Updated: 11 January 2020

In 1967, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew introduced “Garden City” to the people of Singapore; a vision to transform the city-state into an urban forest filled with lush vegetation. Yew believed that designing a city around nature would be good for the health of its residents while attracting more foreign investment and tourism. Over half a century later, it’s incredible to think that more cities have not attempted to replicate its success. Singapore is booming with new investment, and architecture is at the forefront of it all.

As you see with the date at the top, our list of MUST-SEE Architecture in Singapore is always being updating as new projects are completed. I hope you find it useful as you explore its sparkling-clean streets (there’s a map at the bottom to help guide you around). If you want to see your photo featured, hashtag #AVONTUURA on Instagram and we’ll try to include it.

Onwards!

Marina Bay Sands

The new icon of the city, Marina Bay Sands is a luxury hotel, casino, and entertainment complex that features a cantilevered infinity swimming pool spanning across three towers inspired by a deck of cards.

Architect: Moshe Safdie
Built: 2010
Type: Hotel
Address: 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours (Infinity Pool): Daily: 6:00am – 11:00pm (Guests Only)
Website: www.marinabaysands.com/

Art Science Museum

Part of the Marina Bay Sands complex, ArtScience is an exhibition space that hosts touring exhibitions curated by other museums. Its design is inspired by a lotus flower and is considered “The Welcoming Hand of Singapore”.

Architect: Moshe Safdie
Built: 2011
Type: Museum
Address: 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Daily: 7:00am – 10:00pm
Cost: $17 ($12 US)
Website: www.marinabaysands.com/museum

The Hive

Also known as The Learning Hub, The Hive is part of the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and consists of 12 eight-story towers wrapped around a central atrium.

Architect: Heatherwick Studio
Built: 2015
Type: Institutional
Address: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798
Open to the Public: Yes

School of Art, Design & Media

Also part of Nanyang Technological University, the building is composed of three interwoven wings with an undulating green roof and sunken courtyard in the centre.

Architect: CPG Consultants
Built: 2006
Type: Institutional
Address: 81 Nanyang Dr, Singapore 637458
Open to the Public: Yes

PARKROYAL On Pickering

Designed to be a hotel in a garden, the luxury hotel features extensive greenery, including green walls, water features and 15,000 square meters of tiered “sky gardens”.

Architect: WOHA
Built: 2013
Type: Hotel
Address: 3 Upper Pickering Street, Singapore
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: www.parkroyalhotels.com/en/hotels-resorts/singapore/pickering.html

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay is a nature park in central Singapore that enhances the amount of greenery and flora in the city. Its most striking features include the Supertree Grove (pictured) and Flower Dome, which is the largest greenhouse in the world.

Architect: Grant Associates and Gustafson Porter, Wilkinson Eyre
Built: 2011, 2012
Type: Public Garden
Address: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Daily: 5:00am – 2:00pm
Cost: S$28 ($20 US)
Website: www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en

DUO Twin Towers

Designed by Büro Ole Scheeren, the two towers feature a pair of curved honeycomb louvres that acts as shading for the building.

Architect: Büro Ole Scheeren
Built: 2018
Type: Residential, Office, Retail, Public Space
Address: 1 Fraser St, Singapore 189350
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: www.duoresidences.push.sg/

School of the Arts

Architect: WOHA
Built: 2011, 2012
Type: Arts school, Theatre
Address: 1 Zubir Said Dr, Singapore 227968
Open to the Public: No
Hours: Weekdays: 8:30am – 6:00pm
Website: https://www.sota.edu.sg/

Jewel Changi Airport

A complete change from every airport you’ve ever been to, Jewel Changi Airport is a mixed-use development that features an indoor forest and waterfall.

Architect: Safdie Architects
Built: 2019
Type: Airport, Shopping Centre
Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, Singapore 819666
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: https://www.jewelchangiairport.com/

Reflections

Comprised of 6 high-rise towers and 11 low-rise apartment villas, the complex is intended to feel airy and light while giving each residence a unique living space.

Architect: Daniel Libeskind
Built: 2011
Type: Residential
Address: Keppel Bay, Singapore
Open to the Public: No
Website: www.keppellandlive.com/residential/singapore/reflections-at-keppel-bay.html

Sky Habitat

Sky Habitat is a 38-storey complex with that focusses on outdoor living, community, landscape and daylight. Three sky gardens link the two buildings to create a series of interconnected streets complete with gardens, terraces, and a swimming pool.

Architect: Moshe Safdie
Built: 2016
Type: Residential
Address: 9 573909, Bishan Street 15, Singapore
Open to the Public: No
Website: www.skyhabitat.com.sg/

The Interlace

The Interlace was designed by OMA and Ole Scheeren. It consists of 31 apartment blocks that are irregularly stacked upon each other.

Architect: OMA, Ole Scheeren
Built: 2013
Type: Residential
Address: 180 Depot Road 109684, Singapore 109684
Open to the Public: No
Website: theinterlace.business.site/

EDEN

Architect: Heatherwick Studio
Built: 2019
Type: Residential
Address: 2 Draycott Park, Singapore 259386
Open to the Public: No
Website:  www.eden.sg/

The Esplanade is a performing arts centre that consists of two rounded space frames fitted with triangulated glass elements and sunshades that balance outward views with solar shading.

Singapore Sports Hub

The Singapore Sports Hub is a 55,000 capacity national stadium with the largest free-spanning retractable dome roof in the world. Part of the complex is an aquatics centre and multi-sport indoor facility.

Architect: DP Architects
Built: 2014
Type: Stadium
Address: Singapore Sports Hub, 397718
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: www.sportshub.com.sg/

Guoco Tower & City Park

At the time of its construction, the former Tanjong Pagar Centre by SOM was the tallest tower in Singapore, providing Grade-A office space with luxury residential units above. The development’s centrepiece is the City Park, a covered outdoor plaza that provides activities and open space for visitors.

Architect: SOM
Built: 2016
Type: Office, Residential, Public Space
Address: 1 Wallich St, Singapore 078881
Open to the Public: Yes

Oasia Hotel Downtown

Oasia is a new type of hotel, one that embraces the idea of a “living tower”. The building is characterized by its red aluminum mesh cladding that allows for the biodiversity of plants, birds and insects to coexist. A series of sky gardens break the facade to allow daylight into its interior.

Architect: WOHA
Built: 2016
Type: Hotel
Address: 100 Peck Seah St, Singapore 079333
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: www.oasiahotels.com/en/singapore/hotels/…

Kampung Admiralty

Architect: WOHA
Built: 2017
Type: Residential, Community
Address: Blk 676 Woodlands Drive 71, Singapore, Singapore
Open to the Public: Yes