Singapore's Central Business District

Description
Singapore's Central Business District comprises the core of Singapore's financial activities and thus includes many important and significant financial buildings. There are many skyscrapers in the Central Business District. Skyscrapers in the city include the relatively new ones such as the UOB building and the Sail at Marina Bay, as well as the older but still well maintained and used buildings such as the Swissôtel The Stamford, which once held the title as the world's tallest hotel.

Majority of Singapore's tallest building are found in the CBD, where land are the most expensive in Singapore. However, due to aviation restrictions, buildings in the CBD cannot go higher than 280m. Most of the iconic building that represents Singapore CBD skyline also stand on free hold land, which are extremely uncommon in Singapore today.

Some commercial buildings reflect the cultural Chinese heritage of Singapore in addition to the presence of other cultural heritage sites in the Central Area. The UOB Plaza makes use of the traditional Chinese symbol of the octagon in its design, which supposedly brings about good Feng Shui according to traditional Chinese geomancy.

Future Development
The Central Area of Singapore is slated to undergo significant changes in upcoming years. This expansion includes the construction of newer industrial buildings, as well as road expansion and other infrastructural projects. This also includes the expansion of the Mass Rapid Transit system's Circle Line, to be completed in 2012.

Because of its history dating back to the origins of the country, the area also contains several buildings of intrinsic and immense cultural value. These include shophouses and temples, some of which are still used by historical groups in Singapore. (i.e. Hokkien clan associations) Some of these buildings are being preserved but put to good economic use in the process, as renovation works in the interior of these buildings allow them to be used for other purposes while preserving their historical and architectural value. Other examples of buildings put to such use in Singapore include the Asian Civilisations Museum and the Peranakan Museum.

There are also recreational facilities planned for development in the Central Area. These include the Gardens At The Bay, the Sports Hub, and the Fullerton Heritage. These will have significant impact on the recreational and sporting scenes in Singapore upon completion. Finally, the largest project in the area would be the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort along the waterfront of Marina Bay.