Jewel Changi and its glass torus over a rainforest waterfall
Published on 09/14/2026 at 08:36 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Jewel Changi in Singapur is a vast glass-and-steel hall where an indoor forest rises around a dramatic waterfall at the centre of an airport complex. Completed in 2019 and designed by Moshe Safdie and his practice Safdie Architects, it turns the land-side hub of Singapore’s main air gateway into a destination in its own right.
A toroidal glass shell over an indoor forest
The defining feature of Jewel Changi is its toroidal glass-and-steel enclosure, a doughnut-shaped gridshell roof that spans a large central garden and the surrounding terraces. The building takes the form of a ring that wraps around a central void, its diagrid dome enclosing a continuous indoor landscape of trees, shrubs and paths under filtered daylight.toroidal glass enclosure The geometry allows the roof to dip towards a central opening in the upper surface, where water falls through the structure into the gardens below.
Safdie Architects, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, led the design of Jewel Changi, with local firm RSP Architects Planners & Engineers acting as executive architects and structural engineers.Moshe Safdie and RSP Architects Planners & Engineers The landscape architecture of the indoor forest, known as the Forest Valley, was conceived by PWP Landscape Architecture, a practice that shaped the terraced planting and meandering routes.PWP Landscape Architecture
The HSBC Rain Vortex and Shiseido Forest Valley
At the heart of Jewel Changi stands the HSBC Rain Vortex, a waterfall that drops from the roof opening through several levels into a pool set among trees. Rising to 40 m (131 ft), this feature is recognised as the tallest indoor waterfall in the world, a vertical sheet of water that can be seen from almost every level of the building.world’s tallest indoor waterfall at 40 metres The water descends through the interior, framed by planting and terraces, giving the complex a clear visual centre.
Surrounding the waterfall is the Shiseido Forest Valley, an indoor garden that spans multiple storeys and hosts thousands of trees, shrubs and other plants. The valley occupies a substantial part of Jewel Changi’s floor area and is organised into terraces with stone and wood paths, seating and overlooks.forest valley and canopy park It is laid out as a walkable landscape rather than a purely decorative atrium, with routes that pass close to the water and weave through dense planting reminiscent of a rainforest under glass.five-storey terraced garden
Retail, canopy-level attractions and airport context
Beneath and around the Forest Valley, Jewel Changi integrates extensive retail and dining areas with the garden and transport functions. The development covers around 135,700 m² (1,461,000 sq ft), combining shops, restaurants and passenger amenities within the same toroidal volume as the waterfall and forest.1.46-million-square-foot development Higher up, the Canopy Park and related attractions occupy the upper levels, including a Canopy Bridge that spans the void above the Forest Valley, net-based walkways and mazes laid out among sculptural planting.Canopy Bridge and net attractions
Jewel Changi stands on the land-side of Singapore Changi Airport, linking several passenger terminals while remaining accessible to visitors who are not flying.links several passenger terminals It opened to the public on 17 April 2019, with an official opening in October that year, marking its full integration into the airport’s fabric.opened on 17 April 2019 Within Singapore, a city often described as a “City in a Garden”, Jewel Changi fits into a wider pattern of integrating lush planting with transport and commercial architecture.
Visiting Jewel Changi: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Jewel Changi stands at Singapore Changi Airport in the eastern part of the island, connected to multiple passenger terminals by walkways and public transit.
- The indoor landscapes are arranged on several levels, with sloping paths and stairways linking the terraces around the waterfall and forest.
- On the upper levels, attractions such as the Canopy Bridge and net-based walks span open spaces above the Forest Valley, involving exposure to height within a controlled environment.
- Singapur lies in Southeast Asia; the official language is Malay alongside English, Mandarin and Tamil, and the currency is the Singapore dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Jewel Changi on social platforms
These links open searches for Jewel Changi on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Jewel Changi
Where is Jewel Changi located in Singapur?
Jewel Changi stands at Singapore Changi Airport on the eastern side of the island, connected directly to several passenger terminals and accessible from public areas.
What can visitors expect inside Jewel Changi?
Visitors encounter a multi-storey indoor forest centred on the HSBC Rain Vortex waterfall, with terraces, paths, retail levels and canopy attractions under a glass toroidal roof.
What makes Jewel Changi distinctive among airport buildings?
Its combination of a toroidal glass-and-steel shell, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and extensive indoor gardens makes Jewel Changi a large-scale garden hall integrated into an airport.
