Singapore Skyrise Greenery

Skyrise greenery is Singapore's term for rooftop gardens, green roofs and vertical greenery (green walls) on buildings. As a dense, tropical city-state, Singapore has promoted greenery on buildings to offset land taken by development, and reduce urban heat. Programs are run mainly by the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme (SGIS)

NParks introduced the SGIS in 2009 to encourage greenery on existing buildings. Under SGIS 2.0, launched in April 2015, the scheme funds up to 50 percent of installation costs, capped at:

• SGD 200 per square metre of planted area for rooftop greenery;
• SGD 500 per square metre of green coverage for vertical greenery.

Funding is reimbursed after completion and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. By the time of an NParks review, the scheme had helped green more than 100 existing buildings.

LUSH programme

The URA's LUSH (Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises) programme applies to new developments. It offers gross floor area exemptions to new buildings that incorporate rooftop greenery.

Scale and targets

NParks reported about 72 hectares of rooftop greenery and 5 hectares of vertical greenery. A 2015 review of the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint set a target of 200 hectares of skyrise greenery by 2030.

Supporting programs

• Skyrise Greenery Awards, held since 2008;
• LEAF (Landscape Excellence Assessment Framework) certification, launched in 2013;
• International Skyrise Greenery Conference, held every two years.

Design considerations in the tropics

Rooftop greenery in Singapore must handle intense tropical rain, high heat and humidity, and strong wind at height. Designers pay particular attention to drainage capacity, wind-resistant planting and anchoring, irrigation, and safe maintenance access.