Today we embarked on a day long tour of Singapore! The day began with a walk to the Bugis MRT Station, where we took the green East West (EW) Line from Bugis to Raffles Place. MRT fares are affordable, typically around $1.30, with a maximum fare of $3. Clear signage, frequent trains, and station etiquette make the system easy to navigate and extremely efficient. Riders stand on the left side of escalators to allow others to pass, and passengers cluster close to (but not in front of) train doors to let people exit smoothly. These systems reflect Singapore’s emphasis on efficiency, organization, and collective responsibility in public areas.

After arriving in the central business district, we visited CapitaSpring, which is the epitome of Singapore’s approach to sustainable and biophilic design. Completed in 2021, CapitaSpring integrates nature throughout its vertical structure. Rather than concentrating greenery in one plot on the rooftop, a green oasis of gardens and walkways is featured on floors 17 to 20, along with the rooftop garden on the 51st level. This Green Oasis allows natural light and airflow to flow through the structure while providing spaces for rest, social interaction, and great views of the city.

Singapore’s government has strict building landscape replacement codes, which require commercial buildings to replace 100% of their ground footprint with landscaped space. However, CapitaSpring exceeds this requirement by having a replacement percentage of 140%. Singapore’s government often gives grants to developers that pursue more ambitious sustainability designs, which is why CapitaSpring was designed this way. The building’s offset core improves cross-ventilation, which reduces reliance on air conditioning. Features such as shaded seating, power outlets, and naturally breezy corridors show how sustainability can be incorporated into everyday urban life rather than treated as a separate design feature.
Next, we traveled toward Marina Bay, an area of reclaimed land which is a prime example of Singapore’s modern identity and urban development. Marina Bay Sands, which was unveiled in 2011, dominates the skyline with its three towers connected by a dramatic rooftop sky park. When it was completed, some locals thought of the tower and rooftop bridge as looking incomplete, which might be true, as there are now discussions of the creation of a fourth tower. This building has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, and its success has driven continuous growth for Singapore.

Nearby, we walked to the Merlion statue, one of Singapore’s most iconic national symbols. The Merlion was not a mythical or biblical creature, but rather an idea created by the Singapore Tourism Board in the 1970s. The Merlion was designed to help establish a national identity during Singapore’s post-independence time, when the country wanted to grow but lacked natural resources and relied heavily on global trade. The lion head symbolizes strength and leadership, while the fish body represents Singapore’s origins as a maritime settlement. Along the waterfront, this statue reinforces Singapore’s historical connection to the sea and its transformation into a global economic hub.

Our tour ended at Singapore’s renovated Former Supreme Court building. This site is connected to the former city hall/municipal building as well, and both hold significant historical value. After World War II, the formal Japanese surrender to the Allied forces in Singapore took place here. During World War II, the Japanese forces captured over 80,000 allied troops at the Fall of Singapore. The supreme court building later hosted war crimes trials, marking an important moment in Singapore’s history.

Today, these connected buildings have been repurposed into the National Gallery for Singapore. During the renovation process and the connection of the two buildings, Singapore worked hard to preserve the architecture and historical significance of both buildings. This final stop on our tour reinforces a recurring theme: Singapore’s success lies in its ability to combine culture, history, sustainability, and efficiency.

Blog by Andrew Flais