Singapore Marina Bay Sails Into Sight

Two huge new skyscrapers are planned for the island city state of Singapore in South East Asia. The Sail at Marina Bay will be a twin tower complex of 245 metres and 215 metres with 70 and 63 floors respectively, the taller will be the joint fifth tallest building in Singapore.

The project has been designed by NBBJ Architects who as a final draft of the designs increased the scheme by another two floors to equal the also under construction One Raffles Quay North that comes in at 245 metres too.

The scheme sits on a "white" site, called that because it was zoned by the Singapore government as being suitable for either residential or office development. Here the developer, City Developments Limited, plumped for residential with a 2,800 square metre mall on the lower floors.

The buildings will have a glass façade, heavily reflective giving it a smooth but monolithic appearance. The name of the project comes from the shape of the larger tower, designed by the architect to resemble a sail making the scheme a piece of architectural theatre given its location.

The apartments within the building have already proven popular with foreign buyers, the two sons of Ryanair owner Tony Ryan have purchased the entire 16th floor of the taller tower showing the popularity the development has with the wealthy.

Part of the draw is the unobstructed view of the nearby bay that the buildings command, of course there is a problem too that they block whatever is behind them by being so tall and so close to the waterline profoundly changing the view of Singapore's skyline from one of the best vantage spots. Infact demand has been such that the second tower marketed later was selling apartments for 20% more than the first tower despite it being shorter.

The project is already under construction with all the residential units within sold out. The core is just appearing above ground-level now in time for an external completion of 2008 and a total legal finish of 2009.