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M
y
trip to Singapore
was a quick one; I
only had a day to
trek this ‘jungle’
and discover and
marvel at its mod-
ern architecture.
Lucky for me I had a day pass with unlim-
ited access on the buses and Mass Rapid
Transit (MRT) and a zest for adventure.
From the leisurely stroll from my hotel
to the MRT station, the modern face of
Singapore was already visible through
the condominiums and apartments along
my way. Despite these looming block
buildings, fresh sprinkles of green were
also in sight.
WhatcomestomindwhenonethinksofSingapore?Tosome itmightbetheirdelectable
delicacies, to others their efficient public transportation system. To me, when I think
Singapore I think of itsmodern architecture.Though tiny in size, Singaporemakes up for
itwithAtlantic feats in architectural design.
Trekking The Concrete Jungle
My first stop was Orchard Road, the
popular shopping district for locals and
tourists alike. All the major buildings
here such as ION Mall seemed to sparkle
and glitter in the bright morning sun,
the shapes and curves of each building
undulating under the clear sky. Even
though these buildings looked like
something straight out of the
Jetsons
cartoon, I could still glimpse remnants of
Singapore’s culture as evidenced in Tang’s
plaza shaped like a Chinese pagoda. I
left Orchard Road to head to another
well known Singaporean sight; Marina
Bay Sands.
I was quite impressed with the canal
going through the inside of theMarina Bay
Shoppes Mall with gondola rides to boot.
That is not something most malls can
brag about. Although it was midday, the
sun wasn’t out to fry me so I managed a
comfortable walk around the bay. The Art
Science Museum resembles a lotus plant
and there’s a lotus pond right outside it.
Another impressive architectural wonder
is the Helix bridge shaped as the spiral
shape of the DNA structure where it also
gets its name. The silvery twists and turns
of the bridge snake their way through the
promenade signifying continuity, renewal
and life. The Helix links Marina Centre
with the bay front areas.
Although I wanted to carry along my
pleasant walk, the sun caught up to me
and so I decided to seek shelter at my
next stop, Bugis district, where the Lasalle
College of Arts is. Over here, it was very
different as the buildings are not as high.
There are many makeshift stalls and
vendors along Bugis Street. Just a short
distance away the Lasalle College of Arts
stands proudly with its sharp rigid black
lines against the soft white backdrop.
I wanted to see an example of Singa-
pore’s modern architecture in a residential
area, so Pinnacle @ Duxton, a govern-
W o r d s :
A r t h t h i S a t h a n a n t h a r