MEDIA FACTSHEET A

Design of Therapeutic Garden @ Park

The 900sqm Therapeutic Garden @ Choa Chu Kang Park has design elements and user-friendly features to meet the needs of senior users, including those with conditions such as dementia. Designed using science-based principles, it is also deliberately planned to facilitate people’s interactions with nature, to help improve mental well-being for visitors of all ages. Ascendas-Singbridge Gives Foundation and Tote Board contributed around $500,000 in total through the Garden City Fund for the development of the Therapeutic Garden @ Choa Chu Kang Park and its programmes.

Layout of Therapeutic Garden @ Choa Chu Kang Park (Credit: )

Page 1 of 7 For more information, please contact Naomi Goh at 64717907 / 91781579. Information accurate as of 6 July 2018.

Design element Benefit for visitors Clear layout with simple circulation The garden’s clear layout and simple circulation provides visitors with a better sense of control and coherence, enabling them to navigate through the space easily.

The pathway also allows visitors to wander purposefully whilst interacting with nature.

Different zones provide variety While the garden has a clear layout, it is also kept interesting with a rich variety of plants arranged in zones to evoke visitors’ senses as they move along the pathway.

 Fragrance Zone: Flowers with cool colours and scented plants have been planted at the entrance.

Fragrance Zone

Fragrance Zone

Page 2 of 7 For more information, please contact Naomi Goh at 64717907 / 91781579. Information accurate as of 6 July 2018.

Design element Benefit for visitors  Edibles and Medicinal Zone: Edible plants, including herbs and spices.  Colours and Textures Zone: Plants with vibrant colours and interesting textures.  Biodiversity Zone: Butterfly- and bird-attracting plants.

Edibles and Medicinal Zone Bright colours create an uplifting impact by stimulating the mind, while cool colours have been shown to be restorative by creating a calming experience.

Colours and Textures Zone

Biodiversity Zone

Seating area with wheelchair provision Seating areas are designed to encourage social interaction between seniors of all abilities and the rest of the community.

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Design element Benefit for visitors Semi-private seating area At the same time, the garden also makes provisions for visitors who wish to interact with their friends or loved ones in a semi-private setting surrounded by greenery.

Water feature Visitors are greeted by the sound of running water which calms the mind and helps improve mental well- being.

Raised planters An area has been specifically designed for gardening, with raised

planters that are accessible to wheelchair users.

Page 4 of 7 For more information, please contact Naomi Goh at 64717907 / 91781579. Information accurate as of 6 July 2018.

Design element Benefit for visitors Fitness area A fitness area and sheltered gathering space have been incorporated into the design to encourage physical movement and social interaction.

Design Considerations Based on Theories

Attention Restoration Theory Stress Reduction Theory Coherence: Provide a setting that is Sense of control: Users must be able orderly and organised into clear areas to get to and into the garden easily so that people can easily see and make (garden should be visible from a main sense of a place. entry or other gather/waiting area). Garden with a number of different spaces, different type of spaces, for users to choose where they want to be in any given situation. Complexity: Provide a rich setting with Social support: Locate and configure many opportunities for sensory seating for a variety of interaction. engagement. E.g. a garden can have a clear layout but rich with trees, shrubs, flowers, places to sit, and paths to wander. Legibility: A distinct setting that has Physical movement and exercise: one or more memorable components – Provide more structured opportunities something that helps someone for exercise as well as social interaction. remember the place and also allows them to navigate easily through the space Mystery: Curving pathways, vegetation Positive natural distraction: Provide that partly obscures what is coming next as many opportunities to engage with – a glimpse of something that engages nature as possible. the visitors and draws them forward.

Page 5 of 7 For more information, please contact Naomi Goh at 64717907 / 91781579. Information accurate as of 6 July 2018.

Programmes

The greenery and sensory aspects in the garden will provide visitors with a rehabilitative environment, providing relief from attention fatigue and stress. This is complemented by an outdoor activity area where therapeutic horticulture programmes will be carried out. Each session lasts around 1 hour and the activities are designed to stimulate participants’ senses and memories through interaction with nature, and encourage motor and hand-eye coordination.

Registration for therapeutic horticulture programmes will start on 30 August 2018. NParks is reaching out to eldercare centres and senior activity centres in the vicinity and will customise the programmes to the needs of the seniors. These programmes are also offered at the therapeutic gardens in HortPark, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and , and run twice a month for group sign ups. The detailed schedule for therapeutic horticulture programmes can be found at the website below.

Information for visitors Location: Along Choa Chu Kang Drive, next to the Kranji Expressway Admission: Free (open to the public) Website: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/therapeutic- gardens

Page 6 of 7 For more information, please contact Naomi Goh at 64717907 / 91781579. Information accurate as of 6 July 2018.

About Ascendas-Singbridge Gives Foundation

Established in 2012, Ascendas-Singbridge Gives Foundation is a charitable foundation of Ascendas-Singbridge that focuses on giving back to communities in which the Group operates. As Asia’s leading sustainable urban and business space solutions provider, we are always looking for means to improve the way we live, work and play. With this, the foundation is committed to transforming lives of less privileged through improving living conditions, enhancing educational endeavours and nurturing talents.

Ascendas-Singbridge Gives Foundation’s corporate philanthropy centres on a spirit of caring and sharing, transforming lives of less privileged through improving living conditions, enhancing educational endeavours and nurturing talents. We do this the best way we can, encouraging our employees to build better lives and stronger communities.

As an urban development and business space solutions provider, Ascendas- Singbridge is committed to adopting sustainable solutions for our tenants and communities. We invest in a sustainable future, and recognise the importance of educating and creating awareness of protecting our environment and natural resources by supporting organisations in their conservation efforts. This is our contribution to building socially-conscious communities of environmentally- responsible individuals.

More information: ascendas-singbridge.com

About Tote Board

Established in 1988, Tote Board (Singapore Totalisator Board) is a statutory board of the Ministry of Finance. As a broad-based grantmaking organisation, Tote Board works closely with stakeholders and partners, to support broad and diverse worthy projects in the sectors of Arts, Community Development, Education, Health, Social Service and Sports. Through these projects, Tote Board helps to uplift the community by giving hope to vulnerable groups and improving the lives of all in Singapore.

Tote Board’s grants are derived from surpluses from the gaming businesses Singapore Pools (Private) Limited (a subsidiary company of Tote Board) and Singapore Turf Club (a proprietary club of Tote Board), as well as the collection of casino entry levies. Tote Board also ensures that Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club conduct their businesses in a socially responsible manner, so as to provide a safe and trusted avenue for gaming and to counter illegal gambling.

Tote Board’s goal is to help build a flourishing society in Singapore. We want to inspire positive change and contribute towards building an inclusive, resilient and vibrant community, while fostering a caring and compassionate nation.

Page 7 of 7 For more information, please contact Naomi Goh at 64717907 / 91781579. Information accurate as of 6 July 2018.