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As the world's only island city-state, Singapore's constrained geography has spawned a dense built form that uses every available plot of land to its fullest potential. After gaining independence from Britain in 1963, continual land reclamation projects have increased Singapore's total size by 23 percent. Combined with a lush curtain of parkland and gardens, the city-state carefully balances urban and natural needs.
This juxtaposition is profoundly evident from the top of Marina Bay Sands, an integrated resort that officially opened in 2011. Marketed as the world's most expensive standalone casino property — costing nearly $6 billion USD to build — the massive complex boasts 2,561 hotel rooms, 120,000 square metres of convention space, a 74,000-square-metre shopping mall, two theatres, a museum, multiple restaurants, two floating Crystal Pavilions, a skating rink, and the world's largest atrium casino.
A bold design by Moshe Safdie encapsulates his philosophy of nature-inspired living. Three 55-storey towers are topped by a 340-metre-long SkyPark that can accommodate nearly 4,000 people. The pièce de résistance? A 150-metre infinity swimming pool located atop a dramatic cantilevered platform, which is the largest pool of its kind anywhere in the world. The facility's dynamic architecture and first-rate amenities have been highly publicized, with images of the complex plastered across magazines and featured in television shows like the reality hit The Amazing Race.
Soaring 57 levels above the pulsating heart of the city, the Sands SkyPark Observation Deck offers visitors a lesson in the historical geography of Singapore. Developers looking to build in the crowded central business district are inhibited not only by the scarcity of land, but also by the strict height limit of 280 metres, which exists because of the core's proximity to Paya Lebar Air Base. As a result of building up to the height ceiling, United Overseas Bank Plaza One, Republic Plaza, and One Raffles Place all share the title of Singapore's tallest building. In contrast to the trio of office skyscrapers, the 70-storey building at the two-tower Sail @ Marina Bay complex is Singapore's tallest residential building. Their curved silhouettes and angled rooflines are easily identifiable from across Marina Bay. The Neoclassical Fullerton Hotel graces the tip of the peninsula and contains 400 guest suites. The five-star hotel stands in contrast to its more modern skyscraper surroundings.
The view further to the north captures several of Singapore's most recognizable landmarks. The domed roof indicates the monuments of the National Gallery — the former Supreme Court Building and City Hall — that comprise the largest museum in the city. The saucer-shaped building behind the historic structures denotes the present home of the Supreme Court and one of many international creations by world-renowned architecture firm Foster + Partners. The rounded profiles of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay are visible on the left hand side of the image below. The performing arts centre holds a concert hall with about 1,800 seats and a theatre accommodating approximately 2,000 people. Clad with triangulated glass and spiky sunshades, almost reptilian in appearance, the facility opened to the public in 2002 after six years of construction.
The multi-tower complex situated just steps away — and positioned behind the Esplanade in the image below — is the imposing Raffles City. It spans an entire city block and houses two hotels and an office tower above a retail podium and convention centre. To the right, the 45- and 35-storey towers of the South Beach complex are distinguishable thanks to their angled elevations and slanted crowns. This unique geometry helps catch the wind and direct air flow to the ground-level open spaces. Also designed by Foster + Partners, the office, residential, and hotel development includes an undulating podium canopy and a facade of photovoltaic cells.
With a seating capacity of 30,000 people, a steel-framed platform floats on Marina Bay. Simply named 'The Float at Marina Bay,' the world's largest floating stage has hosted numerous events since its inauguration in 2007, including the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games. Reminiscent of a lotus flower, another of Moshe Safdie's organic works occupies a prominent position on Marina Bay. The 2011-built ArtScience Museum is located within the confines of the Marina Bay Sands resort and features ten finger-like appendages reaching out from a common base. Each segment denotes a distinct gallery space, with a skylight providing natural illumination to the interiors.
A circular symbol of Singapore's healthy tourism sector is visible just a bit to the east. The Singapore Flyer is an observation wheel that opened in 2008. Reaching 165 metres in height, the attraction was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world until the High Roller in Las Vegas claimed the title in 2014. With 28 air-conditioned capsules each capable of holding 28 passengers, the wheel is supplemented by a tropical rainforest garden at its base. In the background of the image below, the National Stadium is also visible. The 2014-built venue replaced the previous facility, which opened in 1973, closed in 2007, and was demolished in 2010. Featuring a retractable roof and configurable seating on the lower tier, it is the only stadium in the world that is custom designed to host football, rugby, cricket, and athletic events. In its football and rugby configurations, National Stadium can hold approximately 55,000 spectators.
Panning to the east yields a much different landscape. The thick tree covering that demarcates the Gardens by the Bay nature park dominates the view. An integral part of Singapore's drive to become a 'City in a Garden,' the 101-hectare expanse was built on reclaimed land in 2012. At 54 hectares, Bay South Garden is the largest of three gardens, and serves as a showcase for tropical horticulture and intricate garden artistry. The cooled conservatories of the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest are bespoke edutainment spaces. The 38-metre-high Flower Dome is the world's largest columnless glasshouse.
A forest of tree-like structures that range in height from 25 to 50 metres act as vertical gardens. Supertree Grove harnesses solar energy through photovoltaic cells and collects rainwater for irrigation — performing similar ecological functions to a real tree. The OCBC Skyway provides an elevated connection between two of the largest Supertrees, giving guests a panoramic view of the jungle-like landscape. When the sun goes down, the OCBC Garden Rhapsody lights up the night with a colourful music show. In the distance, ships navigate the Singapore Strait as a reminder of Singapore's economic prowess.
Though it may not stretch to heights like the Burj Khalifa or One World Trade Center, Sands SkyPark Observation Deck fulfills the same purpose. It gives viewers the opportunity to comprehend the synergistic relationship between Singapore's built and natural environments. With local officials pushing to make Singapore one of the greenest cities in the world, the city-state is proving that creating thriving sustainable cities is indeed achievable with the right mindset. By integrating green features into futuristic building projects, the livability of the city is greatly enhanced, and projects like Marina Bay Sands serve as a window into the future of architecture.
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