In Singapore, a historic cemetery has been converted into a vibrant urban park

Bidadari Park stands in the new Bidadari Estate neighborhood on an area once occupied by a multi-faith cemetery. Designed by Henning Larsen Studio as a "community in a garden," the park is an inclusive green space that honors the site's rich historical legacy. Through placemaking and active mobility solutions, it is an accessible and vibrant destination designed for the needs of residents.

At the center of the park is Alkaff Lake, a 1.8-hectare reservoir that serves as a landscape feature and ecological infrastructure for rainwater harvesting. According to project descriptions, the lake captures up to 90 percent of stormwater and filters it through a system of wetlands and natural basins, preventing flooding and creating aquatic habitats that enhance ecological resilience and local biodiversity. The park is also home to some 193 animal species, including most of Singapore's migratory birds, offering 6 km of trails with nature-inspired observation points, pavilions and play areas. A 100-meter pedestrian bridge connects two mature forests, allowing people to walk through the tree canopies and observe the wildlife without disturbing them.

The landscape design preserved almost all existing trees and planted more than 170 native plants. The park alternates between "passive zones" of protected vegetation and "active zones" for visitor activities, balancing human enjoyment and ecological conservation. Regarding the architectural pre-existence, the construction of the park involved the exhumation of all the remains from the old cemetery and their relocation. In order to preserve the memory of the place, a Memorial Garden was set up in 2004 where the original gates and 21 historic headstones of the former cemetery were reinstalled.