
253 Jalan Besar
Commercial, Singapore
The landscape design at Jalan Besar presents a bold juxtaposition between the dense, jungle-like softness of planting and the hard-edged, industrial texture of the building's architectural components.
Designed as an urban oasis, the courtyard is layered with a rich composition of tropical greenery that both softens the built form and creates a sense of immersive escape. Floating planters are carefully arranged so that, when viewed from above, the planting resembles gully vegetation—organic and meandering.
Due to the limited sunlight reaching the courtyard floor, shade-loving species were thoughtfully selected to ensure healthy growth and visual richness. Dense-canopy trees like Schefflera actinophylla form the structural backbone of the planting, while large-leafed accents such as Monstera deliciosa and the occasional striking Blood Banana introduce texture, colour and variation across a range of light conditions.
Verticality is celebrated through the inclusion of Vernonia elliptica (commonly known as the Lee Kuan Yew plant), its upright habit drawing the eye upward and enhancing the sense of scale within the confined courtyard.
Client
253 JB Pte Ltd
Location
Singapore
Status
Completed, 2024
Type
Commercial, Office, Restaurant
Woven through this layered landscape is a non-uniform staircase that rises and falls unpredictably, pulling visitors close to the foliage before retreating—creating dynamic moments of interaction, contrast, and discovery throughout the space.
Photography by Finbarr Fallon