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    arrow City Hall
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    City Hall

    City Hall was designed by Municipal Architects, A. Gordon and Assistant Architect F. D. Meadows, and was completed in 1929. It was originally named the Municipal Building and housed the Municipal Council, which was responsible for the development of infrastructure in Singapore.

    In 1951, the Municipal Council and Municipal Building were renamed the City Council and City Hall respectively, as Singapore was conferred city status by King George VI.

    It was here that the British accepted the surrender of the Japanese on 12 September 1945, formally ending the Japanese Occupation of Singapore. It was also here that Lee Kuan Yew, as Prime Minister, proclaimed self-government for Singapore on 5 June 1959 and merger with Malaysia on 16 September 1963.

    After Separation, the first fully-independent Singapore Government was sworn in at City Hall on 9 August 1965.

    As part of the transformation of Singapore's civic district into a bustling arts and cultural hub, City Hall will be converted into a world class national art gallery by 2010.



     










    City Hall
    South Beach Development

    Located along Beach Road, South Beach Development comprises the Former Beach Road Camp, the NCO Club Building and the Former Beach Road Police Station building. The site is synonymous with the history of the Singapore Volunteers Corps (SVC) and was where the first NS enlistment was held in 1967. It is a cluster of three Art Deco Style blocks built in the 1930s and a NCO Club building built in 1953-53 which is a hybrid of Art Deco and the Modern Style.

    Beach Road Camp started out as the headquarters of the Chinese section of the SVC. The SVC was reorganised as the Straits Settlement Volunteer Force (SSVF) in 1921, combining the volunteer forces in Singapore, Penang, and Malacca. In 1930, the colonial authorities decided that a more permanent structure was needed to meet the growing needs of the volunteers. Three years later, the Governor of the Straits Settlement, Sir Cecil Clementi, officially opened the SSVF’s new headquarters at Beach Road Camp.

    After the Second World War, the camp became HQ Singapore Military Forces (SMF) and with the implementation of the colonial National Service Bill in 1953, hosted swearing-in ceremonies for new recruits. The camp was used for the training of PDF officers and NCOs after Singapore gained her independence in 1965 and also hosted the first NS enlistment in 1967. Singapore’s first batch of recruits in the pioneer professional military unit, the 1st Singapore Infantry Regiment (1 SIR), was also sworn in here. For the better part of 20th century, the site (previously known as the famous Beach Road Camp) had been used as the headquarters of Singapore’s volunteer defence forces. In February 2000, the famous Beach Road Camp closed its doors and was given conservation status on 9 October 2002.

    Scheduled to reopen by 2012, the area is envisaged to become the ‘revolutionary New Eco-Quarter in Singapore’. It will feature two striking towers of up to 45 storeys, including the four revitalised historic buildings and will house premium office space, two luxury hotels, exquisite retail space and exclusive city residences. City Developments Limited and its partners Istithmar (part of the Dubai World Group) and US-based Elad Group are currently working on this project known as South Beach.



     
    South Beach Development
       
    Singapore Biennale@Marina Bay

    With 360 hectares of prime land for development extending seamlessly from the existing Central Business District, Marina Bay is the centrepiece of Singapore’ urban transformation that will support its continuing growth as a major business and financial hub in Asia. With many exciting developments shaping up, Marina Bay is planned as a Garden City by the Bay, attracting new investments, visitors and talent, as well as becoming a new destination for the local community. Located at the Southern tip of Singapore, Marina Bay is a 360ha development designed to seamlessly extend Singapore’s downtown district and further support the city-state’s continuing growth as a major business and financial hub in Asia.

    This is the first time an art installation of this scale has been installed at the Central Promontory Site at Marina Bay, bringing more colour and buzz to the heart of the area. Shigeru Ban’s Containart Pavilion, held at the Central Promontory Site, will be the key highlight of a series of outdoor artworks at Marina Bay entitled Singapore Biennale @ Marina Bay.

    Marina Bay has been designed with people in mind, with a 24/7 vibrancy that will include the highly anticipated Integrated Resort (a destination attraction offering world-class hotel, convention, leisure and entertainment facilities, and casino) as well as other residential and commercial developments.

    Marina Bay will be a place for people from all walks of life to explore, exchange and entertain. There will be apartments set amidst lush greenery near Singapore’s waterfront. The local community and visitors alike can enjoy the parks, waterfront promenade and attend the events and celebrations held at the Bay. State-of-the-art office space and transport infrastructure will provide seamless connectivity for companies and professionals to grow and exchange business ideas. It will be place with a loop of attractions and round-the-clock energy that continues during and outside office hours.

    URA, as the Development Agency for Marina Bay, actively collaborates with stakeholders to create an exciting calendar of events at Marina Bay for everyone to enjoy. The Singapore Biennale@Marina Bay is one such event where URA has partnered with the National Arts Council to present an exciting selection of contemporary art installations at Marina Bay.

    Hence, visitors to the Singapore Biennale@Marina Bay can anticipate a multi-sensory and engaging experience as they traverse the exhibition sites around the four sites close to the water body at the Marina Bay area: Singapore Flyer, Esplanade Waterfront, The Fullerton Heritage Area and Central Promontory Site.


     
    Marina Bay
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    Singapore Flyer

    The Singapore Flyer, a giant observation wheel borne of the best of brilliant engineering breakthroughs, is set to be Asia's most visible iconic visitor attraction.

    Reaching 42 stories high, it comprises of a 150-metre (in diameter) high wheel built over a three-story terminal building, giving it a total height of 165 metres. This exceeds The Star of Nanchang by 5 metres and the London Eye by 30 metres. It features 28 air-conditioned capsules capable of holding 28 passengers each. A complete rotation of the wheel will take an estimated 30 minutes.

    Completed in March 2008, it provides a breathtaking, panoramic view of the city centre and beyond to about 45 kilometres, including the Indonesian islands of Batam and Bintan, as well as Johor, Malaysia.

     

    Singapore Flyer
     
       
     

    Esplanade Waterfront
    The Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay is a waterside building located on six hectares of waterfront land alongside Marina Bay near the mouth of the Singapore River. Built to be the centre for performing arts for the island nation of Singapore, it takes its name from the nearby Esplanade and contains a 1,600 seat concert hall, as well as a 2,000 seat theatre for the performing arts.

    The Esplanade features two outdoor performing venues - the Waterfront Stage and the Stage@Powerhouse, located along the promenade. These venues stage regular free performances, meant to liven up the arts scene. It also features a large roof terrace with a panoramic view of Marina Bay and the city area. There are also courtyards and open spaces which can be used for various activities.


     

    Esplanade Waterfront
     
       
     

    The Fullerton Heritage Area
    The Fullerton Heritage area consists of the entertainment and fine-dining hub One Fullerton and The Fullerton Hotel, a five-star boutique hotel located near the mouth of the Singapore River, in the Downtown Core of Singapore’s Central Area.

    It is also home to Singapore’s iconic Merlion statue and the Merlion Park, a popular local attraction. Adjacent to it is a floating public plaza, planned as a centre for elegant food & beverage and nightlife options in the near future.


       
       
     

    Central Promontory Site
    Immediately adjacent to Marina Bay Residences, the Central Promontory will be a signature waterfront development home to many public attractions, including a museum, art gallery, science centre, planetarium and aquarium.

    It will also house retail, food and beverage, recreational and entertainment outlets as well as possible convention halls.