Singapore will soon be home to a supertall skyscraper come 2028. Architecture studio SOM – the team behind Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building – has revealed designs for 8 Shenton Way, the island’s soon-to-be tallest building. The building will join Singapore’s other popular attractions such as the Marina Bay Sands, Supertree Grove and the Cloud Forest.
The designs reveal that the 63-storey skyscraper will stand at 305 metres tall, with renderings that show rooftop terraces that aim to resemble a “bamboo forest,” according to SOM. 8 Shenton Way will be Singapore’s first supertall skyscraper – which is defined as a structure that measures between 300 and 600 metres in height.
Located between the Central Business District and Marina Bay, the tower will offer offices, public spaces, luxury residences, retail and a hotel – basically, a place that offers elements of “live, work, and play.”
“8 Shenton Way will be the newest landmark on the Singapore skyline – a next-generation tower for the city,” said SOM consulting partner Mustafa Abadan. The mass of the structure draws on the composition of bamboo forests. "The tower is inspired by bamboo forests – a biophilic design that echoes vertical elements found in nature," said SOM. Greenery is also weaved into the interiors of the tower. Its interiors consist of wood, terracotta, and stone with vertical louvres and stylised fans, and plants are set in place to attract birds and butterflies.
The project will include over 107,000 square feet of elevated green space. More than half of the site's landscaped areas will be accessible to the public. "We want to create places that are comfortable, where people want to be and are healthy," said SOM design principal Nic Medrano at a press conference Thursday, adding that all occupants will be able to “access nature” within “three or four floors.”
SOM design partner Mustafa Abadan said energy savings will be achieved through a combination of approaches, including a facade made from terracotta, reinforced bamboo and heat-efficient glass. Horizontal and vertical fins running along the tower's exterior will also deflect sunlight, helping to keep the structure cool in Singapore's tropical climate.
The tower will also be connected to the city's district cooling system, an underground network of pipes that push chilled water into buildings' air-conditioning units to reduce electricity demand.
For convenience, the tower will include access to MRT stations. Post-pandemic features will also be incorporated including contactless tech, antimicrobial materials, and adaptable interior spaces. The skyscraper is set to be completed in 2028. More details can be found on the SOM website.
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