Once simply catering to arriving and departing passengers, Singapore Changi Airport now offers much more than just air travel.

Singapore Changi Airport remains one of Asia's largest transportation hubs. Yet, since October 2019, a particular tourist attraction on the airport site has been attracting almost 300,000 visitors per day to wander in the marvels on offer within its iconically designed structure. Let's take a closer look at 'Jewel' - the groundbreaking initiative unlike almost any other found at an airport worldwide.

As we all know, many airport terminals have taken on the appearance of retail centers in recent years - seemingly preferring to sell things to people who never knew they needed them rather than get them to where they need to be as quickly and efficiently as possible.

That said, some airports are pushing the boundaries in what is possible to attract passengers through the doors - more space, better lounges, shorter queues, and friendlier staff. However, Singapore Changi Airport has gone one step beyond this by opening its doors to Jewel in 2019.

Jewel Changi Airport (also known simply as 'Jewel' or 'Jewel Changi') is a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex surrounded by and linked to the main terminal buildings at Singapore Changi Airport, serving both passengers and casual visitors alike.

Jewel includes gardens, attractions, a hotel, 300 retail and dining outlets, and early check-in facilities for various airlines. Said to cover a total gross floor area of 1,461,000 square feet (or 135,700 square meters) and rising ten storeys (five above-ground and five basement levels), its attractions include the Shiseido Forest Valley, an indoor garden spanning five storeys, and the Canopy Park at the topmost level, featuring gardens and leisure facilities.

However, the centerpiece of the complex, and arguably the most impressive attraction on offer, is the 'Rain Vortex' which is the world's tallest indoor waterfall at seven storeys high.

Although first opened on a soft launch basis in April 2019, Jewel was officially opened six months later in October 2019, by which time it had already received 50 million visitors. This simply incredible number of early visitors exceeded the attraction's management's initial targets for the whole first year.

Jewel was conceived in 2013 primarily as a vehicle to maintain Changi Airport's status as a major aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region. The concept was to play a crucial role as part of Changi Airport's long-term plans to double its capacity by the mid-2020s and, according to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, to create more opportunities for Singapore and Singaporeans.

Jewel was developed by the newly-formed organization Jewel Changi Airport Trustee Pte Ltd, a joint venture between Changi Airport Group (CAG) and CapitaLand, a major shopping mall developer and management company based in Asia.

According to Jewel corporate media, the project cost S$1.7 billion (US$1.2 billion). It did not require government funds or taxpayers' money, despite both entities being wholly or partially owned by Temasek Holdings. This state-owned investment company also owns a majority shareholding in Singapore Airlines, the national carrier.

Jewel first began with the need to expand the capacity of Changi Airport's Terminal 1 and its open-air car park. This led to a strategic vision with the conception of Jewel as a gem of a destination to augment Changi Airport's position as a leading air hub globally and boost its appeal as a stopover destination for travelers.

Following the initial concept's drawing up, Jewel envisioned combining a marketplace with an urban park. This was in keeping with the government of Singapore's over-arching vision of converting the city-state from being known as the 'Garden City' to the 'city within a garden'.

The original concept was for Jewel to be an attraction that would serve not only visitors and passengers using the airport itself but also be a standalone attraction in its own right, servicing visitors to Singapore and local residents alike.

Both the Jewel complex and the airport itself are located in the district of Changi, at the eastern end of Singapore and approximately 12 miles (20 km) northeast of Singapore's central business district. Built over the former open-air car park in front of Changi Airport's Terminal 1, the construction of Jewel expanded Terminal 1's arrival hall and baggage reclaim areas by 70%, increasing the terminal's handling capacity from 21 to 24 million passengers per year.

A consortium of architects designed Jewel's toroidal glass-and-steel façade under the guidance of lead architect Moshe Safdie, who Sands Corporation had already charged to design the equally iconic three-towered Marina Bay Sands Hotel in the waterfront Marina Bay district of downtown Singapore. The glass panels of the dome are framed in steel which rests on a complex latticework, which at night, allows the glowing dome to be visible from all surrounding areas.

The landscape architect was Peter Walker and Partners; the firm awarded the contract for designing the US National 9/11 Memorial in New York City, USA. This firm also worked with Safdie on the landscaping of Marina Bay Sands.

On completing the design for Jewel, lead architect Safdie said of his creation,

"The component of the traditional mall is combined with the experience of nature, culture, education, and recreation, aiming to provide an uplifting experience. By drawing both visitors and residents alike, we aim to create a place where the people of Singapore interact with the people of the world,"

Jewel is made up of several attractions, some of which charge an admission price, while others are free. Access to the building itself from within the terminals or from ground level is simple, with elevated walkways linking Jewel with Terminals 1, 2, and 3.

The main attraction within Jewel, which draws most visitors, is the Rain Vortex, located within the center of the building. The Rain Vortex, currently sponsored by HSBC, is the world's largest and tallest indoor waterfall, standing at 130 feet (40 meters) in height.

Recirculating rainwater is pumped to the roof to free fall through a round hole at up to 10,000 US gallons per minute (8,330 imperial gallons or 37,850 liters) to a pool set within the basement. An acrylic funnel at the bottom prevents splashing and insulates the sound of the cascade. The toroidal-shaped roof is constructed of more than 9,000 pieces of glass spanning 660 by 490 feet (200 by 150 meters) with a sloped oculus as the mouth of the waterfall designed to act, according to Jewel, as a continuation of the building completed in a liquid form.

To prevent excess humidity in the Jewel, the waterfall's flow alternates between cascades and trickles, reducing air turbulence. The design process by WET Design engineers included testing a one-fifth-scale model and a full-size partial prototype.

At night, the circular walls of the waterfall become a 360-degree stage for a free-to-watch light-and-sound show. Furthermore, to satisfy all comers, the Changi Airport Skytrain connecting the terminals passes above ground close to the waterfall, allowing passengers who are remaining airside within the airport to see both the Rain Vortex and Jewel itself.

A collaboration between Japanese cosmetics firm Shiseido and an art collective, the Shiseido Forest Valley is one of Asia's most extensive indoor gardens. The Forest Valley is located in the heart of Jewel Changi Airport, spanning five storeys and approximately 240,000 square feet (22,000 square meters). It houses around 3,000 trees and 60,000 shrubs of 120 species that live in high-altitude tropical forests worldwide.

At the topmost level of Jewel, the 150,000 square feet (14,000 square meters) Canopy Park houses recreation and leisure attractions. About half of the total landscaping is hosted at Canopy Park, including two gardens: The Topiary Walk features animal-shaped topiaries at every corner. At the same time, the Petal Garden has seasonal floral displays.

The park includes a suspension bridge called the Canopy Bridge that is located 75 feet (23 meters) above the ground and offers a panoramic view of the Rain Vortex. At 160 feet (50 meters) in length, the Canopy Bridge also has a glass panel flooring at the center section that offers a view through to level 1 of Jewel.

The park also consists of two mazes at the eastern end of the Jewel, the Hedge Maze, and the Mirror Maze. The Hedge Maze is Singapore's largest, with hedge walls standing at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80m) high.

The maze features gates that can be pushed within that will change the maze's path. It ends at an elevated watchtower that offers a bird's-eye view of the entire maze. The Mirror Maze is located under the dome, with plants branching across the top of the maze. The maze uses mirrors and various reflections to bamboozle visitors as they attempt to escape!

Also found within the Canopy Park are the Sky Nets, Discovery Slides, and the Foggy Bowls. The Sky Nets provide children's play facilities, including a Bouncing Net and a Walking Net. The Bouncing Net is 820 feet (250 meters) long, suspended 8 meters above ground at its highest point. A separate 160 feet (50 meters) long Walking Net enables visitors to look 82 feet (25 meters) down to Jewel's Level 1.

The Discovery Slides feature four integrated slides - two tube slides and two sliding surfaces. The entire structure sits at an incline, 9.8 feet (3 meters) high on one end and 23 feet (7 meters) at the other, enabling visitors to view the Forest Valley and the Rain Vortex.

The Foggy Bowls are four concave bowls with depths of between 12 inches (30 centimeters) and 26 inches (65 centimeters) for people to jump in while a mist is released to create an illusion of playing among clouds.

The Changi Experience Studio is a 32,000 square feet (3,000 square meters) space with interactive games and displays relating to Changi Airport's history and allows visitors a behind-the-scenes look at how the airport operates.

Jewel boasts one of the most impressive retail and dining offerings of any airport in the world. The building has over 300 outlets providing retail options and dining experiences, offering cuisines from all over the world. When the various facilities within each terminal are also considered, Singapore Airport and Jewel form a virtual powerhouse to keep passengers fed and satisfied with their diverse retail needs.

Jewel can also count a multi-screen cinema on its list of attractions. Operated by Shaw Theatres, the cinema offers 11 screens, including an IMAX theatre with a seating capacity of 828

Amongst the array of other time-killing options above, Jewel also boasts its own hotel with 130 rooms, operated by the international hotel brand Yotel under its 'Yotelair' brand.

An integrated multi-modal transport lounge provides ticketing, boarding pass collection, and baggage transfer services for various airlines in a single location. Early check-in facilities enable passengers to check in and drop off luggage up to 24 hours ahead of regular check-in times within the terminals. There are also dedicated facilities for fly-cruise and fly-ferry passengers within the transport lounge.

For all those using Changi Aiport, passing through the terminals as arriving or departing passengers, or those in Singapore seeking an alternative visitor experience, a trip to Jewel is a must. With entertainment for young and old alike, there is something for everyone within the iconic cross-hatched dome-shaped building adjacent to Changi's terminals.

Furthermore, a visit to Jewel can bring tranquility, calmness, and a natural sense of peace to the experience of air travel. This experience in these post-pandemic disrupted times can feel far from relaxed or stress-free!

Having recently visited Singapore and Jewel, I cannot recommend the Jewel experience highly enough. Indeed, many airports around the world can only dream of being able to offer such an innovative and awe-inspiring attraction.

Although I am not a big retail fan, the Rain Vortex really is a sight to behold. And if you are lucky enough to catch one of the spectacular evening light and sound shows set against the raging and unrelenting deluge of water pouring from the ceiling, I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Indeed, the wonder of it all is likely to remain with you for the duration of your onward flight!

Have you traveled through Singapore Changi Airport and experienced Jewel for yourself? Do let us know your experiences in the comments.

Journalist - Working for several airlines & Airbus, Luke gained a comprehensive knowledge of the commercial aviation industry, before retraining as a lawyer specializing in aviation. A qualified private pilot, Luke also helps to keep one of the world's last WWII Catalina flying boats airworthy. Based in Cambridge, UK.