Enjoying Singapore — without leaving Changi Airport

SINGAPORE — If you are visiting Changi Airport today, you might have spotted some interesting sights.

An old-school trishaw against a traditional backdrop, a screen that allows you to capture a monochromatic portrait of yourself, 3D photo spots and life-like cardboard models of some of Singapore’s famous sights — these are some of the new installations you can expect to see when you are at the airport.

Jointly launched by the Changi Airport Group (CAG) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the 10 interactive installations will be situated across the terminals and both transit areas.

“We want to make it more unique, life-like and fun to the passengers” and “to create the illusions that I’m there”, said Bernard Siew, CAG’s vice-president of experience creation.

These installations will “excite, engage and encourage our passengers to explore Singapore both inside and outside of the airport”, he added.

One of them, which is part of the ‘Make It Your Singapore’ showcase, is a traffic-stopping flip-dot display located at Terminal 2 transit area near the Skytrain.

Adapting the use of the latest motion-sensing technology, the LED ‘Dots Portrait Wall’ enables travellers to bring home a little futuristic souvenir – a monochromatic portrait of themselves — without stepping out of Changi.

On the other side of the interactive screen lies another showcase called the ‘Motion Silhouette Wall’. The backdrop and patterns of screen change as passengers interact with the animations. Right now, the wall features a National Day theme, so the screen shows an animation of marching soldiers and descending parachutes.

“We will change the scenery accordingly to suit the festival,” a CAG spokesperson said, adding that visitors can expect other festivals such as Deepavali and Christmas to be featured on the screen in future.

There’s something for the avid instagrammer as well, with photo-worthy opportunities featuring specially-curated icons located around the airport. For instance in Terminal 3, visitors will be greeted by cardboard displays showing icons such as the Singapore Flyer, ArtScience Museum and The Esplanade. They line luggage claim belts at the Arrival Transit Lounge — a collaboration between Band of Doodlers and Paper Carpenters.

There will also be 3D photo spots in the public departure halls of iconic scenes that allow you to, for example, sit on a bicycle or pretend to fly a kite with the Marina Barrage set as the backdrop. Other themes include the Singapore Zoo and the bumboat.

Pointing out that “photo spots are a perennial favourite among airport visitors”, the CAG spokesperson added that “everyone wants to take a photo before they go”. “It is a nice keepsake for them.”

Ultimately, STB’s Jacqueline Ng, director of marketing partnerships and planning, hopes that “these new installations will both inspire and entertain, and help to start and end a visit to Singapore in a more memorable way”.