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 Sept 3 is Skyscraper Day, 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: 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 four-storey-high main lobby. Fun fact: the building was completed in under two years – not bad for a skyscraper in our top five.
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: Residential
Residential component: 360 apartments with one, two and three 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 seventh 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 seven 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.
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 one, two, three, four and five 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 Two).
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The land parcel was originally sold as a “white site” by URA, so developers CDL and AIG Global Real Estate, dedicated the first two 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.
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 Two, which is where multinational firms – IBM, American Express, The Macquarie Group and so on – have their offices at.
The shortest among them is Tower One (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 Three 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 one, two, three, four and five-bedroom configurations.
Marina Bay Suites (TOP: 2013) comes next in height (226.9 metres/744 feet, 66 floors) with 221 residential apartments in thre, four and five-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.
Ocean Financial Centre
