A few weeks ago we visited Singapore for a couple of days; for me it was the second visit to this city state, and it was a renewed pleasure. Singapore offers its visitors a fascinating mix of cultures, with the accompanying variation in architecture, cuisine, religion and customs. There are quite a few reminders of the colonial period that put Singapore on track for the economic successes of today.
One of the most striking expressions of that success is the wealth of magnificent contemporary architecture. Singapore is a veritable paradise for anyone who appreciates modern buildings; the skyline of the business district is relatively well-known, but in the past couple of years a host of new treasures have been added, especially around Marina Bay. Included in the most eye-catching realisations are the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, the ArtScience Museum and the Helix Bridge.
The Marina Bay Sands Hotel towers high above Marina Bay; on top of three slender skyscrapers of some 600 ft is the Sands Skypark, lying there like a huge surfing board. There is a big observation deck, but also a restaurant and a swimming pool fringed with palm trees. Looked at from ground level, it is a breathtaking building, and from Sands Skypark, all of Singapore is spread out in front of you. The view of Marina bay and the rest of the city is fantastic, and on the other side you can see intensive activity between the hotel and the sea – obviously there are more wonders of modern architecture ready to emerge.
The ArtScience Museum is an interesting building in the shape of a hand with five fingers, or a lotus flower with five petals – depending on your point of view and imagination. Even though it is dwarfed by the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, the white museum is a fairly large building, with a wide variety of both permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Next to the museum is the new Helix Bridge, over 900 ft long, linking the Marina Bay complex with the other side of the bay. It is a curved steel construction, in the shape of the double helix of DNA. It is a unique and fascinating work of art that offers a beautiful view of the architecture around the entire bay.
I’m already looking forward to visiting Singapore again in a couple of years and to be entranced by the newest architecture.
More pictures at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/raf.erzeel/
