Expansion worth $8 billion underway at Singapore's landmark structure
Singapore's iconic Marina Bay Sands resort is set to undergo an expansion, with renowned architect Moshe Safdie designing a new 55-floor luxury hotel skyscraper. The new tower, standing separately from the existing three towers, will add 570 suites, luxury retail, meeting spaces, and a 15,000-seat entertainment venue to the resort.
The rotated orientation of the new tower at 45 degrees and its twin wings curving outward as they rise offer panoramic views of Marina Bay and the Singapore Strait. The signature rooftop structure, called the Skyloop, will feature an observation deck, restaurants, public gardens, cabanas, and infinity pools, echoing the iconic boat-like skybridge of the original three towers but with a distinct identity.
The design integrates biophilic elements, including significant greenery, aiming for Singapore's Green Mark Platinum certification and blending sustainability with luxury. However, the unveiling of the new tower has sparked mixed reactions among Singaporeans. Some criticised the tower for being "out of place," while others suggested it would blend in naturally over time with future developments in the district.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, present at the groundbreaking, expressed optimism that the tower would "refresh our skyline." The new structure is part of an $8-billion expansion plan for the resort, but the specifics of the expansion plan beyond the new tower were not detailed.
The Marina Bay Sands resort, which has one of Asia's most recognizable skylines since 2011, consists of three 650-foot-tall skyscrapers connected by a boat-like skybridge and an Instagram-famous infinity pool. The US hospitality giant behind the resort, Las Vegas Sands, is the owner of the resort which contains a hotel, mall, convention center, and one of only two licensed casinos in Singapore.
Moshe Safdie emphasized that the new tower stands separately from the existing three towers, as a deliberate move to avoid compromising the landmark's existing architectural harmony. He argued that people will eventually feel the new tower has always been there and will love it as much as they love the original Marina Bay Sands, if not more.
The adjoining entertainment venue is also being designed by Moshe Safdie's eponymous firm for the site, but its specifics have not been revealed yet. The government of Singapore asked Safdie to design a new, fourth tower for the site, but with a clear instruction not to alter the iconic appearance.
As the construction of the new tower progresses, it remains to be seen how the Singaporean public and the world will respond to this new addition to the Marina Bay Sands complex.
- The new luxury hotel skyscraper, designed by Moshe Safdie, will incorporate a unique style that blends biophilic elements with panoramic views, aiming for Singapore's Green Mark Platinum certification.
- The expansion of Singapore's iconic Marina Bay Sands resort, expected to cost $8 billion, includes not only the new tower but also the development of an entertainment venue, both designed by Moshe Safdie's firm.
- The new tower, with its rotated orientation and twin wings, will add to the resort's distinctive home-and-garden and real-estate landscape, offering luxury retail, meeting spaces, and an observation deck, among other features.
- The construction of the new tower, set to "refresh" Singapore's skyline, could potentially influence Singaporeans' perceptions of luxury and lifestyle, as it stands independently while maintaining harmony with the existing architecture.
