Overview
For most of us, a bus stop is a means to an end, a necessary layover during our daily travels, and the place that helps you get from point A to point B. In Singapore, however, the transport hub on Jurong Gateway Road is the kind of place people might actually want to spend time at. When a bus stop has a rooftop garden and free books, you won't want to leave in a hurry.
The structure has the bland-sounding name of Project Bus Stop, but it's anything but ordinary, as Australian commuters will instantly recognise. The rampant foliage certainly doesn't escape attention, with the six-metre-by-three-metre green roof boasting trees and drought-resistant shrubs, as well as planter boxes and even a swing underneath.
If feasting your eyes on soothing natural sights isn't enough, you can bury your head in a book courtesy of a rack of novels available for everyone's reading pleasure — and if you can't find something that you like, e-books, magazines and newspapers are available to download for free. In fact, the entire bus stop is a tech-savvy delight, thanks to free wifi, phone charging stations, and interactive smartboards that display route and arrival information,
Conceived by a group of designers from DP Architects, Project Bus Stop aims to turn the commuting space into a place of social interaction and make waiting for buses an enriching experience. Imagine that — actually enjoying waiting for a bus. Aussie cities, take note.
Via Travel and Leisure. Image: Infocomm Media Development Authority / Our Favourite Place.