Singapore’s continual remodelling has had one beneficial result: the emergence of several remarkable modern architectural marvels. When you add in the mix of classic facades that bear witness to Singapore’s diverse and rich heritage, you get a city that has managed to distinguish itself from other cities. It has some of the best architecture in the world, with towering skyscrapers and futuristic structures. Here are five such structures that you might thought you are in a sci-fi movie:
ArtScience Museum
The ArtScience Museum is a magnificent lotus-shaped structure that brings together art, science, culture, and technology. The building, which was also designed by Moshe Safdie, is supposed to resemble a lotus blossom. The Museum’s design is divided into two sections: the base is embedded in the ground and surrounded by the Marina Bay and a big lily pond, while a flower-like structure made up of ten petals appears to float above the landscaped giant lily pond. The petals climb to varied heights into the sky, each crowned with a skylight that lets light in through the base, illuminating the 21 gallery spaces within.
Jewel Changi Airport
On the outside, it may appear to be a futuristic dome, but once inside, you will discover that it has over 280 restaurants and shopping stores, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, and even a man-made rainforest. Jewel features a striking dome-shaped facade constructed of glass and steel, making it a prominent landmark in the airport’s landscape. It was designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie who also designed Marina Bay Sands.
Marina Bay Sands
The award-winning architect Moshe Safdie created the iconic architectural design of Marina Bay Sands, which has been recognized as one of Singapore’s most renowned landmarks. Hidden processes are at work behind the ultra-impressive pool. Given the height of these structures, strong winds would lead the towers to wobble, thus four movement joints were installed just under the major swimming pools to withstand the natural movement of the towers, keeping the structures stable.
Marina One
Marina One appears to be straight out of a science fiction film. It was, in fact, a filming location for Season 3 of Westworld. The mixed-use structure is a gorgeous architectural piece surrounded by greenery and there are even man-made waterfalls here. The building’s centrepiece is a magnificent five-meter-high space sculpture that puts the “Marina One” structures’ unusual design to life.
The Sandcrawler
The Sandcrawler building in Fusionopolis, designed by Andrew Bromberg, was inspired by George Lucas’ Star Wars movie’s gigantic Sandcrawlers. Lucasfilm Singapore, The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia), and ESPN Asia Pacific all have regional headquarters here. The all-glass facade matches up with the lush gardens and greenery that spill over terraces. That is not all, though because the lift lobbies can also resemble spacecraft airlocks, complete with white and metallic areas. A metre-high bronze sculpture of Yoda has been commissioned and is situated between the building’s two wings.
