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| 2364 The Downtown Core of Singapore - Marina Bay seen from the South, with Marina Bay Sands on the right |
Posted on 26.11.2011, 14.12.2011, 22.07.2013, 19.11.2013, 09.03.2016
The Downtown Core of Singapore, which surrounds the mouth of the Singapore River and southeastern portion of its watershed, is part of the Central Area, city's central business district. The mouth of the Singapore River contained the old harbour, so the city grew around it, and this area was the core of the colony. The Merlion statue (8.6m hight and 70t weight), made by Lim Nang Seng in 1972, was placed in Merlion Park, where it’s now, barely in 2002. Designed by Fraser Brunner in 1964 for the logo of the Singapore Tourism Board, this symbol of Singapore is a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. The body of the statue is made of cement, skin from porcelain plates and eyes from red teacups.
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| 0019 The Downtown Core of Singapore - Merlion, Fullerton Hotel, and skyscrapers in the business centre |
The highest six buildings that are visible in the back in the postcard 0019 are, from left to right: Hitachi Tower(179m - completed in 1992), Republic Plaza (280m - completed in 1995), Singapore Land Tower (190m - completed in 1980), One Raffles Place (280m - completed in 1986), Maybank Tower (175m - completed in 2001), and United Overseas Bank Plaza / UOB Plaza (280m - completed in 1995). Republic Plaza, One Raffles Place and UOB Plaza are the highest skyscrapers from Singapore (to equality), and they will remain so, because there is a height restriction of 280m for structures in the central business district, because of the proximity of Paya Lebar Airbase.
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| 0071 The Downtown Core of Singapore - Fullerton Hotel and Cavenagh Bridge |
Named after Robert Fullerton, the first Governor of the Straits Settlements (1826–1829), the Fullerton Hotel, whose the northern end covers the site of Fort Fullerton was commissioned in 1919 as part of the Crown colony's centennial celebrations. The building was designed as an office building by Major P.H. Keys, and was opened in 1928. Initially, General Post Office covered the two lower floors (until 1996), and the exclusive Singapore Club rented premises on the upper floors (until 1961). In the WWII the building was the one in which General Percival discussed with Sir Shenton the possibility of surrendering Singapore, and subsequently became the headquarters of the Japanese Military Administration. In 1997, Sino Land (Hong Kong) Company Ltd acquired the Fullerton Building and converted it into a hotel, officially opened in 2001.
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| 0759 The Downtown Core of Singapore - The north shore of Marina Bay, with Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay, marina Centre and Singapore Flyer |
Cavenagh Bridge is the only suspension bridge in Singapore, opened in 1870 to commemorate Singapore's new Crown colony of the Straits Settlements status in 1867. Originally known as the Edinburgh Bridge, is currently a pedestrian bridge, with lighting added in the 1990s to accentuate its architectural features at nightfall. On the north shore of Marina Bay, in which flows Singapore River, is Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, built to be the centre for performing arts for Singapore and completed in 2002. The unique architectural design has been said to have an appearance similar to either a durian or the eyes of a fly. Hence, the building is colloquially known to locals as "the durians".
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| 0867 The Downtown Core of Singapore - One ofthe 28capsules of Singapore Flyer |
Between the Esplanade and the Singapore Flyer is spanning Marina Centre, a zone of reclaimed land which contains Suntec City, Marina Square, Millenia Walk, and Millenia Tower (218m - completed in 1996), with the roof in the form of a truncated cone.SingaporeFlyer, opened in 2008, was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world (165 m) until 2014. Initially rotating in a counter-clockwise direction when viewed from Marina Centre, its direction was changed few months later under the advice of Feng shui masters. A complete rotation of the wheel, described by its operators as an observation wheel, takes approximately 37 minutes, to give customers time to admire the city panorama. In fact The Flyer is an entire complex, with a wide range of shops, restaurants, activities and facilities.
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