The cityscape of Singapore is dotted with a wide mix of architectural types, ranging from vernacular Malay dwellings to black and white bungalows that were formerly the homes of the wealthy, colonial government officials, or soldiers of the British army.
The transitional Art Deco style, popularized in France after World War I and making waves internationally between the 1920s and early 1940s, was the start of modern architecture in Singapore. Art Deco elements may still be found across Singapore, from magnificent commercial buildings to pre-war structures in some of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. These are some of Singapore’s remaining Art Deco structures:

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station

The former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station is perhaps one of Singapore’s most prominent examples of Art Deco architecture. The exquisite 1932 structure was designed by Serbian architect D. Art deco and neoclassical elements abound in S. Petrovitch. There are all the elements of an Art Deco structure, including stylized flowers and geometrical shapes for decoration, as well as representations of heroic human characters.

Four enormous statues by Italian sculptor Angiolo Vannetti decorate the front facade, representing the four important sectors of the Malayan economy: agriculture, commerce, transportation, and industry. The initials F, M, S, and R above the figures stand for Federated Malayan States Railways.

Asia Insurance Building

The former Asia Insurance Building, constructed by pioneer architect Ng Keng Siang, is tucked away at the corner of Finlayson Green and Raffles Quay. When it was completed in 1954, the structure, which has 18 floors, was the tallest in Southeast Asia.
You will notice inspirations from a variety of architectural styles, primarily the Modern Movement. Many of the building’s original design elements, such as its main structure and facade, have been preserved. The three-tiered scalloped stainless steel crown at the top of the L-shaped skyscraper was built to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. Ascott Raffles Place now occupies the space.

Clifford Pier

The Clifford Pier, designed by Frank Dorrington Ward and is currently home to a restaurant of the same name as part of the Fullerton Bay Hotel. The Clifford Pier Building, completed in 1933, operated as a port of entry for immigrants and other travelers arriving in Singapore by water. It was dubbed “Red Lamp Pier” in Chinese, a reference to the red oil lamps that hang from the pier to guide seamen.
Its “neat and simple” Art Deco style was complemented by a unique roof structure with ribbon-like concrete arching trusses and the Straits Settlements of Singapore symbol sculpted into the top of the entrance. The stained glass fanlight in various shades of blue at the main entrance is another prominent feature. The restoration project team has saved and brought back to life the majority of these features.

Former Cathay Building (now The Cathay)

The Cathay has become a popular hangout for both moviegoers and art school students. However, its famous exterior, which has massive vertical lettering spelling out “Cathay”, is a relic of what was once Malaya’s tallest structure.
The Former Cathay Building was the first skyscraper and air-conditioned cinema in Singapore, designed by Frank W. Brewer in the Art Deco style. The 16-story apartment building was completed in 1941 and became British Malaya’s first skyscraper, thanks to funding from Cathay Organization founders Mrs. Loke Yew and her son Loke Wa Tho. Only the building’s frontal facade survives, with the rest being replaced by modern glass-clad construction.

Parkview Square

This massive office structure looms over North Bridge Road and is a modern rendition of Art Deco design. Because of its uncanny similarity to Gotham City, it is affectionately known as “Gotham Square” or the “Batman Building”. Despite its Art Deco and Baroque influences, the structure was only completed in 2002. The Chanin Building (1929) in New York City served as inspiration for the building, which was designed by US firm James Adam Design and Singaporean firm DP Architects.

The Great Madras

In the 1990s, the Madras Hotel occupied the structure that now houses the stylish boutique hotel The Great Madras. The Singapore Improvement Trust constructed the building in the 1940s, and it looks similar to the SIT apartments in Tiong Bahru (SIT). The building’s original external decorations have been preserved. The brickwork of the balconies on each floor and the Shanghai-plaster column bases, which have been largely maintained, are testaments to this. The renowned back spiral staircase of the hotel is also an original.

Tiong Bahru Flats

Tiong Bahru’s pre-war flats require no introduction. The design of Tiong Bahru was given to architect Alfred G. Church between 1936 and 1941. His creations were a modified version of the Streamline Moderne style, which was a late evolution of the Art Deco movement. Buildings built to resemble autos, trains, ocean liners, and airplanes were primarily inspired by technology and the pace of modern transport. Look for the sweeping, sleek, and aerodynamic features that are common in various modes of transportation the next time you are in the neighborhood.