Ever wondered why, in movies and TV shows, Godzilla never attacked Singapore? In 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, the 120-metre-tall monster attacked Hong Kong instead. Maybe one reason is that Hong Kong, like many cities in the Southeast Asian region, have taller buildings than us.
The reason is far simpler: For safety reasons, due to air traffic control restrictions, Singapore’s maximum height limit for buildings is 280 metres (with maybe some exceptions for buildings in the Marina Bay district).
Since today’s Skyscraper Day (September 3), where architects, planners, developers, engineers, historians and contractors commemorate the birth anniversary of Louis H. Sullivan (“father of modern skyscrapers”), 99.co thought it would be good to expand on our previous Singapore skyline skyscraper article a bit more – particularly our 12 tallest buildings, and several taller ones around our region.
#1: Guoco Tower
Property Type: Mixed-use
Residential component: Wallich Residence
Height: 283.7 metres (931 feet)
Number of storeys: 65 (Wallich Residence occupies the 39th to 64th floor – TOP: 2016)
Total gross floor area: 1.7m sq ft
Developer: GuocoLand Limited
Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Architects 61
Formerly known as Tanjong Pagar Centre, Guoco Tower is the only skyscraper in Singapore’s skyline exempted from the height restriction of 280 metres. It houses the rooftop Urban Park, Wallich Residence apartment complex and a hotel by Sofitel Hotels & Resorts. Wallich Residence comprises 181 1, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom apartments with condo facilities like a pool deck, fitness corner, swimming pool and so on. It also includes four penthouses and one super penthouse, which comes in the form of a triple floor duplex on levels 62 to 64. The latter was famously owned (and sold) by British inventor Sir James Dyson at one point. For anyone living on the upper penthouses of Wallich Residence, the sky’s literally the limit.
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Joint #2: UOB Plaza One and the upcoming CapitaSpring
UOB Plaza One
Property Type: Commercial
Residential component: None
Height: 280 metres (919 feet)
Number of storeys: 66
Site area: 12,440 sq ft
Total gross floor area: 623,325 sq ft
Developer: United Overseas Bank
Architect: Kenzo Tange Associates
The United Overseas Bank Plaza comprises of two towers, with its taller twin – the UOB Plaza One – once sharing the joint number 1 positions with OUB Centre (now One Raffles Place) and Republic Plaza before Tanjong Pagar Centre (now Guoco Tower) took over the spot.
UOB Plaza One links to Plaza Two via a 45-metre (148 feet) six-storey podium and four columns. For many Singaporean residents, the podium’s large airy atrium linking Raffles Place to the Singapore River is a popular meeting spot.
CapitaSpring
Property Type: Commercial with serviced residence
Residential component: Citadines Raffles Place (opening 2022)
Height: 280 metres (919 feet)
Number of storeys: 51
Site area: 65,700 sq ft
Total gross floor area: 1.005m sq ft
Developer: CapitaLand
Architect: Bjarke Ingels Group or BIG
To be completed by the 2nd half of 2021, CapitaSpring is an integrated development that comprises 29 floors of Grade A offices, with eight storeys dedicated to a 299-unit Citadines serviced residences managed by The Ascott Limited. Seventy-five per cent of the residence are studio apartments, with the rest being loft studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. It’ll also include facilities like a swimming pool, jacuzzi, running track, gymnasium, yoga deck, social kitchen, lounge and barbeque pits.
The top 29 floors offer panoramic views of the Singapore River and Marina Bay. It even has a 35-metre Green Oasis of lush greenery and trees, spread out over four storeys. For trivia buffs, CapitaSpring cameoed in the third season of HBO’s WestWorld.
#4: One Raffles Place (former OUB Centre)
Property Type: Commercial
Residential component: None
Height: 277.8 metres (911 feet)
Number of storeys: 63
Total gross floor area: 1.096m sq ft
Developer: OUB Centre Limited
Architect: Kenzo Tange Associates
The former OUB Centre changed its name to One Raffles Place after the completion of the new, adjacent (and shorter) 38-storey commercial tower in 2012. It’s synonymous with Raffles Place because of its connection to Raffles Place MRT and its above- and underground retail outlets. The building gained quite some publicity when famous Frenchman Alain Robert climbed up to the 21st floor of the tower, before being dissuaded by police, in November 2000.
#5: Republic Plaza
Property Type: Commercial
Residential component: None
Height: 276.3 metres (906 feet)
Number of storeys: 66
Total gross floor area: approx. 1.1m sq ft
Developer: City Developments Limited
Architects: Kisho Kurokawa Architects & Associates, RSP Architects Planners & Engineers
While Singapore isn’t in an earthquake zone, Republic Plaza was incorporated with earthquake-proof features. While the tapered design of the tower is meant to improve wind loading, the axis of the tower is pivoted 45 degrees from the axis of the ground floor to allow a fine, ocean view at the top. The top of the tower houses an executive club, which includes guest rooms and facilities.
Other interesting facts about it (if you’ve been inside) include 15 double-decker lifts and a 4-storey-high main lobby. Fun fact: the building was completed in under two years – not bad for a skyscraper in our top 5.
#6: Capital Tower
Property Type: Commercial
Residential component: None
Height: 255.4 metres (833 feet)
Number of storeys: 52
Total gross floor area: 1.028m sq ft
Developer: CapitaLand
Architect: RSP Architects, Planners and Engineers
Capital Tower has five shuttle double-deck lifts, which allow passengers on two consecutive floors to use the lift simultaneously. Not only do they occupy less building core space, but double-deck lifts also improve efficiency especially when passenger traffic reaches a certain load. Capital Tower was initially planned as POSBank’s headquarters but was later transferred to CapitaLand as their flagship building. The top floor of the tower, which is occupied by the members-only China Club, has a bar, restaurant, dining rooms and meeting rooms.
Joint #7: Altez and Skysuites @ Anson
Altez
Property Type: Mixed-use
Residential component: 280 apartments with 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms
Height: 250 metres (820 feet)
Number of storeys: 62 (TOP: 2014)
Site area: 32,681 sq ft
Total gross floor area: 274,525 sq ft
Developer: Bishan Properties (Far East Organization)
Architect: RSP Architects, Planners & Engineers
As one of the second tallest residential developments in Singapore, the Altez (together with Skysuites @ Anson) occupy the Singapore skyline, offering residents panoramic views of the city and sea. It’s just a two-minute walk to Tanjong Pagar MRT station and includes a direct link to the Icon Village mall (which includes Cold Storage supermarket) on its ground floor.
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Skysuites @ Anson
Property Type: Residential
Residential component: 360 apartments with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms
Height: 250 metres (820 feet)
Number of storeys: 72 (TOP: 2015)
Site area: 30,011 sq ft
Total gross floor area: 252,092 sq ft
Developer: Arcadia Development (Allgreen Properties)
Architect: P&T Consultants
Sharing joint #7 position with Altez and located along the same Enggor Street in Tanjong Pagar, Skysuites @ Anson was completed about a year after Altez. It occupies a slightly smaller site area than Altez with more floors despite sharing the same height. It includes a relaxation area with gardens and a hot spa called The Retreat at level 56 and a 360-degree viewing Vista Deck on the top 72nd floor. Condo facilities like the 50-metre lap pool, tennis court and gymnasium are located on level 7 and a fitness alfresco with kids’ play area on level 31.
While many who drive past these two developments would often confuse one with the other (since they’re on the same road and has the same height), one way to differentiate the two is to identify the rooftop – Skysuites @ Anson has a circular roof design (ie. Vista Deck), while Altez’s more angular. Alternatively, you can just differentiate the two based on where Icon Village is.
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Joint #9: One Raffles Quay North Tower, The Sail @ Marina Bay Tower 1, Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 2 & Ocean Financial Centre
One Raffles Quay North Tower
Property Type: Commercial
Residential component: None
Height: 245 metres (804 feet)
Number of storeys: 50
Total gross floor area: 774,360 sq ft
Developers: Cheung Kong (Holdings), Hongkong Land and Keppel Land
Architects: Kohn Pedersen Fox, Architects 61
One Raffles Quay comprises of two towers – North (50 storeys) and South (29 storeys) – giving a total office space of 1.3m sq ft. It’s purpose-built to house renowned international banks like Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank AG, Societe Generale and UBS. It includes a link to Raffles Place MRT station via the Retail Link and another to the Downtown MRT station. The design of the towers is unique because they are sheathed in a glassy, transparent curtain wall – where a slight greenish tint creates a sense of lush greenery.
The Sail @ Marina Bay Tower 1
Property Type: Mixed-use
Residential component: 1,111 units of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom apartments
Height: 245 metres (804 feet)
Number of storeys: 70 (TOP: 2008)
Total gross floor area: 1.272m sq ft (includes The Sail @ Marina Bay and Central Park Towers, and Podium)
Developers: City Developments Limited, AIG Global Real Estate Investments (Asia)
Architects: NBBJ, Team Design Architects
A mixed-use development with the promise of a waterfront lifestyle, The Sail comprises two towers – the taller 70-storey Marina Bay Tower (or Tower 1) and the shorter 63-storey Central Park Tower (or Tower 2). The land parcel was originally sold as a “white site” by URA, so developers CDL and AIG Global Real Estate, dedicated the first 1-2 levels for retail and kept the rest for residential use. When completed in 2008 (Marina Bay Tower) and 2009 (Central Park Tower), The Sail was the first residential development in the New Downtown Core, boasting five penthouses, the largest of which is 9,000 sq ft.
Here’s a bit of trivia: Did you know the original plan for the Marina Bay Tower was 69 and not 70 storeys? Who knows, if it had stayed that way, it may not have made the top 12. Good thing they added an extra level.
Facade-wise, the Marina Bay Tower stays true to its name, having a glass design that resembles a sail. Erected using complex civil engineering techniques by contractor, Dragages Singapore, The Sail required careful construction as it was located above an MRT line and unstable soil. It has since become a remarkable engineering icon and deserves its spot on the Singapore skyline.
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Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 2
Property Type: Commercial
Residential component: None, however, Marina Bay Residences and Marina Bay Suites are in the adjacent towers
Height: 245 metres (804 feet)
Number of storeys: 50
Total gross floor area: 1.004m sq ft
Developers: Hongkong Land, Cheung Kong Holdings, Keppel Land
Architects: Kohn Pedersen Fox, DCA Architects
While there are three office towers, two residential towers and retail space (Marina Bay Link Mall), the tallest among them is Tower 2, which is where multinational firms – IBM, American Express, The Macquarie Group and so on – have their offices at.
The shortest among them is Tower 1 (186 metres/611 feet, 33 floors), and you can recognise it immediately as it is fully leased to Standard Chartered Bank with its logo being quite prominent on its facade. Tower 3 is the second tallest among the five (239 metres/784 feet, 46 floors), and counts DBS as an anchor tenant. You can’t miss it with its logo on the building.
Marina Bay Residences (TOP: 2010) is the third tallest among the five (227.1m/745 feet, 55 floors) with 428 units in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5-bedroom configurations. Marina Bay Suites (TOP: 2013) comes next in height (226.9 metres/744 feet, 66 floors) with 221 residential apartments in 3, 4 and 5-bedroom sizes. Naturally, anyone staying in either of these residences would also love to be working in any of these office towers. Furthermore, all five towers are connected to the mostly subterranean Marina Bay Link Mall for retail and dining options.
According to architect Kohn Pedersen Fox, the towers are positioned to maximises the office perimeter views of the bay, with a central city park to link commercial, residential and retail in a public, outdoor space.
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Ocean Financial Centre
Property Type: Commercial
Residential component: None
Height: 245 metres (804 feet)
Number of storeys: 43
Total gross floor area: 1.03m sq ft
Developer: Keppel Land
Architect: Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
Last but not least, the unassuming Ocean Financial Centre brings up the final joint 9th tallest building in Singapore, completing our top 12 tallest buildings in Singapore (at least for now). Built on the site of the former Ocean Building, this development retained its name, including many of its former tenants (mostly financial (duh) institutions). Here’s a bit of trivia for you: the building features a large solar array on its rooftop and used to house the Honorary Consulate of Cyprus on its 37th floor.
According to its architect, Pelli Clarke Pelli, the tower’s design celebrates Singapore’s maritime heritage, with a facade reminiscent of a ship’s sail. The tower’s curtain wall has alternating bands of glass and metal panels to enhance the building’s gently curving form. Each metal panel comes with LED lights, which explains why the facade glows at night.
In case you’re wondering which buildings come next, here are the next three: CapitaGreen (242 metres / 794 feet), Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3 and residential development, V on Shenton (237 metres/ 778 feet, 54 floors).
Till today, the tallest public housing (HDB) development is Pinnacle@Duxton with Block 1C being the tallest (163 metres/535 feet, 51 floors) and the rest being the same height (159.7 metres/524 feet, 50 floors).
The skyline will probably change again, with the planned completion of mixed-use development Guoco Midtown (280 metres, 30 floors) and Central Boulevard Towers (245 metres, 48 floors) by 2022.
Tallest buildings around our region
In the continuing spirit of Skyscraper Day, here’s a quick list of the tallest skyscrapers around our region:
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Are there any noteworthy skyscrapers you think we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments section below or on our Facebook post.
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