Singapore — the home of Esplanade "the durian" Theater, ArtScience "the banana" Museum and other iconic structures — continues to reinvent itself with new marvels of modern construction.
Coinciding with the city state's jubilee anniversary are five stunning new public developments.
Each is redefining the Singapore's fabric with fancy facades, crazy curves, and decadently restored historic structures.
After nearly decade of planning (due to project delays resulting from the 2007-8 financial crisis), the highly anticipated South Beach complex is nearing completion.
South Beach
South Beach's curvilinear sheltered roof tempers Singapore's climate to provide shady and sheltered public spaces and encourage tropical breezes — a novel (and welcome) alternative to the city's typical and ubiquitous air-conditioned shopping malls.
After nearly decade of planning (due to project delays resulting from the 2007-8 financial crisis), the highly anticipated South Beach complex is nearing completion.
With a prime location occupying an entire city block next to Raffles Hotel, the development features a number of repurposed historic structures, along with office towers by renowned British architect Norman Foster, and a hotel designed by Philippe Starck.
The highlight is a beautiful wave-like canopy forming a large sheltered outdoor mall, which will no doubt become one of the coolest new spots in the city to shop, eat, and hang out.
The complex is opening gradually, with the office tower completed and designer hotel slated to open in April 2016.
South Beach, Beach Road, Singapore; complex opening in stages.
Indian Heritage Center
The Indian Heritage Center sits within the charismatic, bustling streets of Little India. It features a shimmering, reflective facade during the day.
This brand new gallery literally shimmers like a jewel in Singapore's vibrant "Little India" district.
Its colorful facade is inspired by Indian "baori" (step wells). Activity pulses along the newly pedestrianized street out front.
The sleek Indian Heritage Center is enough to delight any modern architecture fan, but it also features traditional elements such as a 16-feet-high (five meters) entrance door, hand carved by Indian craftsmen especially for the new building.
Dark, dramatic exhibition spaces feature priceless artifacts of Singapore's Indian heritage alongside interactive and multimedia displays.
After each level of galleries, a moment of visual ecstasy is provided through a trip down a flight of "baori" stairs, hanging on the outside of the buildings in a glass enclosure with stunningly colorful graphics and a panoramic view of the Singapore skyline and cityscape of Little India.
Singapore University of Technology & Design
The high-tech SUTD campus buildings were designed by avant-garde Dutch architects UNStudio.
People don't often think of visiting a university campus, unless they're a freshman going for a campus tour.
The brand new SUTD campus is different.
It's funky, fresh buildings epitomize the high-tech architecture of Singapore.
And nestled among the cutting-edge buildings are four priceless Qing and Ming dynasty structures more than 400 years old, which were shipped over from China by film star Jackie Chan as a gift to the new university.
National Gallery Singapore
Two of Singapore's most significant historic structures, the old Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, are joined with a sensitively designed, light and airy roof canopy — supported by tree-like sculptural columns — to create the new Singapore National Gallery.
Although this spectacular new art gallery doesn't open until November, it's possible to get a sneak glimpse at the immaculately restored museum (sans art) on one of the "naked museum" tours if you're lucky.
After opening, the gallery's first traveling exhibition will be a collaboration with the famous Centre Pompidou in Paris, featuring works by Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky and Marc Chagall.
Designed by French architects Studio Milou with local partner CPG Consultants, the new National Gallery Singapore integrates the historic Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, with the creation of a new glass and steel roof.
It's a fusion the architects describe as a "very non-violent way of joining the two without changing the existing buildings."
The gallery opens November 2015.
Capitol Singapore
A key feature of The Capitol is a public plaza along North Bridge Road, framed by exclusive condominiums, shops and restaurants. There's also a dramatic circular covered event space, the beautifully restored Capitol Theatre, a playful water fountain and gardens designed by the landscapers responsible for the city's stunning Gardens by the Bay.
Fancy catching a play but bored with all the typical venues?
The recently completed Capitol Singapore breathes new life into the historic Capitol Theater, one of Southeast Asia's first cinemas, which was built in the 1930s.
All jazzed up, it now incorporates stylish new shopping and dining venues in the heart of the city.
Capitol Singapore, 11 Stamford Road, Singapore; +65 6499 5599
