60 years of building Singapore
ST PHOTO: YOW YUN WOH
Opened in October 1965 – about two months after Singapore gained independence – it housed the headquarters of the National Trades Union Congress. In 2010, it became the first post-colonial building to be gazetted as a national monument. For years, it hosted events such as National Day Rally speeches and award ceremonies. Today, it is home to the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.
PHOTO: NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF SINGAPORE
The 12-storey Housing Board block, completed in 1966, has more than 330 units and is next to Toa Payoh Seu Teck Sean Tong, a temple that HDB’s first town planner Alan Choe used as a focal point in his design of Toa Payoh. When Singapore hosted the South-east Asian Peninsular Games for the first time in 1973, Toa Payoh’s newly built town centre was the games village.
ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Completed in January 1967, it is dedicated to victims of the Japanese Occupation. Beneath its four columns are 606 urns holding the remains of Sook Ching massacre victims found in mass graves across Singapore. The columns represent members of the four ethnic groups who died – Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians.
ST PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER LOH
The building at the Goodman Road campus of one of Singapore’s oldest Chinese schools housed facilities such as a library, laboratories and an auditorium. In 2014, it was designated a national monument, along with the school’s Entrance Arch. The campus opened in 1947 to accommodate a growing student population, following the school’s founding in 1939 in Kim Yam Road.
PHOTO: NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF SINGAPORE
Singapore’s first full-time branch library was completed in 1969 and opened in 1970. It achieved several firsts, such as becoming the first fully air-conditioned branch in 1978 and the first to computerise loan services in 1987. It received conservation status in June 2014.
ST PHOTO: MATTHIAS HO
The former Singapore Hilton welcomed its first guests in March 1970. Its facade featured a multi-panel artwork by local artist Gerard D’Alton Henderson, which still adorns the building today. The hotel was rebranded as voco Orchard Singapore in January 2022.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Mandarin Hotel opened in phases from November 1971, with its coffee house, Chatterbox – now famous for its Hainanese chicken rice – among the initial facilities opened. Top of the M, Singapore’s first revolving restaurant, opened in 1973 and a second wing was added to the hotel in 1980. It was rebranded as Hilton Singapore Orchard in 2022.
ST PHOTO: STEVEN LEE
Officially installed in September 1972 at the mouth of the Singapore River, the tourism symbol was said to be Singapore’s answer to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. In 2002, it was relocated to Merlion Park.
PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The mixed-use building is a landmark of Singapore’s post-independence development. Situated on one of the first sites sold under what is now the Government Land Sales programme, the building was granted conservation status in October 2021. It has been renamed The Golden Mile and is slated to reopen in 2029.
ST PHOTO: MAZLAN BADRON
Opened in 1974, it was the headquarters of JTC Corporation – which oversees industrial estates – till 2000. The building was designed to be a landmark of the success of Singapore’s industrialisation. Gazetted as a national monument in 2015, it now houses various trade associations.
ST PHOTO: YOW YUN WOH
When it opened in September 1975, the Subordinate Courts Building brought several courthouses under one roof for the first time. In 2019, it heard its last case, following the opening of the nearby State Courts Towers, and was taken over by the Family Justice Courts in November 2024.
ST PHOTO: TAN SUAN ANN
Rising 200m high, the 52-storey building was the tallest in Asia outside Japan when it was completed in 1976. It housed 27 lifts, the biggest number in a local office building at the time. Eight of them were among Singapore’s fastest lifts, travelling at 366m a minute.
ST PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER LOH
The building was the headquarters of national water agency PUB and its predecessor until 2007, when the agency moved to Scotts Road. It had a rooftop swimming pool, four squash courts and a gymnasium. Today, it is known as 111 Somerset, an office and retail development owned by Shun Tak Holdings.
ST PHOTO: FRANCIS ONG
Built by Chong Gay Theatres, the cinema opened in April 1978. It was said to be South-east Asia’s largest at the time, with about 2,400 seats. The facility was purchased by the Government in 1981 and converted to a performing arts theatre. It hosted various internationally acclaimed musicals, as well as National Day Rally speeches and National University of Singapore convocation ceremonies.
PHOTO: HDB
Modelled after a mythical creature, the dragon playground was part of a broader push to reflect local identity in playground designs. Over the decades, the playground has become an icon of Housing Board towns and a cultural symbol, with its likeness reproduced in various products.
ST PHOTO: MICHAEL LIEW
The building’s commercial podium opened in 1980. The complex, nicknamed the City of Books, was a hub for bookshops, art supply stores and independent publishers, fostering the literary and arts scene. It was also a performance venue for singers of xinyao, a contemporary Mandarin genre from the late 1970s to 1980s.
ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN
Changi Airport welcomed its first commercial flight – SQ101 from Kuala Lumpur – at 7.10am on July 1, 1981. The airport’s Terminal 1, officially opened on Dec 29, scored many firsts for the region: themed airport gardens, free local phone calls for transiting passengers and the iconic Mylar Cord waterfall. Since then, T1 has gone through multiple upgrades, including a $500 million facelift completed in 2012 .
ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN
The building opened in the Central Business District in 1982. The 47-storey tower was one of the tallest here at the time, symbolising Singapore’s rapid economic growth and urban development in the early 1980s. Today, it is known as Singapore Land Tower.
ST PHOTO: WAN SENG YIP
Developed by the Cold Storage Group, Centrepoint was opened in 1983 by an English aristocrat, the Countess of Portarlington. The shopping mall became a popular hangout for teenagers, who were known as the Centrepoint Kids. From 2004 to 2006, the mall went through a $56.4 million revamp and was renamed The Centrepoint.
PHOTO: NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF SINGAPORE
The 24‑storey complex, housing a hotel and a shopping centre, stands out at the intersection of Eu Tong Sen Street and Havelock Road. The Furama City Centre Hotel, which opened on Oct 29, 1984, was designed by pioneer architect Alfred Wong, best known for the now-demolished National Theatre in Fort Canning.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
The Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) building was completed in 1985, with staff moving in on March 11. The building had a creche with an outdoor wading pool, and a two-storey currency museum, which closed in 1999. In 2016, the MAS Gallery was opened, showcasing the financial regulator’s work on the nation’s economy and financial sector.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Designed by renowned Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, the integrated development opened on the former site of Raffles Institution. The complex included Westin Stamford, now known as Swissotel The Stamford, and continues to offer commanding views of the National Day Parades at the Padang. The other hotel there, Westin Plaza, is now Fairmont Singapore.
ST PHOTO: MICHAEL LIEW
The first section of the MRT system began passenger service on Nov 7, 1987, running from Toa Payoh to Yio Chu Kang on the North-South Line. This marked a major milestone in Singapore’s urban development, launching South-east Asia’s first heavy rail metro system. MRT carriages first hit the tracks in February – pulled and pushed by locomotives – and then were tested on powered tracks from April.
ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN
The Golden Landmark Hotel was completed and opened in November 1988 in Victoria Street. It was part of a $120 million hotel and retail complex with Arabic, Asian and Western elements – possibly a nod to the nearby Arab Street and the area’s multiculturalism. Many of the building’s iconic motifs have been lost during refurbishment over the years.
TNP PHOTO: NICKLAUS D’CRUZ
Located in Kallang, the stadium opened in 1989 and was the first of its kind in South-east Asia, with a seating capacity of about 12,000. The multi-purpose indoor arena has hosted concerts by megastars Elton John, Michael Jackson, Jacky Cheung, Coldplay and Blackpink.
ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI
Another work of renowned architect I.M. Pei, the 37-storey twin towers in Beach Road are known for their sharp, angular forms that create the optical illusion of appearing flat from certain perspectives.
ST PHOTO: JACKY HO
The first land link between an offshore island and mainland Singapore opened in November 1991. Another causeway linking the mainland to Sentosa opened in December 1992. Initially, only buses, taxis and a few cars could cross the Sentosa causeway. By May 1998, most private cars could use it.
PHOTO: GOLDEN VILLAGE MULTIPLEX
Yishun 10, Singapore’s first multiplex, opened in May 1992 and was operated by Golden Village (GV) Entertainment. Designed by Australian architect Geoff Malone and built at a cost of $37 million, it had 10 halls with a total of 2,552 seats. One roll of film could be screened in all the halls simultaneously – operated by just one projectionist. The complex was renamed GV Yishun in 2010.
ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
The building was completed in January 1993 and opened later that year as Singapore’s largest commercial project. More than 30 years later, the mall still stands as one of the country’s most iconic retail destinations.
ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
Opened in May 1994, Singapore’s Night Safari is the world’s first nocturnal wildlife park, home to more than 900 animals and over 100 species living in their natural night-time habitats. It has won the Singapore Tourism Board’s Best Visitor Attraction Award more than 11 times.
ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
Nestled at the junction of Jalan Bukit Merah Road and Alexandra Road, IKEA Alexandra opened in April 1995 as the flagship store and warehouse of the Swedish furniture giant in Singapore. Before that, it had set up shop in Sixth Avenue in 1978 and Katong in 1984. The relocation shifted its target audience from condominium dwellers to Housing Board residents in Alexandra.
ST PHOTO: STEVEN LEE
It has two towers, the taller of which is 280m with 66 storeys. When Tower 1 was completed in 1996, it rivalled the 60-storey OUB Centre (now One Raffles Place) and UOB Plaza as Singapore’s tallest building. The tower features an octagonal design with a 45-degree twist on the upper floors. Today, Republic Plaza is one of the tallest skyscrapers in Singapore, second only to the 290m Guoco Tower.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Built on the site of the former Orchard Cinema, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard opened in November 1997 as a nine-storey $160 million entertainment centre. A popular hangout in the early 2000s, it housed six movie screening halls, retail outlets, a foodcourt, a night entertainment spot and an indoor amusement park.
PHOTO: BH FILE
Singapore Post moved its sorting operations to a new facility in Paya Lebar, where it remains today. The $380 million complex came with a $95 million sorting system that reportedly saved each postman two hours a day by sorting and stacking letters based on their six-digit postal codes – prioritising them by delivery order.
ST PHOTO: JEROME MING
Oct 4, 1999, marked the official opening of Parliament House. Planning works started in 1989, when MPs complained of space constraints in the Old Parliament House – where The Arts House is currently located. Parliament House has features such as a ceremonial driveway at its main entrance, a chamber with more than 100 seats and an electronic voting system.
PHOTO: TNP FILE
Snow in tropical Singapore became a reality when its first permanent indoor snow centre opened at Science Centre Singapore in June 2000. It is home to a three-storey-high and 60m-long snow slope designed for snow tubing and escaping the heat.
The building may be a familiar sight for many as it is located right behind the Merlion in Marina Bay. After opening in July 2001, it became the new headquarters of Maybank Singapore, whose former home at Malayan Banking Chambers was demolished.
Known as the “giant durians”, the Esplanade was fully completed in October 2002 after more than 20 years of planning. Built for $513.3 million on reclaimed land, it houses a 1,600-seat concert hall, a 2,000-seat theatre and other spaces. Its launch included a 23-day festival with more than 1,300 performers from 22 countries.
One Marina Boulevard – and its prime location – is a symbol of the close ties between the Government and trade unions. Completed in December 2003, the building in the Central Business District serves as the headquarters of the National Trades Union Congress.
The crematorium opened in July 2004 as an extension to the Mandai Columbarium. It took over from Mount Vernon Crematorium as the only public crematorium for the newly dead. Before that, the Mandai facility handled cremations of remains from exhumed graves. An expansion to the crematorium will be operational from Aug 15, 2025.
The Supreme Court officially moved to its current home at 1 Supreme Court Lane in June 2005. Twelve civil courts occupy the lower floors, while eight criminal courts sit above. At the top, a flying saucer-like structure houses the three courts of appeal, mirroring the dome of the former courthouse.
Spanning over one million sq ft, VivoCity is Singapore’s largest mall. It opened its doors in December 2006 and is home to 300 shops, as well as an express monorail that connects to Sentosa. The mall hosted the live New Year’s Eve countdown from 2007 to 2013.
The 165m-high structure was the world’s tallest ferris wheel from 2008 to 2014. The last of its 28 capsules was installed in October 2007, ahead of its opening in April 2008. Just three months after opening, the Flyer reversed its rotation after geomancers warned that it was spinning fortune away from the nation.
Opened in October 2008, Marina Barrage marked a breakthrough in Singapore’s water sustainability efforts. First proposed by founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1987, the dam turned Marina Basin into a freshwater reservoir after two decades of planning. A system of gates and pumps keeps seawater out and alleviates flooding in low-lying areas.
Singapore’s first 50-storey Housing Board project broke the stereotype of sterile public housing with its bold design and soaring height. Seven towers are linked by two sky parks, offering sweeping views of the city skyline. The project won global awards for its innovative layout and community-focused spaces.
When it opened on June 23, 2010, Marina Bay Sands was the world’s most expensive standalone casino property at $8 billion. Now a defining feature of Singapore’s skyline, it has starred in blockbusters like Crazy Rich Asians and Independence Day: Resurgence.
Clementi Towers is the first Housing Board project to be integrated with a mall and a bus interchange. Its two blocks of three- to five-room units sit above The Clementi Mall and the Clementi Bus Interchange. In 2016, a five-room flat there was sold for more than $1 million – the first resale unit outside The Pinnacle @ Duxton to cross that mark.
Opened on June 29, 2012, the attraction spans three waterfront gardens and is home to the Flower Dome, the world’s largest glass greenhouse. It has won awards, including the World Building of the Year in 2012 and the President’s Design Award in 2013. In 2025, Trip.com ranked it the world’s top night attraction.
Located in Depot Road, The Interlace is a 1,040-unit condominium with 31 blocks of apartments stacked in a hexagonal arrangement. Designed by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, it won the World Building of the Year at the 2015 World Architecture Festival.
Opened on June 30, 2014, the hub is a destination for sports, entertainment and lifestyle events. Its crown jewel is the National Stadium, with 55,000 seats and a retractable dome roof. The stadium has hosted major events such as the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers and concerts by megastars like Taylor Swift, Blackpink and Lady Gaga.
Located at Nanyang Technological University, the Hive Learning Hub is a striking complex of 12 eight-storey towers with 56 smart classrooms. The work of British designer Thomas Heatherwick, the Hive is colloquially known as the “dim sum basket building”. It was a finalist at the 2015 World Architecture Festival in the Commercial Mixed-Use category.
Standing at 290m, the 64-storey Guoco Tower is Singapore’s tallest building. The $3.2 billion development in Tanjong Pagar was completed in 2016 and features office, retail and food and beverage spaces, an urban park and 181 homes.
Singapore’s first integrated senior living project combines housing with healthcare, retail and a hawker centre. Completed in May, the 11-storey complex has 100 flats and a two-storey medical centre.
The hub, which opened in May 2018, houses community facilities, including the Geylang Serai Community Club, South East Community Development Council and the Geylang Serai Heritage Gallery. It is best known for the annual Hari Raya light-up along Geylang Road and Sims Avenue, and the Ramadan bazaar.
Since opening on April 17, 2019, Jewel Changi Airport has dazzled visitors with its 40m-tall indoor waterfall and a lush five-storey garden. This 10-storey complex has more than 280 shops and eateries. Built atop a carpark in front of Terminal 1, the $1.7 billion Jewel has won accolades – such as Design of the Year at the President’s Design Award in 2020 and a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award in 2025 for being among the top 10 per cent of attractions worldwide.
Featuring the only natural hot spring on mainland Singapore, Sembawang Hot Spring Park was opened on Jan 4, 2020. It has a cascading pool where visitors can soak their feet in the water, which is believed to have healing properties. The water from the hot spring was once bottled by F&N and sold under the Seletaris label. Underground areas with high temperatures near the hot spring are being studied as a potential geothermal energy source.
At 280m tall, the 51-storey CapitaSpring is a green oasis in the heart of the financial district. It features more than 80,000 plants and a publicly accessible sky garden on the top floor with sweeping views of the city. Built on the site of the former Golden Shoe Car Park, it houses offices, serviced apartments and the popular Market Street Hawker Centre.
Opened in phases from 2022, One Punggol is a hub with community facilities, including a hawker centre, Punggol Regional Library and childcare and senior care centres. The library, which opened in January 2023, is Singapore’s largest, spanning 12,180 sq m over five floors.
Standing at 140m tall, the hotel opened its doors in Singapore in June 2023. Designed by Woha Architects, the 343-room hotel integrates the island’s four aspects – forest, beach, garden and cloud – within a single building. In 2024, it earned the accolade of the world’s best new skyscraper by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, a leading authority on skyscrapers.
Opening in phases since 2024, Punggol Digital District is Singapore’s take on Silicon Valley. Slated for completion in 2026, the 50ha business park is designed for companies in the digital economy. It is home to the Singapore Institute of Technology and has planned offerings such as offices, retail spaces and a hotel.
Produced by: Ng Keng Gene, Claudia Tan, Esther Loi, Sherlyn Sim, Desmond Foo and Yu Sheng Sin.
Read full article on The Straits Times - Singapore
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