The design of the College’s outdoor spaces was based on the concept of ‘a learning landscape’, meaning that the grounds were not just a place in which to study, but a place to be studied. To this end, the grounds were designed as an arboretum—a botanical collection of trees and shrubs designed for the purpose of being studied.
Starting at the main entrance, the Oculus was a reflecting pool fed by rainwater from above, mixing Eastern and Western architecture and symbolism. The Eco-pond was a biofiltration pond whose plants filtered pollutants from rainwater, and also provided food to the resident fish and turtles.
Events, performances and gatherings were held at the outdoor Amphitheatre. And the plants of the Campus Green created three layers that resembled a tropical forest:
The upper ‘canopy’ layer consisted of six mature trees, including the only Margarataria indica known in Singapore at the time. Local trees made up the ‘understory’ layer, with shrubs and ground cover species forming the ‘undergrowth’ forest floor.
We invite Yale-NUS community members, past and present, to collaborate with us to make these initiatives truly special.