Spinning circles on mobile outside Matrix near Buona Vista MRT. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
You can take official station Artwork Tours or make your own DIY tour from Buona Vista. Enjoy restful greenery, stepped water and wonderful Artwork near Buona Vista and Beautiful Biopolis
The name Buona Vista means beautiful view in Italian. Google translate asked if I meant buena, which is Spanish, very similar. From the Latin videre to see. A town called Vista is in California, USA. Vista, according to dictionary.com is a view, often along a passageway between buildings, exactly the situation at Buona Vista.
I looked up the Portuguese translation and found boa vista, not bom vista (as in Bombay). The word Bombay comes from bom baim.I tried beautiful view and was given vista bonita.
So, the station in Buona Vista, which is Italian.
Arriving on the yellow Circle Line from Botanic Gardens, I and you are greeted by the sight of a multi-storey artwork showing a tree. It is a eucalyptus tree which used to grow in the area above, and was remembered fondly by the artist. The overlapping mosaic effect is supposed to pay homage to works by David Hockney. I would prefer a realistic tree.
I used to hate Singapore's Buona Vista, a vast interchange, between the yellow Circle Line and the green East West line, with crowds massing to mount the upward escalator in the evenings evening. However, now Buona Vista MRT station is a magnet to me at off-peak times because of the delights nearby. What made me go to the detested station and explore the surroundings?
I am Area Director for Area S3 in Toastmasters International so I went to visit a corporate club at lunch time to install their new committee. I had to conduct a short ceremony, followed by a speech. In advance I had asked the outgoing President who was organising the event for directions to the Matrix building on Biopolis Street. My map showed the Biopolis Street, Biopolis Way and a third Biopolis, within walking distance of the station.
Seating with fans. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Fans And Seating For A Meeting
My first decision was exit B or D through the shopping mall, indoors and aircon but possibly confusing and distracting and delaying, or out in the open? The problem was solved by a member of staff standing near the exit. She told me which way to go, and that the other exit brings me out to the same place from the other line on another level.
Upstairs on street level, my first delighful discovery at the dreaded Buona Vista MRT train interchange, after the two escalators, was a large seating area outdoors under overhead fans. The seating area is also far away from the car fumes, but with the sight of distant traffic, so you do not feel isolated. The fans were not brilliantly effective but the sight of them was soothing.
I am a fan of fans. I sat and looked at my map. However, I had to hurry on to my meeting.
Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
One North Park
Walking on to the crossroads, I saw a grassy area leading uphill, a park called One North Park. I took a photo of the attractive park. I liked the welcoming sculpture at the entrance and large name plus useful information plaque. The sign was handy in case I ever wanted to go there for a walk with friends in that area.
The road uphill was a slight challenge, but manageable and quite short. I consoled myself with the thought that coming back downhill would be quicker and easier.
When I reached the first turning I was greeted by a delightful sight of running water cascading down a series of steps.
A display of embroidered circles hanging like a mobile caught my attention next.
At the base of the gentle almost silent waterfall is a red sculpture.
The Mobile Circles
Later, after my meeting, with time, I was able to go up close to the mobile to look at it. Each circle was a surprise.
First the stunning colours. Secondly, the friendly faces embroidered. Such ingenuity. An amazing number of creatures. A pretty peacock. A fab fish. A spider. A couple of cuddling, cuddly cats.And the Singapore flag.
Mobile of embroidered cats. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
The sculpture is a double sculpture. Red. But it blends in with the greenery. It forms a landmark.
Red sculpture at Biopolis. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Around the base of the trees were plaques which answered my questions. What tree is this? I noticed one tree plaque. Then a second. Then a third.
Finally, back to the top, I found a giant sulpture with its main magnificent flower or glowerhead of gossamer depicted metal far above.
As I walked back downhill, I saw another couple of metal trees or giant flowers which I had somehow not seen on the way up. I returned to the station exhilarated. Yes, I had met charming people and eaten a delicious Indian lunch with fruit and water, but the final pleasure was the stunning sculptures and lovely landscaping of the area between Buona Vista and Biopolis.
Tour
But there's more. Researching the area online I discouvered that you can arrange to take a tour organized by the stations, of the Singapore stations' artwork.
Useful Websites For Travellers
For first and last train times:
http://www.smrt.com.sg/Journey-with-Us/Trains/NetworkMap/BuonaVista
Information on the Art In Transit tour
http://www.smrt.com.sg/Community/Empowering-through-Arts-and-Education
Photo of tree mural and copyright information in Wikipedia
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interior_of_the_Circle_Line_section_of_Buona_Vista_MRT_Station,_Singapore_-_20110820.jpg
Getting To Singapore on Singapore Airlines
singaporeair.com
About The Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.
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