Tell your boss you’re taking the day off. You’ll need that many hours to explore Singapore’s first multi-storey vertical Far East Flora Centre. Nature lovers, gardening enthusiasts, flower lovers, and anyone who needs an escape from the humdrum of everyday life will find it a first-class floriculture retail and lifestyle destination.
Singapore’s largest nursery, Far East Flora, has stood for quality horticulture since 1965. Many of us grew up visiting its main Thomson Road outlet with our parents to buy Christmas trees, kumquat trees and orchids for Chinese New Year, and beautiful blooms from countries that we had never been to in the cold room. The rows of greenery and vibrant flowers were so fascinating to walk through.
The recently opened Far East Flora Centre (FEF Centre), located next to Singapore University of Social Sciences in Clementi, offers a similar experience for everyone.
The multi-storey building, comprising a total of 11 floors, including basement and open rooftop, also serves as the 58-year-old retailer’s headquarters, with its corporate office taking up three levels.
Rows and rows of greenery and flowering plants
It’s a vision 30 years in the making for Far East Flora Group founder and managing director Danny Cheok. “As frontrunners in the floriculture retail sector, we aim to transform how people view a plant nursery,” says Cheok. There is no doubt that the FEF Centre has achieved this. With lush greenery spilling over its balconies, the building is a landmark of beauty and innovation.
In addition to learning how to care for plants, visitors can connect with nature, find inspiration for their green spaces, linger amid the beauty of vibrant blooms, and browse a wide selection of home and lifestyle gardening products, including home decor items, from Holland, Germany, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, China, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
With a mostly sheltered space, it is an ideal setting for anyone planning to retreat briefly to a green oasis without leaving the city. Stop by for a quick look and we bet you’ll end up staying for hours – after all, the centre offers 1,000 types of flowers and more than 500 plants.
Each floor boasts distinctive features. There is an extensive range of home and lifestyle gardening products, a wholesale fresh flower, fruit and vegetable market with a walk-in cold room, an 80-seater garden cafe called F’east, a workshop studio, a gourmet grocery store, and a rooftop sky garden where you can find herbs, edibles, and ornamental plants.
Redefining sustainability in floriculture
Through the seamless integration of nature into modern architecture and technology, the FEF Centre also represents Far East Flora’s commitment to sustainability.
Eco warriors will be pleased to hear that the building is designed to be energy- and water-efficient. The plants and flowers are watered by rainwater harvested through an automated rainwater recycling and self-irrigation system.
Fitted with rooftop solar panels, it is also less dependent on non-renewable, traditional sources of energy. Additionally, in place of air conditioners, HVLS (high volume, low speed) fans provide optimal air circulation, and energy-efficient LED lights illuminate the building.
Discover exclusive specials at Far East Flora Centre (8am to 9pm), such as 30 percent off olive trees, 12 percent off all plants, and 25 percent off hand bouquets, until Oct 31. If you are using a GPS, set it to Singapore 599873, and it should take you to 435 Clementi Road.
