beaches in the south, offering a dynamic journey that bridges the ridgeline with the reef below. Sensoryscape invites guests to explore lush landscapes and immersive “phygital” spaces that stir the imagination.
By day, the walkway offers panoramic views and thoughtfully designed sensory gardens, where guests encounter tactile plants, fragrant flora and water features that enhance their appreciation of nature. At night, Sensoryscape transforms into a captivating landscape of digital light art and augmented reality, immersing visitors in a vibrant nighttime spectacle that combines nature with innovation in striking ways.
At the heart of Sensoryscape are three parametrically designed bespoke vessels, each featuring different sensorial experiences – touch, smell and sound. Two of the vessels are made of Architecturally Exposed Steel Structure (AESS) and the third vessel in granolithic concrete finish, precast offsite. These distinctive elements enrich the multi-sensory experiences, embodied by the Symphony Streams, Scented Sphere and Tactile Trellis. The bowl-shaped Symphony Streams is a 3D steel diagrid structure with a spatially curved form. Individual steel bowls are attached at each joint to collect and channel water streams, creating an auditory symphony as water flows through the vessel. The design comprises X-shaped panels made from built-up H steel sections, fabricated off-site and assembled on-site using high-strength bolts and steel plates.
Similarly, the Scented Sphere features a steel diagrid design with a slightly larger mid-height diameter and gracefully curved, long cantilevers that extend toward the center, supporting planting pots filled with aromatic flora.
The Tactile Trellis, a 3D curved reinforced concrete diagrid structure, comprises over 200 precast panels with complex geometries meticulously joined on-site using ultra-high-strength fiber-reinforced concrete. Advanced structural analysis ensured rigidity and strength, while continuous monitoring and calibration during installation aligned the final form with the architectural vision. An innovative self-supporting bracket system was employed during the erection of the Tactile Trellis, expediting construction and eliminating the need for temporary scaffolding.
One of the key challenges across all three vessels was achieving precision in installation, a feat made possible through close collaboration between the design and construction teams. These vessels not only enrich the sensory experience of visitors but also exemplify innovative engineering and architectural excellence.
AECOM served as the civil, structural, and mechanical and electrical engineers on this project, partnering closely with Sentosa Development Corporation, its multi-disciplinary design consultants and contractors to bring the vision of Sensoryscape to life. Through advanced modular construction techniques, the project team minimized impact on Sentosa’s landscape while addressing the client’s design requirements. Our expertise in civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering works supported Sensoryscape’s innovative architectural lighting and digital light art designs, playing a key role in the delivery of this project. Sensoryscape has since received six prestigious International MUSE Design Awards for Architectural and Lighting Designs, and the BCA Project of the Year Award 2024. Sensoryscape highlights AECOM’s commitment to transformative engineering, enhancing Sentosa’s position as a premier global destination.