Republic of Singapore

Posted by: Denis Rajic at 25 Mar 2010

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A Review of Asia

Founding: 29 January 1819
Self-government: 3 June 1959
Independence from the United Kingdom: 31 August 1963
Merger with Malaysia: 16 September 1963
Separation from Malaysia: 9 August 1965
Total Area: 710.2 km2 (274.2 sq mi)
Population: 4,987,600
GDP: $239.146 billion

Republic of Singapore holds the honor of being one of the rare states to have moved from developing nation status to first world country within a generation.

As the airplane makes its slow approach towards the airport you are exposed to the raw beauty of Straits of Malacca, the lifeblood of Singapore. Doted upon the torques waters of the Straits are the many trade ships of the world’s merchant marines. Like pearls strung upon the canvas of a clear blue sky they are Singapore’s greatest treasure and one of the pillars of the city states wealth and power.

A visiting Sumatran prince who named the city, “The City of the Lion”, founded Singapore, he had mistakenly seen a lion on his first visit to the island. Since then Singaporeans have fashioned a whole new myth surrounding the great Lion and created the Merlion. The Merlion is half fish half lion creature that stands as one of the many symbols of Singapore. Singapore truly became a city of importance under the leadership of Sir Stamford Raffles the man that is even now honored as the founder of Singapore.





The island is a mixture of leisure, work, and living spaces. A perfect mesh of urbanism that attempts to live and work with nature. The visitor to the city would be amazed that such a small island with an ever-growing population could also be so green. Singaporeans pride themselves not only in the cleanliness of their city but also in its green nature. The lungs that are our cities parks are numerous in Singapore and are vibrant with color and meticulous beauty.

But for us urbanites and lovers of the modern world Singapore offers one of the most stunning examples of the modern cityscape. Our journey starts at the Suntec Mall part of the Suntec City Development with five high-rise towers placed in such a way that they represent the Lions head. Found within the development complex is the Fountain of Wealth, worlds largest fountain.

Suntec City Development

Built: 1997
Office Towers: 5
Mall Stores: 360
Retail Space: 880,000 square feet



At Suntec Mall we take the Duck tour of the city, the Duck Tour is an amphibious craft that takes the rider on the city streets and rivers of Singapore showing off the city in all of its charm.

Next import symbol for the city is the Singapore Flyer, at 165 meters height its is 5 meters taller then the London Eye this observation Wheel offers some of the more stunning sights of Singapore. The nighttime ride shows the kaleidoscope of light and motion that is Singapore.

Singapore Flyer
Built: 2005
Height: 165 m (541 ft)
Floor Area: 33,700 m2 (362,700 sq ft)
Cost: 180 million USD





The river tour of Marina Bay exemplifies the cityscape; to one side is the ever-growing financial district while to the other the colonial built government area.



To one side of the Marina Bay is the new Sands Casino Complex first casino complex on the island.

Marina Bay Sands Complex

Built: 2010
Towers: 3 55 floor
Area: 6,000,000 square feet (560,000 m2)
Cost: 3.85 billion Singapore Dollars



Singapore has a few high-rise clusters; the most important one is the Financial Business District where all the financial institutions and global banks have their headquarters. One would think that the current financial downturn would have cut on the speeding spree of the banks, which is not the case in Singapore. A whole new cluster of skyscrapers was under construction.







Walking through the streets of Singapore one can find the great examples of modern architecture and the famed stringency of the Singaporean legal system. While walking through one of the back streets I came upon a government designated graffiti area where youths could mark their art on buildings. Which explained a lack of graffiti in most other parts of the city.





Urban living in Singapore, like in rest of Asia, is exemplified through the tenant complex buildings. Large apartment complexes built by the government through its Housing Development Boards form the nucleus of living space. Singapore was one of the first Asian countries to resolve the housing issue for its growing population during the developmental stage of its economy. The apartment complexes of the HDB did not only act as cheaper answers for a lack of space but played an integral part in formulating a cohesive society within this multiracial and multi-confessional democracy. The leadership understood the folly of creating ethnically pure neighborhoods and forced integration through a balanced quota system in the housing pool.



Singapore is one of Asia’s most dynamic cities, and its cultural integrative policies are something that should be looked at by our own city planners.

For now fond farewell from Asia’s capital…