The best airport in the world. The Pearl of Changi

       In 2019, for the seventh consecutive year, Changi, Singapore was named "the best airport in the world". It is unlikely that anyone will challenge Changi's leadership, especially after the completion of the reconstruction and expansion of the complex in the spring of 2019. This huge object, from which a plane takes off every 90 seconds, is unique in many ways, and beauty reigns in it. Numerous attractions, luxury and comfort make Changi the final or starting point for almost 300 destinations. It's also a desirable transit hub - you'll never be bored between flights here.

       The reconstruction project is by the famous architect Moshe Safdie. The building is shaped like a donut and is made of steel and glass. The Changi Pearl has 10 floors, five above ground and five below ground, and covers an area of ​​135,700 square meters, connecting three of the airport's four terminals.

       A new attraction after reconstruction was the 40-meter waterfall, which descends through a huge circular hole in the middle of Changi and is believed to be the highest indoor waterfall in the world. But this is only one touch to this truly amazing complex. It is very difficult for me to say what is most impressive about Changi - it is the most creative airport in the world.

 

      It's as if the main feature is the greenery flowing from every nook and cranny. Indoor and outdoor parks and gardens, hanging gardens, a living wall of thousands of tropical plants on five floors and 300 meters long, which is not only impressive, but also provides coolness and fresh air. An orchid garden with fabulous ponds in which colorful fish swim, a cactus garden, a fern garden, amazing forms of topiaries. It's some tropical garden existentialism that takes you right into Boeing!

 

     Topiaries with millions of flowers have shaped some of the most famous landmarks in the world - the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House, the Kremlin Palace, the Coliseum. The topiary, depicting the mythical Merlion, the patron saint of Singapore, rises eight meters high, decorated with flower petals and lights - true magic.

 

      And when I mention 'real magic', I can't help but mention kinetic rain, the amazing 'moving sculptures' because Changi is home to the world's largest kinetic rain installation. The installation consists of 1,216 copper raindrops, each weighing one hundred and eighty grams (6.3 ounces), attached to a thin wire. Computer-controlled motors attached to wires move each raindrop up and down, creating complex moving shapes.

 

I was also interested in the interactive technology that allows passengers to share their photo and video memories and download them on subsequent visits to the airport. It's called a social tree. The Social Tree is surrounded by eight touch panels that allow passengers to "pin" their photos to the structure's colorful and animated crown, which consists of 64 giant 42-inch high-definition screens offering 360-degree displays of various animated images and backgrounds, including a mystical forest.

 

      Finally, one more amazing fact: Changi Airport in Singapore is built on an artificial island. They brought sand from India and other places and threw it into the ocean. Amazing, isn't it! 

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