The Singapore River Story

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Stretching only 4.1 kilometres from its mouth at Anderson Bridge to Kim Seng Bridge at the other end, Singapore River is hardly an appropriate name for that body of water that flows under 12 bridges and sees numerous historical buildings on its banks. But never mind its real nature, the Singapore River is so closely tied to Singapore's history, economy and social culture that it is beyond doubt, one of the most important factors to Singapore's success story.

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It was the heartbeat of Singapore's economy, the source a lucrative entrepôt trade that contributed to 75% of the revenue in a pre-independent Singapore. Ships from far off lands would carry their cargo here before re-exporting to other parts of Southeast Asia. But in the earlier days, goods meant for re-export were not delivered to the Tanjong Pagar Port, as it is today. At that time, merchant ships would anchor not too far from the mouth of the Singapore River, and load goods onto barges which would then deliver the goods into Singapore via the Singapore River.

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Singapore River is impressive neither in size nor length. Yet with its mouth just at the port and facing the Indonesian Archipelago, its very position makes it an appropriate stopover for ships travelling in Southeast Asia and even across continents. Singapore River is the natural place for goods to be re-distributed.

In 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles saw the potential of this tiny island and declared it a free port. More merchants were eager to trade in Singapore and barge traffic on the Singapore River increased sharply. Rows of warehouses sprang up on one bank, trading firms on the other. It is estimated that the Singapore River was used by more than 3,000 barges by 1821, and that by 1823, the river was handling a total trade volume worth S$13 million.

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With the passing of time, Singapore has developed into an industrialised nation. The bustling traffic on the Singapore River has become history. However, the River is not forgotten by its people. A major project launched recently by the Singapore government aims to develop the River into one of the main tourist spots in the island state. Today, the Singapore River is consistently kept pollution free state, and the old shop-houses along the river are no longer occupied by trading firms but retail businesses such as restaurants, karaoke lounges, discotheques, and shopping malls.

The Singapore River Promenade, built at a cost of S$16 million by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has been completed and officially opened by the Minister for National Development Mr. Mah Bow Tan. The promenade stretches from Anderson Bridge to Kim Seng Bridge and measures about 3 kilometres on each side of the river. With a width between 10 to 15 metres, it has added a further 8,000 square metres of space for open-air cafes and food kiosks. Construction started in 1992 and involved erecting 3 new bridges namely, Jiak Kim Bridge, Robertson Bridge and Alkaff Bridge; and restoring Ord Bridge and Read Bridge. An underpass has also been built to facilitate movement between Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay.

The barges that were once such an important part of the trading activities have now been transformed into river taxis that offer tourists leisure rides along the river. Several significant landmarks such as the Parliament House, the former Empress Place Museum, Fort Canning Hill, Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Merlion Garden, and Raffles Place can be viewed on such rides.

Operating as a dock from 1860 to 1870, Clarke Quay is today a leisure and entertainment hub filled with restaurants and discotheques. To its east is the Fort Canning Hill where Sir Raffles had established his first residence. As the river taxi moves southwards to the mouth of the Singapore River, it passes by the Hill Street Building which was built in 1934 as the police headquarters.

Thereafter, the river taxi will pass under the Coleman Bridge and Elgin Bridge to arrive at Boat Quay where barges loading and unloading goods was the daily routine. Today, the wharf at Boat Quay has been moved away, and the shop-houses formerly occupied by trading firms and warehouses have been refurbished and taken over by dining and entertainment outlets. This happening leisure hub standing in sharp contrast next to the modern high rise buildings in its background, has become a favourite entertainment spot for tourists and white-collar executives working in the nearby central business district. Directly opposite Boat Quay is the former site of the colonial government district, where some buildings left over from the colonial days are still present, including the Parliament House, Empress Place, Victoria Concert Hall and the former City Hall. Sandwiched between Empress Place and the Parliament House is the spot believed to be where Sir Raffles had first landed and his statue stands at a slight distance away. After passing through the historical buildings, the river taxi will pass under the Cavenagh Bridge and Anderson Bridge to arrive at the Merlion Garden and the Fullerton Hotel which used to be the headquarters of the Singapore Post Office. As it goes further down the river, the river taxi will pass Clifford Pier before proceeding to Marina Bay, the perfect place to view the skyline. The barge would then make a turn to go back to Clarke Quay.

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Today, the river offers a multi-sensory lifestyle experience.

From colonial charm and tranquility at the mouth, to bustling nightlife along Boat Quay & Clarke Quay, to waterfront living further up.

It is also lined with attractive heritage buildings, and modern apartments for a visual treat. Not far away is the historical Fort Canning Park.
and here is a panorama by Cliff:

Clarke Quay:

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2.
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3.
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Here is a panorama by Cliff of the historical colonial area------------------>
(Boat Quay is on the left)

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Boat Quay (taken by babystan03)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Tanjong%20Pagar/DSC_0070.jpg

:okay:

Great shots!

These reminds me of the Indianapolis Canal and the Chicago River.

Clarke Quay at night

1. by babystan03
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2.
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3.
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Opposite Clarke Quay is Riverside Point:

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2. pic by babystan03
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wow anazing photos they looks really nice

My aunt lives at River Place condo right by the river. Unfortunately, her windows all face the main road. Still, it's pretty convenient. Clarke Quay is less than 10 minutes slow walk away.

Raffles Place, the banking and financial centre, lies at the edge of the river.
You can also see the historic Cavenagh Bridge
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Anderson Bridge
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Cavenagh Bridge
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Fullerton Hotel (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=68125), the former post office building, is a grand hotel at the mouth of the river.
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Opposite Raffles Place on the other bank of the river, lies the historic civic and colonial district, also the landing site of Raffles.
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I like the effect the various clubs and restaurents by the river introduce to the place. The reflections of their lights on the water can be so beautiful if viewed in a certain way, and they inject a very hip nightlife element...

Some random river scenes:

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3.
http://tinypic.com/54t768

Evening pics by Fujimiya

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2,
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3.
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Last month in September, the bank of the Singapore River was lined with this dragon and many lanterns to celebrate the Lantern Festival.

these pics are from pbase:
http://www.pbase.com/lhlim/lantern2004singaporeriver

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That moon photo is really freaky, not to mention fake....

uh the skies too look very fake... too nice.. maybe should post in kl vs sg thread haha

Hahaha...I think only the second picture is not doctored in some way. :D

Further up the river, lies Robertson Quay. This area used to contain godowns where boats travelled up to store their cargo.

Today, this area contains new riverfront housing, and a number of hotels along its banks, like the Grand Cothorne, River View, Hotel New Otani and the funky Gallery Hotel. The Concorde, Kings Copthorne and Apollo Hotel are also nearby.

A stroll along the continuous pedestrian promenade quickly brings you to the nightlife and dining options at Clarke Quay and Boat Quay.

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Boat Race at the river

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raffie i like the last picture!!:)

its a nice fealing in that photo:)

thanks drwho :)

if you stood along the banks, you could also hear the intense shouting, pity about the weather though :cool:

Pics from Cavenagh Bridge (by babystan03)

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raffie cool:)

you guys should be in the boat race next year!. " Team SSC-Singapore" ! :) :)

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These would be incorporated into a new condo by Hong Leong called The Watermark. :cool:

thank goodness..they look so run down, and good that theyre not simply just demolishing them :okay:

another picture opposite Boat Quay
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thank goodness..they look so run down, and good that theyre not simply just demolishing them :okay:

Oh my.....you mean the watermark will be built over this rundown warehouses?? :eek:

http://img25.exs.cx/img25/2662/DSCN33671.jpg

i think so :)

Um.... Hope not! :eek:
Hope they would be restored. Is the site behind the godowns big?

Anyone interested in undertaking a massive project?

Take detailed pictures of all the bridges across the River! :D :cool:

that is quite possible, it is now convenient to walk all along the entire stretch of the river due to the pedestrian footpaths constructed...once you get past Clarke Quay..it is quiet and peaceful :)

some night pics from further up the river, by hyacinthus

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2. What bridge is this?
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That's Robertson Bridge... :yes:

more scenes:

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25 Jan 2005
Boat Quay

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hyacinthus thats a wonderful picture!!:)

somehow it reminds me of my city in Sweden with the sunlight:)

hyacinthus thats a wonderful picture!!:)

somehow it reminds me of my city with the sunlight:)

Where's your city? :)

Where's your city? :)

Karlskrona ,Sweden,its the south part of Sweden:)

Karlskrona ,Sweden,its the south part of Sweden:)

I see :) It's a beautiful country... Would love to visit Sweden soon!

Here's another picture of Singapore River... taken on 21 Jan 2005 :D

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beautiful...looks really relaxed :cool:

The New Paper - 29 Jan 2005

Plans for midnight shopping

SOON, you might be able to shop until midnight at Clarke Quay, said Mr Lachlan Gyde.

The Foundry block, next to Cannery, will also be revamped with the rest of Clarke Quay, to feature more retail and F&B outlets by next year.

Mr Gyde indicated that the shops there could close at 11pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends.

They could cater to tourists and locals who want to do late-night shopping, he said. Orchard Road shops usually close at 9pm, he added.

The existing flea market will be expanded too, with stores selling arts and craft, toys and even food.

Clarke Quay renovations started last year. In the first phase:
The promenade fronting the Singapore River is being upgraded with outdoor 'lilypads' elevated half a metre above the ground.

Walkway along the promenade will be widened to 4m and paved in granite.
The entire riverfront will be protected from the elements with interconnected canopies.

The second phase, starting next month, includes repaving internal streets and re-configuring the place to suit the new retail concept.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Taken on 4 Feb 2005
A River Runs Through It

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Fun In the City!

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15 Feb 2005
Taken from High St Centre 24th Floor @ Sunset

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I'm not really that keen on those huge rubber designs! :rant:

Boat Quay (19/2/05):

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Looks like something from Pacman! :D:lol:

One George Street is too bulky and featureless for my taste.

Singapore River, a view. . .
from an alternative spot (Empress Place),
at an alternative time (night).

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Whoa....
1 George looks like a creepy skull!!! :eek:

1 George looks even more futuristic now that the voids are lighted up

Riverside Point - located opposite Clarke Quay

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panorama of Clarke Quay ---->

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25 March 2005

Clarke Quay's green ventilation system is a world first
By Johnson Choo, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Come September, Clarke Quay will have an "environmental angel" literally watching over its pedestrian walkways.

Shaped like wings, the X-shaped canopy will shelter visitors from the elements.

And coupled with a revolutionary energy-efficient ventilation system, it will help lower temperatures by as much as 20 percent.

The low-energy system used to cool large outdoor areas is the first of its kind in the world.

As part of its S$85 million redevelopment programme, some streets near Clarke Quay will be remodelled and existing buildings reconfigured to provide a new shopping environment.

Lachlan Gyde, Vice President, CapitaLand Retail, said, "I've been in Singapore for about three and a half years now. I can tell you it's either very very hot, or it's raining. So what it does for Clarke Quay is that it makes Clarke Quay weatherproof. People can come and enjoy Clarke Quay regardless of what the weather is."

The concept is to draw and push air toward the central courtyard from three adjoining streets.

The air will then exit only along one street in the direction of River Valley Road.

The specially-coated canopy will serve to stop the heat from penetrating onto the streets, while the silent blowers suspended below the canopy will create a gentle breeze, cooling the streets in the process.

Strategically planted trees will also help reduce heat by another 30 percent, bringing the temperature to about 28 degrees Celsius.

The water feature located at the centre of the courtyard will help to cool the area further.

Dr Freddie Tan, Projects Manager, Clarke Quay, said, "We're able to cut down a bit more than 50 percent of radiant heat, bring in the daylight, reduce the glare and bring comfort to people who walk along the streets. And at Clarke Quay, we actually embrace the wind, the sun and the rain to work for us."

When redevelopment works are completed later this year, the property managers hope more shoppers will turn up by introducing more activities, like street theatre and busking onto the streets of Clarke Quay. - CNA

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Wah, it'll be like Far East Square eh?

I have no idea but I think it would be a practical move to provide all-weather comfort for patrons.

pril 14, 2005
Slimming pill firm to help reshape Clarke Quay
80,000 sq ft of shop space to be turned into entertainment-lifestyle venue

By Arti Mulchand

HEALTH and beauty products marketer LifeBrandz, known for its top-selling slimming product Extrim, is looking to fatten its profits with a big bite of the entertainment business.

It has inked a deal with the management of Clarke Quay to transform over 80,000 sq ft of shop space into an entertainment-lifestyle venue focusing on fashion, food and nightlife.

CapitaLand, which owns Clarke Quay, will pay for the retrofit from its $80 million Clarke Quay makeover fund.

LifeBrandz, which will develop and manage the concepts, would not reveal how much it is putting into the project, saying that 'numbers are still being worked out'. But it is expected to be launched by the middle of next year.

The company said the final product will be a 'consortium of internationally revered lifestyle and entertainment brands which have developed huge fan followings'.

The flagship store for Dashing Diva, a New York designer nail boutique brand that LifeBrandz clinched an exclusive licensee deal with last month, will be there.

That's all Mr Clement Lee, 35, LifeBrandz chief brands officer, would reveal.

He would not confirm if London megaclub Ministry of Sound is among the other concepts, though market talk has been rife.

The line-up will be announced only at the end of the month, and there is 'more than one club concept' among them, Mr Lee said.

LifeBrandz is bringing in an 'expatriate management team' of eight to 12 people, all former employees of Luminar, one of Britain's largest nightspot operators, to take charge of the project.

It has also put together an architectural and interior design team from London, which will work closely with Alsop, the British architects for Clarke Quay, in executing the design.

The complete transformation of Clarke Quay is expected to be completed early next year.

Already, its 200m-long riverfront has been given a facelift, with wider walkways and colourful seating platforms called 'lilypads'.

Its beefed-up range of more than 30 restaurants and bars are now pulling in bigger crowds.

Will LifeBrandz, which has been known mainly for its beauty and health products like cleansing teas, be able to fit in with this crowd?

Mr Lee is undaunted: 'LifeBrandz has been misunderstood to be a beauty company, but we are a brand management company as a whole. I think the same principles apply for lifestyle, so we hope to enjoy the same success as we have for our other products.'

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved

16th April 2005
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very nice pano xPose!

I like how the skyscrapers seem to merge into the sky..almost surreal :cool:

More scenes:

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2.
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16 May 2005 - Sir Stamford Raffles

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btw, it's photoshop-ed :colgate:

Why thank you :)

Secrets of Clarke Quay's floating D-cups revealed

21 May 05

Cabaret act is making waves at the $80m revamp of the riverside entertainment district

By ARTHUR SIM

(SINGAPORE) Those giant D-cups that line the Singapore River along Clarke Quay finally make some sense now.

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Crazy Horse Paris, the all-female cabaret show that 'celebrates the art of the nude', will play out there every night - twice a night - from December.

And the floating bras couldn't be a better advertisement.

Crazy Horse Paris, brought in by Eng Wah Organisation, will be just one of the new attractions coming to Clarke Quay when the $80 million redevelopment there is completed some time in mid-2006.

So far the other big tenant - lifestyle and entertainment development and management company LifeBrandz - has only said it has secured a deal to bring in Dashing Diva, a funky New York-based nail spa.

And whatever else it's planning for the 80,000 sq ft or 30 per cent of the entire Clarke Quay development that it will take up remains a mystery.

Eng Wah's decision to take up 15,000 sq ft was a case of love at first sight. Managing director Goh Min Yen says she and Didier Bernardin, part-owner and director of Crazy Horse Paris, were immediately taken by the ambience of the building they checked out.

'With its traditional red shutters and the red pillars, we could instantly visualise the cabaret with the beautiful dancers on stage, the busy bar behind us and the classy restaurant complimenting the cabaret,' she says. 'We, especially Didier, felt an instant affinity with the red colours of the building as it matched the red used by Crazy Horse Paris, and took it as a sign that this should be the home for the new Crazy Horse cabaret in Singapore.'

Ms Goh also says Clarke Quay meets all the requirements that reflect the character of the Crazy Horse Paris, including the traditional buildings.

She prefers not to comment on the D-cups, but likes the idea that Clarke Quay will be a 24-hour entertainment hub.

The colourfully-lit D-Cups - sorry, canopies - that are part of Phase One of the redevelopment certainly help create a 24-hour atmosphere.

But reaction to them has been mixed. For a start, everyone is stumped. Are they meant to be mushrooms? Tents? Brassieres?

CapitaLand, which owns Clarke Quay, calls them 'Blue Bells' - though they're not blue and don't look much like flowers. This aside, they offer shade. And at night they come alive with lights. Each 'Blue Bell' hovers over a 'Lilipad' suspended from a steel stem. The Lilipads - which look more like Venus Flytraps, in what could be a subliminal reference to Crazy Horse - are raised platforms for al fresco dining that cantilever 1.5m over the riverbank.

Clarke Quay was designed by renowned British architect Will Alsop and his firm Alsop Architects, whose controversial work in the UK has raised some eyebrows. He was once called architecture's 'Mr Blobby' by British media because his buildings are said by some to look like blobs.

Singapore architect Aamer Taher, who studied at the same school as Alsop - The Architectural Association in London - and has met the man says: 'Alsop is a nice guy but I hate the mushrooms (the D-cups)'.

Mr Aamer's main gripe is that they don't seem to be in character with the existing buildings. 'I understand the need for shelter, but did they have to be so big? You can't see the facades of the old buildings any more,' he says.

Mr Aamer would have prefered something a little more subtle - but this was not to be. Stephen Pimbley, a partner at Alsop Architects, says the brief from CapitaLand was to transform Clarke Quay 'and provide a new language of installations that make Clarke Quay an enjoyable place to be'.

Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) approval was required for the cantilevered 'Lilipads' and 'Blue Bells'. And Mr Pimbley says URA was 'engaged positively throughout the design process'. So it's certain that URA would have said the design had to be sensitive to the existing conservation buildings, though where this discussion went, no one will know.

Mr Pimbley says he has 'never felt obliged to design in context and would hope that no other Singaporean architect is thus obliged'.

According to him, context can mean many things. 'Unfortunately the easy route of pastiche is usually omnipresent,' he says. 'The original refurbishment of Clarke Quay was a rather unfortunate built-to-look-old attempt at recreating something that no longer held value. I believe this led to its eventual demise,' Mr Pimbley adds.

CapitaLand says Phase One of the redevelopment, which includes 30 F&B and entertainment outlets along the 200m river front, has been a success, with F&B outlets there reporting a 20 per cent rise in business compared with pre-renovation days.

Lachlan Gyde, vice-president of retail at CapitaLand, says the development is now aimed at PMEBs - professionals, managers, executives and businessmen. This was after about $300,000 spent on research revealed that there are about 1.5 million people in Singapore who fit this demographic and have 'nowhere to go'.

Some, like a 31-year-old media industry producer A S Syereen, like the new 'classier' Clarke Quay because 'it doesn't look so neglected any more'.

And the Blue Bells? 'They grow on you'.

This will be good news for Mr Gyde, who says comments so far have been mixed.

But as the Australian national points out, when the Sydney Opera House was revealed 'everyone hated it, but Now everyone loves it. And that's half the fun of doing something cutting-edge'.

^
Hopefully crazy horse and the redevelopment would bring more buzz to the area......:yes:

the thing is..i cant get the name "crazy horse" out of my head;) :)

but it will be cool when everything is finished:yes:

May 29, 2005

All day all night by the river
Tourism board plans to turn Singapore River area into 24-hour fun belt to draw Asia's yuppies

By Chua Kong Ho and Sharlene Tan

PLANS are under way to turn the Singapore River district into a round-the-clock entertainment and dining strip that will attract Asia's high spenders.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is asking for proposals that will turn the historic waterway into the 'most iconic waterfront precinct in Asia', on par with Sydney's Darling Harbour, San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf and New York's South Street Seaport.

The area the STB is looking at stretches from the mouth of the Singapore River at Marina Bay to Kim Seng Bridge and Great World City, according to the Request For Proposal documents obtained by The Sunday Times. The Civic District may also be included, while Empress Place could become a 24-hour zone.

In creating what it calls a 'top must-visit destination', the Board wants to target what it believes to be the high-spending market: young professionals, singles and couples without children.

The riverfront makeover is the latest move in a massive undertaking to recast Singapore as an exciting tourist destination.

The drive is spearheaded by the construction of two integrated resorts at Marina Bayfront and Sentosa, and underpinned by new attractions such as the risque Crazy Horse topless cabaret, set to premiere in December.

By 2015, the STB wants the riverfront to be the 'top 24-hour precinct in the region'. This will mean extending the all-day licences currently granted to some Boat Quay and Clarke Quay establishments to other areas.

This is not the first time that the STB has attempted to remake the riverfront.

Once a polluted industrial and port area, the riverfront was transformed into today's dining and entertainment district after the 10-year-long River Clean-Up was finished in September 1987.

In 2002, a four-year study threw up more suggestions. Some of the ideas, such as improving lighting and signage, installing more sculptures and upgrading Boat Quay's infrastructure, have been taken up and are being implemented.

Mr Tai Lee Siang, director of DP Architects, who attended a briefing held by the STB on Thursday, said: 'The plan needs updating because leisure and entertainment tastes have gone up a notch since 2002. They are targeting tourists who are well-travelled and who expect waterfront experiences to be of a certain standard.'

The STB did not reply to queries about the latest plans by press time.

Mr Phil Robinson, owner of Clarke Quay restaurant The Tapas Tree, suggested creating a 'fiesta-like atmosphere' that would coincide with events like the Singapore Food Festival.

Mrs Pauline Graham, who owns Clarke Quay restaurants Peony-Jade and Quayside Seafood, said more water sports events would entice visitors, while pub owner Simon Lim proposed a series of wine and food festivals.

Instead of just 'a whole strip of bars', space could be allocated for shops, performances and street art, suggested Zouk marketing manager Tracy Phillips.

Architects and business operators interviewed felt that a key challenge would be overcoming Singapore's year-round heat and humidity, which they said imposed a natural constraint on daytime activities.

Here the architects stumbled.

Mr Tai said: 'Singapore needs to tackle its own constraints, namely climate... perhaps using structured canopies like in Hong Kong.'

Another challenge planners will face is how to connect the different areas along the river - in terms of both transport and the kinds of activities on offer.

Mr Michael Ma of the IndoChine Group, which operates restaurant-bar Forbidden City at Clarke Quay, said Singapore should take a leaf from Bangkok and Stockholm and increase the number of river taxi stops.

Dr Teo Ho Pin, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development, pointed out that Boat Quay, Clark Quay and the Kim Seng area appeal to different crowds.

'They each offer different experiences. If you can integrate them... you can have a wide range of riverfront experiences.'

Diners also have their own suggestions.

Personal assistant Stella Lim, 26, said she stopped going to Boat Quay and Clarke Quay as there was nothing much to do there besides eat and have drinks. She suggested: 'Why not have night markets on weekdays so there will be something to do after dinner?'

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

I think this is a good move. The Singapore River is such a precious asset for our cityscape and it already has so much potential and diversity along its banks IMO.

I hope they manage to integrate all the various activities seamlessly...I would also encourage more lighting along the further reaches of the river.

Business Times - 02 Jul 2005

Clarke Quay set to pound to a new beat

Mainboard-listed LifeBrandz brings big-name dance clubs to its nightspot

By ARTHUR SIM

(SINGAPORE) Ravers rejoice! Dance club heavyweights Ministry of Sound (Mos) and Cafe del Mar will soon be pumping up the volume at The Cannery in Clarke Quay, courtesy of nightlife impresario in-the-making Clement Lee.

Mr Lee, 35-year-old executive director of mainboard-listed LifeBrandz, confirmed yesterday that London-based MoS - whose all-night rave parties grew to become a global phenomenon - will be the anchor brand for his new 80,000 sq ft entertainment, lifestyle and F&B concept at The Cannery.

Best-known up to now for Extrim slimming pills, LifeBrandz has acquired a 15-year licence to run MoS here. And at 40,000 sq ft it will be big - about twice the size of homegrown dance club Zouk.

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-07-02/asmos2-232309.jpg

The main supporting act will be Spain's Cafe del Mar, from the trendy resort island of Ibiza. Like MoS, it has attained cult status among late-night revellers for its Mediterranean brand of chill-out club music, disseminated globally by in-house DJs who make guest appearances and spin at dance clubs around the world.

Singapore's Cafe del Mar will be a pared-down version of the Ibiza original. The Singapore MoS, on the other hand, will be the world's biggest, though it won't be the first outside England.

For years it was rumoured that MoS would open here. Then in 2001 it opened in Bangkok instead. At the time it was said the only reason it opened there was because it couldn't find suitable partners here.

MoS Bangkok closed down after two-and-a-half years. But Mr Lee says this was because of a government curfew on night spots - not bad business.

Now it will be Singapore's turn to be party-central. And the time could not be better, says Mr Lee. He cites the upcoming integrated resorts and the need for 'support F&B and entertainment venues' as one factor.

But a more compelling reason would have to be that Clarke Quay's owner CapitaLand made LifeBrandz the proverbial offer it could not refuse. Besides paying for an expensive restoration of the old cannery building, CapitaLand offered an 'attractive' rental package, Mr Lee said. For its part, LifeBrandz will spend $150-$180 per square foot - or as Mr Lee puts it, 'not too much and not too little' - fitting out the building and all its new attractions.

The Cannery will include other brand names such as Fashionbar (a fashion TV bar from Paris), Dashing Divas (a nail bar from New York), Bice (a restaurant from Milan) and possibly a fitness studio. It also intends to develop its own brand of clothing and souvenirs.

The strategy depends on recognisable names. Says Mr Lee: 'We thought it would be too big a risk to have untested brands. It takes a long time to build a brand at a new location in a new market. With recognisable brands, people know what to expect.'

LifeBrandz and CapitaLand are hoping Clarke Quay won't only attract tourists but affluent professionals, managers, executives and businessmen as well. But Mr Lee knows it will be hard work getting a return on his investment, which he hopes will be 20-25 per cent. 'A lot of people think that as long as you have a famous DJ like Boy George (a former MoS DJ) you are guaranteed a crowd. But it's not like that anymore,' he says.

According to him, the continuing success of Zouk demonstrates the importance of developing a following and giving regulars a sense of belonging. And that's why, when CapitaLand first offered him only half of the cannery building, he declined. 'I wanted the whole block so I could market and rebrand it the way I want to,' he says. 'I don't want a prata stall next to me.'

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

LifeBrandz brings in MOS? Can anyone tell me what's going on? :?

July 6, 2005
Hot London club to open here

By Jill Alphonso
Music reporter

CLUBBERS here have more reason to celebrate come year-end.

That is when London's hot nightspot Ministry Of Sound opens in Clarke Quay.

It opened a Bangkok outlet in 2001 (which closed in 2003) and a Taipei branch last year, but has not found a suitable location and partner here, until now.

The club will occupy half the space at The Cannery in Clarke Quay.

Currently under renovation, the 80,000sq ft Cannery, which used to house shops and restaurants, will reopen by year-end after a makeover by LifeBrandz.

It will spend about $12.8 million on renovations.

Like the London club, the Ministry Of Sound here will be split into several areas with different decor, DJs and genres of music, says Mr Clement Lee, the 35-year-old executive director of LifeBrandz, which is bringing in the club.

'People say that the Ministry brand is outdated, but I believe it can be repositioned,' he says. 'We intend to revive and reposition it entirely.'

In its heyday in London in the 1990s, party-goers would flock to enjoy international DJs spin in the warehouse-like space.

In recent years, as the rave culture in London died down, it has lost much of its cult appeal.

But Mr Lee is confident of its acceptance here, saying that there are not enough varieties of big clubs in Singapore.

'Zouk has done a great job of growing the market here,' he says. 'But I believe that Ministry's presence can expand that by 30 to 50 per cent.'

Fourteen-year-old Zouk plays host to international DJs regularly and sees crowds of up to 5,000 on weekends.

LifeBrandz has a 15-year contract to market the brand in Singapore, including its merchandise like clothes and CDs.

The club will bring in at least one international DJ a month, and expects to have several European DJs, who will be residents at the club.

Another club, Cafe del Mar, based in Ibiza, Spain, will also be located in The Cannery, along with other brand names such as Fashionbar (a fashion TV bar from Paris), Dashing Divas (a nail bar from New York) and Bice (a restaurant from Milan).

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

What is the pull factor that makes the MoS to relocate its branch here? Wouldn't HK be a strong contender for this branch as well?

:runaway:

What is the pull factor that makes the MoS to relocate its branch here? Wouldn't HK be a strong contender for this branch as well?

:runaway:

Maybe Singapore has a lower cost than HK?? :? Clarke Quay has an attractive rental rate according to LifeBranz........:yes:

^

Maybe another factor might be that the clubbing culture (for the kind of stuff MoS plays) in Singapore is more entrenched than that in Hong Kong. I cant say this with any authority but I get that vibe from HKers I've met. Also, Singapore has made a name in the scene with Zouk.

Rodyk Street
The last godowns at Singapore River.....
These 3 godowns, yet to be developed at Rodyk Street, Robertson Quay. Opposite Watermark... They are crumbling, overgrown and very musty.... :eek:

http://img330.imageshack.us/img330/8454/srg015sb.jpg
Side

http://img330.imageshack.us/img330/4618/srg028my.jpg

http://img312.imageshack.us/img312/7990/srg038ch.jpg

http://img312.imageshack.us/img312/6154/srg041ch.jpg
A very rusted sliding metal door on the side leads inside.... Very very very dark and musty..... :runaway:
Workers walking thru this godown to the one nextdoor... Wonder what's going on...

http://img315.imageshack.us/img315/1496/srg053qa.jpg
Very creepy... :eek:

http://img302.imageshack.us/img302/3130/srg060zi.jpg

you went into thse places yourself??

will they be preserved? They look so dilapidated.

I have seen preserved godowns looking like these opposite the Apollo/Miramar Hotel. Stark contrast.

i did not know that these dilapidated godowns still exist?


you went into thse places yourself??

http://img324.imageshack.us/img324/1675/srg184hk.jpg
The last godown in the row of 3, with faded company name still there...

http://img324.imageshack.us/img324/8913/srg192zm.jpg

THE last godown
The very last intact godown of the Singapore River,
No. 10 Muthuraman Chetty Road

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7920/srg203ny.jpg
Small pink twin godowns

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/4293/srg219yv.jpg
Gate Antique.....

A sign there says SC Global, which means it has already been acquired by it...
Going to be developed anytime now.


Would try to take more pics during the day... :D

ooh good! another sc global project can't mean anything bad :D

yah but I wonder if it will be highrise..probably not....

the last endangered species of godowns left in Singapore :happy:

why not? at least a mid-rise right?

I dunno..Many of the riverside condos are less than 15 storeys I think, except Rivergate

^^ Nice.

Boat Quay - Grey Evening
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2835/singriver8qh.jpg

I find the modern shophouses kinda an eyesore. It doesn't match the others.

Actually, I was trying to find a match with Jonty's pic. But, can't find a fit... do you know where his Singapore River pic exactly is in today's context?

i believe its at clarke quay, very close the reverse bungee (G-max) thingy
*hmm.. maybe not *

Actually, I was trying to find a match with Jonty's pic. But, can't find a fit... do you know where his Singapore River pic exactly is in today's context?

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/3785/singaporeriver8qz.jpg
See that shophouse with triagular pendiment on the right?
It's on the left of your pano. :)

oh! I see it now! no wonder my mum said that chinese looking building (former OCBC Building) is sitting on OCBC's current site.

Very good eye for details, redstone! :okay:

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4489/p10206318kl.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5276/ct5ib.png
i see this shophouse in your pano too hya (its at about the 3/4 point of your pano)

This is the shophouse and OCBC behind in current day! :)

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9984/p10206113wi.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5276/ct5ib.png
i see this shophouse in your pano too hya (its at about the 3/4 point of your pano)

I was mislead by it previously too... now, I am sure it isn't that shophouse! :)

I was mislead by it previously too... now, I am sure it isn't that shophouse! :)
whoa its real misleading! the 2 buildings sure look like twins...

The row had been demolsihed by govt, I think. Now is UOB Plaza 1 & Podium. :)

felt so emotional comparing the 2 pics... :cry:

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1452/sky7zn.jpg

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/3785/singaporeriver8qz.jpg

http://img323.imageshack.us/img323/8717/sr1ru.jpg

:D

Life's getting better by the river

QUEK SOH HOON looks at what's being done to turn Singapore's historic waterway into an iconic entertainment and residential district

LIKE all civilisations, Singapore's beginnings evolved along a river, and in our context, the Singapore River. Legend has it that Sang Nila Utama landed at Kuala Temasek, the estuary of the present Singapore River, and founded the first settlement nearby.

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-09-22/ekriver-214858.jpg

The Singapore River has played an important role and has contributed to the success of Singapore. It became the focal point of trading activities after Sir Stamford Raffles declared Singapore a free port. Godowns, warehouses, shophouses and jetties soon appeared along the river banks as did shipping-related businesses, wet markets and backyard industries.

As trade flourished, the river became polluted. It began to kill off marine life in the river and increased demand for clean water supplies as the population expanded. This led then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to challenge Singapore to clean up the river in February 1977. The river clean-up was completed in September 1987.

In planning the Singapore River area, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) invited feedback via an exhibition and public dialogue in 1992 and 1993. With that, it formulated a vision of 'an exciting activity corridor that capitalises on the river frontage and reflects the unique historical character of the area'.

Key development corridor

Essentially, the Singapore River was to be a key development corridor with a mix of shops, offices, hotels and homes on its banks. Like Orchard Road, it would be a place where some people live, some work and others visit to shop, eat or enjoy the nightspots. The mix of activities would ensure a sustained pulse, day and night.

To realise this vision, existing industries and warehouses were phased out to be replaced by uses with higher land values. A vibrant mix of residential and commercial buildings, conservation buildings, focal points, pedestrian promenades and bridges and boat landing points were just some of the ways to make the vision a reality.

Through the efforts of the URA, other government agencies and the private sector, the Singapore River was transformed. The old-time riverine and quayside businesses gave way to recreational activities such as al fresco dining, concerts and water sports. Several rows of shophouses were conserved and business activities soon made their way into this area. Outdoor cafes, restaurants, eateries and pubs soon attracted crowds, and Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay came alive again. They now offer Singaporeans and tourists an alterative venue for fun and entertainment.

Linkages have improved too. Saiboo Street was extended to Havelock Road, improving the connection between Robertson Quay, the Central Business District and Chinatown. New landing points were added along the river and trees were planted to line the promenades. More hotels soon made their presence felt at Merchant Road, Robertson Quay and the Kim Seng areas and an established hotel corridor was formed.

Home on the river

Waterfront homes started to appear along the river banks. Projects such as The River Place, The Pier, The Sail and RiverGate were well-received when they were launched. Buyers were attracted to the different lifestyle these developments offered - where one could dine and watch boats go by, jog along the river promenades, and have easy access to recreational and entertainment activities.

The Singapore River planning area is strategically located next to the CBD and the Orchard Road shopping belt is a mere 600 metres away. This locational advantage, coupled with an efficient transport system, made it attractive to developers and investors.

Developers soon snapped up old buildings and land; over the past eight years or so, we saw developments such as The River Place, Robertson Walk, Riverside 48, The Quayside, Gallery Hotel, Riverside Point and the soon-to-be completed Central coming up. Over time, the potential of this area became more evident and attracted institutional investors to consider some of the projects offered for sale.

Leading the way is Ferrell Premier Real Estate Investment Fund, a fund managed by Ferrell Asset Management. Ferrell bought 80 units of RiverGate Condominium for $146 million or $1,080 per sq ft. RiverGate is a 545-unit development by CapitaLand and Hwa Hong Corporation at the former TradeMart site. David Lee, Ferrell's managing director, was quoted as saying that the development offers tremendous investment potential as it is well-positioned. They expect the development to be popular with their high net worth clientele.

Three sub-zones

The Singapore River Planning Area has three sub-zones - Robertson Quay, Clarke Quay and Boat Quay. As planned, Robertson Quay will have a mix of residential, hotel and commercial uses. Clarke Quay will also have a mix of commercial, residential and hotel uses. Boat Quay, on the other hand, is predominantly commercial. Among these sub-zones, Robertson Quay and Clarke Quay offer upside potential to investors. Clarke Quay, which is owned by CapitaLand, is currently undergoing an $80-million revamp. It aims to become a round-the-clock entertainment destination.

LifeBrandz, which leased some 30 per cent of Clarke Quay, has announced plans to create a vibrant nightlife scene encompassing a multi-tasking music-dance-food concept that would appeal to a wide range of people.

Eng Wah will take up some 15,000 sq ft in Clarke Quay and will be bringing in Crazy Horse Paris, the all-female cabaret show that 'celebrates the art of the nude'. Crazy Horse Paris is said to be starting their shows in December.

CapitaLand's commitment to livening up the area and the line-up of new entertainment should give a new lease of life to this area. Existing developments in the vicinity such as Liang Court and ITS Centre should benefit from the anticipated crowds that will throng this area. These developments thus have great potential to re-position themselves, and provide investors with opportunities to enhance the value of their assets in this area.

Besides the owners' or landlords' efforts to inject more life into the riverbank, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) also has plans to turn this historic waterway into an iconic waterfront precinct. The area, which runs from the mouth of the Singapore River at Marina Bay to Kim Seng Bridge and Great World City, could become a 24-hour fun belt. STB plans to realise this vision by 2015, in line with its target of attracting 17 million visitors to Singapore by that year.

Over time, we should see a transformation in the riverside landscape as more and more developers and investors are attracted to this area.

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-09-22/ekriver-215312.jpg

...Singapore's beginnings evolved along a river, and in our context, the Singapore River...

so did Jonty's... it was rather emotional for me too.


It's grainy cos the sun was behind Boat Quay.

I have to use Cavenagh Bridge's tower to shield the sun. So I took hiding behind the pillar. :P

:lol: I can imagine that... Didn't know you were also there today. how coincidental.

Notice any change to Clarke Quay?

21 Jan 2005
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1340/dscn00011qj.jpg

24 Sep 2005
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2710/p10206711dq.jpg

Much more colourful it seems......:yes: If they really want people to come, they should really develop Liang Court and Riverside Point to complement Clarke Quay and Soho Central shopping and entertainment facilities.....:yes:

Right now, Liang Court and Riverside Point doesn't seem like a major shopping and entertainment attractions.....It feels quite "dead".....:yes:

not sure if colourful is good. probably someone got the idea from nearby MICA building's colour scheme. The greenery in the centre of Clarke Quay is gone. Not sure what they did to the roof too on the left side.

Liang Court? I only remember Daimaru then. Thought BIG (a Safe store... Just wondering why they use those names) is now a major anchor tenant? Riverside Point was more of a eating place.

Maybe, with SOHO@Central, things will improve.

not sure if colourful is good. probably someone got the idea from nearby MICA building's colour scheme. The greenery in the centre of Clarke Quay is gone. Not sure what they did to the roof too on the left side.

Liang Court? I only remember Daimaru then. Thought BIG (a Safe store... Just wondering why they use those names) is now a manjor anchor tenant? Riverside Point was more of a eating place.

Maybe, with SOHO@Central, things will improve.

Haha....Daimaru already disappear already......:lol:

Sigh....they seriously need to do some marketing liao......:yes:

Daimaru is not totally gone. The supermarket is still there at the basement. :)

Daimaru is not totally gone. The supermarket is still there at the basement. :)

Meidi-Ya is a subsidary of Daimaru??? :?

don't think so. But, the Japanese ice-cream stall from Daimaru time is still there right?

Colourful!!! :D
As long as they preserve the colours of the Chinese house. :)

Singapore River

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/862/singrive9jw.jpg

I didnt notice that the colours were applied so gradually until you showed the before-and-afer pics!

Well Clarke Quay does feel more attractive now, particularly the dining scene seems to be quite popular with all those huge rubber floats.

Soon the club MOS will be sited there, giving a huge boost to the night life along the river, together with all those new residences.

Are the renovations done? Perhaps, I should go and take a walk there one of these days.

They have erected that interesting rooftop canopy...should provide shade perhaps?

Anyway it is not 100% complete

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/cq.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/189/cq27lw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

oic... I saw those in the pic from UOB too. But, not too sure if they were new roofs added to the shophouses or not.

The close-ups on the shophouses ... I think the colours are too bright and uncomfortable... Hopefully, the Old Traffic Police HQ would not be another colourful building. :p

Hmm....looks like a series of big umbrellas.....:yes:

I think Clarke Quay is meant to be a colourful area, where your imagination can soar.

Well so far it looks like a bolder attempt at rebranding....the night rendering under that huge canopy looks quite exciting :cool:

Overview of Clarke Quay:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/clarkepano.jpg

Maybe. Comparing these shophouses to the ones at Stanley St or even Petain Court, these are maybe too plain to be special... Thus, the bright colours. :)

Its colours contrast and make the Chinese house really out of the place... like in different era. ;)

i hope that big canopy is polished assiduously. it looks kind of dusty.. a bit gross if it really is dusty. maybe it should be coated with that self cleaning chemical.

Contrast of old and new
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/rvscene.jpg

This pedestrian footpath leads all the way along the river to the mouth. Seen here is the Jiak Kim Bridge
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/2292/rvscene28eb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Any pics of Zouk?
It's an old warehouse

you're 18? go down there and check it out...can go inside also ;)

no pics from me at the moment...but I can try :)

Lol!!!

Inside there's an original by Kieth Haring. :cool:

Only 3 warehouses there, RC?

Why get rid of unique traditional look of Clarke Quay? - Straits Times Forum(3/10/05) page H9

The writer, a regular visitor to Singapore, wrote to expressed her horror at the "desecration" of Clarke Quay. With the construction of pseudo "boats" along the riverside and the appalling umbrella-style coverings over the walkways, she feels that one can no longer enjoy the exciting and exotic view of the original architecture of the godowns, either from the ground or the many hotels and apartments nearby. She felt that the current reconstruction of Clarke Quay is a travesty and Singaporeans need to be more aware that our country is unique.

Yeah. Giant mushrooms would have looked way better than those umbrellas ^ ^

:lol: you have seen those steel umbrellas, right? They look so out of place... :p

Giant mushrooms sound delicious... somewhat reminds me of smurfs. hmmm...

In fact it looked very ok to me before the 'refurbishment'.

I personally dont mind those giant umbrellas...its those huge floats along the water-edge that are more contentious for me, although they do create a different atmosphere and more dining space.

Found a soccer ball floating in the middle of the river....

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/2463/p10508671ei.jpg

:? What's that for?

:lol:

i wonder that to,,but it looks cool:)

duno also leh...but quite interesting so took a photo. =P

Oct 24, 2005
The Quay to being cool
Climate-control system for walkways part of Clarke Quay's $80m revamp

By Krist Boo

COME rain or shine, a visit to Clarke Quay will soon be a cool, dry affair.

As part of its $80 million makeover, the riverside attraction is fitting its two main walkways with a climate-control system of silent blowers and canopies.

Together with trees and a courtyard fountain, the set-up will reduce the afternoon heat and keep the temperature at a balmy 28 deg C without resorting to air-conditioning.

Clarke Quay landlord CapitaLand hopes that the system - already used in Britain - will recreate the feel of a 'summer day' in London's bustling Oxford Street.

The main heat-busting device will be the canopies, dubbed 'Angels'. They will keep out the heat but still let the light through, while fans keep a breeze moving through the walkways.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-10-24/24bsin.jpg

The Angels, which will be completed by August next year, are being erected in response to surveys which found that people avoided Clarke Quay when it was wet, or too hot.

The Angels will be the next stage in the upgrading and weatherproofing of Clarke Quay, following the installation of the striking pod-like riverside alfresco dining areas there last year.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-10-24/24asin.jpg

While the aesthetic value of these pods, known as 'Blue Bells and Lilypads', has drawn negative comments from visitors, there has also been good feedback, said Mr Pua Seck Guan, CapitaLand's chief executive for retail.

Already, tenants have reported a one-third spike in business since the pods were completed.

American restaurant Hooters said human traffic has doubled. Its chief executive, Mr C.S. Chua, who has been a tenant at the quay for nine years, said that before the pods went up, few customers ventured outdoors in the daytime.

'It was a ghost town in the afternoons,' he said. 'Now, many of my customers prefer to sit outside - in the afternoon - along the river.'

The changes have also boosted demand. More than 80 per cent of the 280,000 sq ft lease space at the quay has filled up, despite rental having doubled to between $9 and $15 per sq ft for a riverfront spot.

According to Mr Pua, there is 'a queue of businesses' hoping to land the remaining space.

Ms Serene Lai, director of pool bar Baize & China One, which opened 10 months ago, said the rental is 'not an issue' so long as the place draws the crowds.

Mr Chua said: 'I have not regretted that I stayed on. As long as they can bring in more people, I don't mind paying the money.'

Whatever the quay may lack in the aesthetic department, the pods have marked a revival in Clarke Quay's fortunes over the last decade or so.

Back in 1993, the area housing conservation shophouses and godowns underwent a $220 million makeover, which opened to much fanfare.

It was then a festival market, offering a mix of pubs and restaurants, a carnival ride, the Satay Club and a fluorescent-lit food court.

But the 'pasar malam' tenant mix failed. Rent was low, tenants hard to come by and Capita- Land 'had no bargaining power', said Mr Pua.

This time round, Clarke Quay is focusing on being a yuppie hangout by making a name for itself as a place for trendy and upmarket dining and entertainment, he said.

It will devote 60 per cent of its space to restaurants and eateries, 30 per cent to entertainment such as pubs, and 10 per cent to offices.

It has already netted two anchor drawcards: French topless revue Crazy Horse and London club import the Ministry of Sound.

krist@sph.com.sg

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

August next year... so long.

The Pods.....:yes:

http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/9012/pic0441416ez.jpg

http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/2743/pic0441318yx.jpg

Taken that night.:D
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6999/river7xz.th.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=river7xz.jpg)
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6999/river7xz.jpg

^ Breathtaking although I've seen like a hundred times......:eek:

Business Times - 08 Nov 2005

It's cheaper to see this in S'pore than Paris

By ARTHUR SIM

(SINGAPORE) Those hoping to catch the cabaret act Crazy Horse Paris when it opens next month will have to fork out at least $85.

This will buy you an entrance and a standard drink at what has been billed as the hottest show in town.

And if this is going to burn a hole in your pocket, do not even bother considering the VVIP seats that are right next to the stage because these will set you - and a friend - back $500. These seats do come with half a bottle of champagne, but those sitting up front will probably already be very happy.

Crazy Horse Paris, which has been brought in by Eng Wah Organisation, has also released prices for corporate bookings.

A 'towkay' who wants to treat the entire office to a special night out can pay $58,770 for the whole theatre, which seats 450 people. The tab will also cover the standard drinks.

Smaller parties of five can take a private box for $750. This comes with two glasses of champagne for each patron.

This may sound expensive but it will actually be a bit cheaper to catch the show here than in Paris. The minimum entrance fee there is $98, with two drinks.

Designed by DP Architects, the Crazy Horse Paris theatre has been divided into several seating zones. And $85 does not necessarily buy you the most boring seat.

Architect Jeremy Tan explains that the lower-priced 'bum rest' seats around two 8-metre-long bars are actually based on an old French tradition.

'In France, the tradition is for a man to sit his girlfriend on the bar top and the bum rest is for her to rest her feet,' he adds. The man presumably stands suavely against the bar.

It is not certain that this French joie de vivre will catch on with Singaporean women. It is not even clear if women will want to catch the show. They may, however, want to check out the decor, which can only be described as French boudoir chic.

'There will be red velvet panelling on the walls with bevelled mirrors and specially designed chandeliers,' says Mr Tan.

He also reveals that the French partners of the Singapore Crazy Horse wanted a design reference to local culture. So there are two huge mirrors decorated with gilded phoenixes waiting to greet guests as they come in.

'It is a reference to Straits Chinese furniture,' the architect adds.

More thrills can be expected upstairs in the lounge room which has two swing beds suspended in the centre of the room from the ceiling. For those who want to watch, there are swing seats along the walls.

It will be a 'very intimate setting', says Mr Tan.

The 72-seat restaurant is also upstairs with a 'show kitchen', also for those who want to watch.

Amidst all the red is one 'Green Room', for which no entry price has been set as yet. This VVIP room will be for 'interviews with the dancers', says Mr Tan.

Price on application, perhaps?

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Business Times - 14 Nov 2005

Crazy Horse poised to go global with new owner

By ARTHUR SIM

(SINGAPORE) Crazy Horse Paris has a new owner and he has just rode into town to oversee the final touches to the company's latest venue at Clarke Quay.

Belgian businessman Philippe Lhomme, 45, whose holding company Franklin also has businesses in exhibition space and cable TV in Europe, bought out the Bernardin family in July, with the aim of turning Crazy Horse into the 'Cirque du Soleil' of live adult entertainment.

'I think Cirque du Soleil demonstrates that there is an incredible demand for live entertainment now,' he said.

After negotiations to buy Crazy Horse went on for more than a year, Mr Lhomme says he has plenty of plans to 'capitalise' on the brand. Besides setting up in Singapore, he is creating a touring show that debuts in Portugal next year.

He also confirmed that Tokyo and Shanghai were contenders for the first Asian Crazy Horse, saying: 'I don't think anyone will be surprised that they are the main targets in the region . . .We have received many requests from around the region.'

Singapore will be a stepping stone, he says. 'I believe in a step-by-step approach, and we have a lot to learn from Singapore.'

Singapore will also be the first venue to offer an 'integrated' approach to the Crazy Horse style of live entertainment.

'In Paris, you can have a drink at the theatre but if you want to eat, you have to go somewhere else,' says Mr Lhomme. In Singapore, the Clarke Quay venue will not only have a French restaurant - with a menu which he will help create - but will also be the launch pad for new Crazy Horse merchandise that is likely to include lingerie and perfume.

Adding on to the Crazy Horse experience is certainly a good way to increase revenue. But with local partner Eng Wah Organisation involved with operations such as sales, marketing and property, not all of the takings will go back to France - or should that be Belgium, where Mr Lhomme is based.

He is coy about how revenue will be split, except to say that part of his company's share will be 'fixed' and the rest will be 'variable'. He also clarified that the reported $5 million that Eng Wah has sunk into Crazy Horse in Singapore is not part of the franchise fee. He did not, however, say what the franchise fee is.

Still, the role of Mr Lhomme's Crazy Horse Paris company is not insignificant. 'We provide the content,' he says, adding that the dancers and even the stage manager will remain on his payroll.

Perhaps even more important is that Mr Lhomme will be exporting the work ethic of the French Crazy Horse team. 'Our house rules do not allow patrons and the girls to meet. If they do, they're out!' he says. 'I think they show enough on stage already. They don't need to give more.'

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

This story was printed from TODAYonline

Go clubbing from dusk to dawn

Weekend • November 26, 2005

IT IS the pride of London. Now with an 40,000 sq ft space in Clarke Quay, the ultra-cool nightclub Ministry of Sound is ready to challenge Zouk's dominance in Singapore.

Founded in England by Jamie Palumbo in the late 1980s, the club is credited as one of the main proponents of house music.

Main backer LifeBrandz, which also opened The Balcony, a 4,000 sq ft 24-hour lounge at The Heeren, is brimming with confidence. Its executive director Clement Lee, 35, is thriving on a diet of clubs.

He said: "Affluent property developers around the world have successfully converted old warehouses into residential lofts and marketed them at a premium. We work pretty much in the same way, except that our current focus is in revamping retail and commercial properties."

All-night clubbing is here and it plans to stay.

Mr Lee is aware that the opening of Ministry of Sound is the most anticipated event on the Singapore clubbing calendar and is milking it for all it is worth.

"The response for Ministry of Sound has been very good — we are looking at a multi-day opening," he revealed, adding that the complex will play everything from house music to R&B to cater to all musical tastes.

But with 14-year-old Zouk being the dominant player on the clubbing scene, how will the Ministry entice the Zoukettes away?

"Zouk is an entity on its own and owner Lincoln Cheng is a legend," said Mr Lee.

"However, we work in a different direction to what they're doing.

"At the end of the day, what Ministry of Sound will be doing is to offer a taste of international clubbing that is very different from what is currently offered in the local market." — Zul Othman

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

This story was printed from TODAYonline

spark quay

Dancing girls, all-night clubbing and a mega makeover for Clarke Quay

Weekend • November 26, 2005

Zul Othman
zul@newstoday.com.sg

THE family themed rides are out and leggy dancers are in as Clarke Quay fights for its future.

Its new profile will be edgier, sexier and is somewhat overdue.

Like Mohamed Sultan Road, Clarke Quay has been dismissed in some quarters as a dead zone, with a smattering of patrons losing interest in the area's few bars, restaurants and clubs.

So the area's landlord — CapitaLand Retail Limited — have gone for broke.

Beginning a major overhaul in February last year, it has already pumped in $88 million as part of its new vision: A vibrant, 24-hour entertainment district for the affluent PMEB crowd.

So if the staid old bars don't excite you, then wait for Dec 5 when topless cabaret Crazy Horse Paris opens its doors.

A little later in December, giving it company in Clarke Quay will be London's top nightclub, Ministry of Sound.

You get the picture: Glitz, glamour, topless dancers and trendy DJs. Clarke Quay will bear no resemblance to its first incarnation of 1993.

At the time comprising 80 conservation shop houses in the vicinity of River Valley Road, North Boat Quay and Tan Tye Place, Clarke Quay was touted as the foil to Mohamed Sultan and Boat Quay.

Costing $186 million, the development was the largest restoration project in Singapore.

Clarke Quay was sold as fun for the entire family, a festive village with shops selling everything from children's clothes, toys, electronic goods and food.

There was even a $25 million water-based ride called the Clarke Quay Adventure.

But the place lacked a central focus.

"At one point, Clarke Quay had pasar malam styled push carts, tattoo parlours and even an aquarium shop!" said Mr Keef Ong, co-owner of Crazy Elephant, which opened in 1994 and is one of the oldest tenants in the area.

Comedy club 1Nite Stand and dance club Attica later joined Crazy Elephant and became popular with the PMEB crowd, but it wasn't enough.

But the success of club's like 1Nite Stand provided a focus: Target a quality crowd, not quantity.

"The makeover is a general evolution for Clarke Quay," offered Dawn Tan, Centre Manager for Clarke Quay, when asked to comment on the latest redevelopment plans.

"What you see today at Clarke Quay is planned according to a research finding which we commissioned in 2001," she added.

And so you see the direction.

Almost twice the size of Zouk, the Ministry of Sound will be the major tenant in The Cannery.

Neighbouring outlets will include Spanish chill out lounge Café Del Mar, Fashion TV Bar from Paris, New York nail bar Dashing Divas and Italian restaurant Bice.

Bringing the Ministry of Sound franchise to life will be LifeBrandz Pte Ltd, which is reported to have pumped in $12.8 million into their venture at The Cannery.

Said its executive director Mr Clement Lee, 35: "Many of the concepts we have at The Cannery will open 24 hours, and all night parties at MOS are certainly part of our plans. We hope to offer round-the-clock entertainment from sunset drinks to dinner to midnight parties that end off with breakfast or brunch at The Cannery."

Similarly, many eyebrows were raised when Crazy Horse Paris announced plans to bring its celebration of l'art du nu (the art of the nude) to Clarke Quay, but the club was approved and the girls are all set to wiggle and shake.

The new vision of Clarke Quay is assuming a shape, and it promises to be more adventurous than before.

"The key word here is quality," stressed Ms Tan. That's why the tattoo parlours and the lingerie shops are out.

The hardware is also falling into place. Phase one of the redevelopment has already been completed: The 200m-long promenade facing the Singapore River has been given a facelift and now comes complete with wider walkways and colourful seating platforms called "lily pads".

The second phase kicked off in February, when a new roof canopy was installed to keep temperatures cool and the internal streets were repaved.

The entire redevelopment will be completed by next August, when Clarke Quay hopes to become a world-class destination for those PMEBs with fat wallets.

Thrilled with the developments, Mr Oliver Chong, director of events and entertainment cluster development at the Singapore Tourism Board, said that as these global brands move in, Singapore may be able to double its visitor arrivals to 17 million and triple its tourism receipts to $30 billion by the year 2015.

STB wants to redevelop Singapore River into "the most iconic 24-hour waterfront precinct in Asia", said Mr Chong.

The opening of the Clarke Quay MRT two years ago on the North-east Line is certainly seems to be in line with that strategy.

It's been a long time coming but industry watchers believe Clarke Quay has finally found its niche.

"This time around its seem to have got the mix right – whether it be original name brand outlets like Indochine or new concepts such as Crazy Horse and Ministry of Sound," said Mohan Mulani, director of Harry's International Limited.

But one questions remains. Aren't landlords CapitaLand concerned that Crazy Horse will attract a sleazy crowd to Clarke Quay?

Said Ms Tan said: "The coming of Crazy Horse ties in with our strategy of offering a variety of entertainment and lifestyle choices for the area.

"It is a different experience and a proven overseas concept that caters to mature audiences."

It's time to party.

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

Business at Clarke Quay seems to have improved. The place already seems livelier compared to just 6 months ago. Cant wait for the 'canopies' to be lighted up. :happy:

Business at Clarke Quay seems to have improved. The place already seems livelier compared to just 6 months ago. Cant wait for the 'canopies' to be lighted up. :happy:

Yeah lots of tourist it seems....:yes:

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/1192/dsc0001910qm.jpg

Yup. It's a lot more lively now than a few years ago. And they did a great job at attracting new high profile tenants !

Singapore River, further upstream.

An area in transition.

SCROLL--->

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/valeeypano.jpg

Is there anyway to turn the river sky blue?

does the river actually really look that blue? it always seems a shade of green to me

how about trying blue-tinted lenses?

does the river actually really look that blue? it always seems a shade of green to me

how about trying blue-tinted lenses?

because it's so yellowish, I hope to see it turn blue one day :D

I have perfect eyesight. don't wear lenses too. ;)

You don't wanna see the stretch of the river at Kim Seng Bridge. :puke:

@hya, I mean those lenses or filters that make everything look blue ;)

@red

which one is Kim Seng Bridge?

@hya, I mean those lenses or filters that make everything look blue ;)

@red

which one is Kim Seng Bridge?

Near Great World. ;)

This hideous thing:
http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/6206/sr6wj.jpg

Very smelly!

huh? the bridge is broken?

never noticed it! :eek:

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/2171/sr8jq.jpg
Reincarnation of old godowns.

huh? the bridge is broken?

never noticed it! :eek:

That is a barrage thingy near Kim Seng Bridge that prevents trash from flowing downstream to the sea. Everything accumulates there, and the water is quite smelly! :eek::puke:

Business Times - 30 Nov 2005

Novotel Clarke Quay opens its doors

By ARTHUR SIM

THE Novotel Clarke Quay, formerly the New Otani hotel, will officially open this Friday, about a year after it was bought by US investment bank Lehman Brothers.

Managed by the Accor Group, the 402-room hotel is being repositioned as a four-star establishment - and already its room rates have been increased 35 per cent, with standard rooms starting at $300.

General manager Vincent Lelay says the hotel is well-positioned to leverage on new attractions coming up at Clarke Quay. He has already been in discussions with the owners of Crazy Horse Paris, Ministry of Sound, Indochine and Attica, and expects to be able to offer hotel guests special benefits and discounts. 'At Crazy Horse, we are looking at giving our guests the privilege of an upgrade to a seat that will come with champagne,' he said.

All the hotel rooms have been renovated and new restaurants, as well as business floors, have been added. The renovation budget was not disclosed, but earlier reports said the new owners would spend about $12 million sprucing up the building. Lehman Brothers paid $82 million for the hotel in September 2004.

Mr Lelay says the hotel's occupancy is now 75 per cent - 'good but not great'. But the strategy is to focus on sustaining higher room rates rather than lowering rates to achieve higher occupancy.

Mr Lelay is upbeat about the 'strength of the market today' and believes that by next year, average room rates at all hotels should go up by 10-15 per cent.

At the moment, Novotel Clarke Quay is one of only a few riverside hotels including Grand Copthorne Waterfront, The Gallery Hotel and the Fullerton Singapore.

With up to 45 per cent of its guests strictly tourists, one would imagine that competition from Orchard Road hotels would be a concern. But Mr Lelay reckons the river offers quite a different experience. Clarke Quay is now touted as a 24-hour entertainment destination. 'When the shops close on Orchard Road at night, there is nothing to do,' he says.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

They should also invest some money in a revamp for the facade... Quite old and dirty :-/

Dragon boats competition on Singapore river:
http://membres.lycos.fr/pengui/051126_dragonboats01.jpg

http://membres.lycos.fr/pengui/051126_dragonboats02.jpg

http://membres.lycos.fr/pengui/051126_dragonboats03.jpg

http://membres.lycos.fr/pengui/051126_dragonboats04.jpg

http://membres.lycos.fr/pengui/051126_dragonboats05.jpg

Dec 5, 2005
Buskers Festival bows out
Lack of funding and support drives annual event to KL instead

By Krist Boo

AFTER eight years of quirky street performances, the curtain has come down on the annual Singapore Buskers Festival.

Originally scheduled to run for nine days from Nov 13, it never got off the ground this year as its organisers quietly went into discussions on moving the event to Kuala Lumpur next May.

Beginning in Clarke Quay in 1997, the festival brought together buskers from around the world for more than a week of free public entertainment.

It is believed a lack of funding and support led the festival founder, Mr Jimmy Wong, to throw in the towel.

Mr Wong, former director of events company Gywndara International, had earlier mentioned the challenge of getting sponsors for the festival, which costs about $800,000 to stage.

In a telephone interview on Friday, Mr Wong would not confirm why there was no show here this year. He would only say: 'KL is more hungry. They are prepared to pay good money for a good festival.'

Mr Wong, who recently quit his entrepreneur status to join Singex Exhibitions as its director of festivals and events, said he mulled over the Malaysian offer for a while.

'It's a very sad year for me. I have disappointed a lot of children, a lot of families who have looked forward to the festival this year,' he said.

The festival here was the largest in Asia, outside Japan, drawing more than 500,000 people each year.

It has raised more than $1 million for charity since its inception and spread from Clark Quay to spots such as Orchard Road, Singapore Expo, Bedok Reservoir and Changi Airport last year.

Asked if the festival was losing money, Mr Wong said: 'I won't exactly say it was loss-making...Let's just say it was too much work for too little money.'

Talks are still ongoing for the Malaysian festival which Mr Wong plans to organise. It may be held on a bigger scale, he said.

News of the no-show here brought Miss Eunice Wong close to tears.

The 17-year-old polytechnic student has not missed a single festival, and had set aside about $50 at the start of the year for her contribution to the buskers.

'I am so heartbroken. It's a very beautiful festival for me because of the people.

'In Singapore, the musicians you see on the road are mostly disabled. You rarely see people who enjoy street-performing.

'But the ones who come down to the festival really enjoy doing it. They are really funny people and they know how to work the crowd. I can really connect with them.'

Another fan, systems analyst Loh Koah Fong, 38, said: 'There are no other events of this nature. Most events are indoor and you have to pay for them.'

The festival's departure did not have an impact on business, but it will be missed for the fun and nostalgia, said a Clarke Quay nightspot manager.

Ms Anita Lydia, manager of blues bar Crazy Elephant, said: 'We have been having it for the past eight years.

'It definitely was one of the attractions of Clarke Quay. It added a lot of colour.'

krist@sph.com.sg

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved

05 December 2005

Singapore slated to be entertainment capital of Asia: Lim Hng Kiang
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia

The Crazy Horse show got off to a galloping start at the Clarke Quay on Monday evening.

This first-ever public performance of the famous Parisian act in Singapore is a charity gala in aid of the Breast Cancer Foundation.

The cabaret's scantily-clad female dancers took to the stage at a former two-storey warehouse that has been specially renovated to incorporate a 450-seat theatre, bar and bistro.

Eng Wah Organisation has refurbished the warehouse at a cost of S$7m to make the venue of Singapore's Crazy Horse the largest in the world and the first-of-its-kind Crazy Horse integrated entertainment complex.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry says it is just the first of many more exciting developments in the night entertainment sector.

Over the next year, more than S$60 million will be injected by the private sector to develop and boost the night entertainment industry.

The ministry also says it is intent on making Singapore the entertainment capital of Asia.

Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang said: "As part of the Tourism 2015 plan to double visitor arrivals to 17 million and triple tourism receipts to $30 billion, we are also intent on making Singapore the entertainment capital of Asia.

"The Singapore Tourism Board is encouraging local and foreign entrepreneurs to adopt the twin strategies of either anchoring major brand names in entertainment or to trend spot and innovate.

"Crazy Horse Paris is an example of both approaches - Eng Wah has taken an international brand name and made it Uniquely Singapore by conceptualising a flagship, first-of-its-kind, Crazy Horse integrated entertainment complex.

"Later this month, one of the world's most famous clubs and a haven for lovers of electronic music, the Ministry of Sound, will open just a few doors away.

"By mid next year, we will also see the home-grown St James Power Station burst onto the scene with its unique one-stop lifestyle and entertainment mega hub of nine concept outlets.

"These front-runners will set the stage for other world-class entertainment products to base themselves in Singapore." - CNA/ir

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

Which colour do u like?? :?

Blue
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/ylstan01/DSC006981.jpg

Red
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/ylstan01/DSC006971.jpg

OR Green
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/ylstan01/DSC006961.jpg

Dec 6, 2005
Crazy Horse struts into town

By Krist Boo

TOPLESS revue Crazy Horse played its red-carpet opening night yesterday to 450 guests.

And in keeping with the act, the guest of honour, Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang, smilingly kept his words very brief.

He had prepared a speech to point out that Singapore's night life will get a $60 million injection from the private sector next year.

But with the show running 25 minutes late, he went on stage and told the audience that he was prepared to can his speech.

Drawing loud cheers, he said with a smile: 'If the members of the press can take the speech as said, then we can go on with the show.'

And the show went on.

But back to business - half the $60 million sum comes from investors putting on the two Clarke Quay acts - Crazy Horse and the Ministry of Sound - and the rest from St James Power Station, a nine-outlet mega-nightlife hub led by pub veteran Dennis Foo.

The Ministry of Sound will open this month.

Mr Foo's project along the Harbourfront is due to open in stages from next June until the end of the year.

The 90-minute Crazy Horse show opens to the public today with tickets going from $85 for a seat and a drink to $58,770 for a night's reservation of the whole theatre, complete with drinks.

Crazy Horse spokesman Oh Chee Eng said current ticket sales figures are not yet available, but it has received corporate bookings all the way to March.

Tickets can be bought at www.sistic.com.sg

krist@sph.com.sg

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Which colour do u like?? :?

Blue
Red
OR Green
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c121/ylstan01/DSC006961.jpg

Eeeeeh not green ^ ^
They should have one red mushroom, one blue one green and let them cycle ^ ^ That would be funky ^ ^

Hmm....the chef taking a break?? :?

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4194/dsc0070312ht.jpg

babystan i like the blue one:)

heh maybe it is the chef turn to be customer;)

I'm very impressed with the Clarke Quay canopies...saw it just now...simply awesome and quite 'radical' for Singapore.

nice pics too :cool:

Business Times - 09 Dec 2005

LIVE SHOWS
Crazy Horse trots into town

The nude stage show is to a strip joint what fine dining is to fast food, discovers GEOFFREY EU

SINGAPORE'S live entertainment scene came of age (R21 age, that is) in suitably spectacular fashion earlier this week when the naughty-but-nice nude stage show Crazy Horse Paris made its much-hyped debut at its dazzling custom-built premises in Clarke Quay.

In a commendable show of support for the Breast Cancer Foundation - the beneficiary of Monday's gala opening evening - a black-tie audience turned up on time and in buoyant mood for the milestone event.

Despite some confusion about seating arrangements among fired-up society types, there was more than a hint of Parisian sophistication in the air when the highly-vaunted act - featuring a boldly seductive blend of showgirls (showing off their prime physical assets), snazzy recorded music and extremely clever lighting - kicked off on an impressive note.

A row of long-legged beauties paraded on stage during an eye-popping pseudo-military opening number - flashing confident smiles, bearskin caps and plenty of bare skin to boot. It captured the essence of Crazy Horse's audacious brand of carefully-choreographed fun and dames and set a perfect tone for the high-quality programme that followed - featuring single or multiple dancers on stage at any one time.

When it comes to the art of the nude - as the show is appropriately billed - Crazy Horse has got it down pat. After more than 50 years of titillating audiences in Paris (and more recently in Las Vegas) with its celebrated take on the erotic dance arts and the beauty of the female form, it looks set to further enhance the premium nightlife scene here.

The Crazy Horse experience is a stunning departure for those of us who can still recall early-generation cabaret venues like Tropicana (on Scotts Road), The Kasbah (at the Mandarin Hotel) and the Neptune Theatre. Entertainment group Eng Wah Organization has teamed up with the France-based Crazy Horse to recreate an intimate and authentic slice of Paris in Singapore - right down to the padded red interiors and the plush art-deco furnishings, which help to evoke a modern-day Moulin Rouge. The over-the-top(less) decorative theme is continued upstairs in an equally quirky bar and bistro that completes the transformation to early-20th-century Paris.

There is a power, precision and professionalism to the 100-minute show that immediately identifies it as a top-notch act - in its category, nothing before it has come close. The performers - new recruits as well as veterans from the Paris and Las Vegas revues - don't rely solely on their physical attributes and dancing ability. They are also able to find a delicate balance between connecting with the audience and remaining personally detached at the same time - it's not as simple as it sounds, but these girls can-can do it with style.

At this point, it should perhaps be stressed that there is nothing remotely tacky about the Crazy Horse approach to nudity - female patrons are just as likely to be entertained as the men - because it is to a strip joint what fine dining is to fast food. Portions of the current revue - called Taboo - are certainly more risque than what local audiences may be used to but the show is so discernibly high-class that a reasonably strict dress code should be imposed on the customers.

Is Singapore ready for sophisticated bare-breasted entertainment of the sort offered by Crazy Horse Paris? It would appear so - if the buzz created on gala night is anything to go by. 'It's just like being in Paris,' enthused a breathless audience member at the end of the show. The elaborate closing number is titled Va Va Voom - and that probably says it all.

Crazy Horse Paris, 3B River Valley Road, #01-01 Clarke Quay. Tel: 6336-1800. www.crazyhorseparis.com.sg. Tickets prices at $85 to $250 per person. Two shows daily at 7.30 pm and 10 pm (closed Mondays), additional show at 12.30 am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

11 December 2005

Crazy Horse show is a celebration of the female body, say organisers
By Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpjmCSHX.jpg

It's been called "l'art du nu" or the "art of the nude".

Organisers behind the newly-opened Crazy Horse Paris in Singapore say their shows are actually a celebration of the female body, much like art on canvass.

And they expect the shows to be popular with both men and women.

Organisers call the gyrating bodies on stage their canvasses.

Combined with specially composed music and lighting, these canvasses are turned into pieces of art.

Choreographer of the Crazy Horse show, Sofia Balma, said: "We do exactly nude and art. We work with the girls like they are from the museum. We have plenty of light, fantastic light, there's the colour on the body and it's like a painting."

Yianni, in charge of sound and lighting, said: "We're running the show with the show control which gives us precise timing to our lighting cues and sound cues. The Crazy Horse lighting is very unique, very special. It has only one purpose - to dress these beautiful girls, to make them look more mysterious."

Choreographers say audience-wise, it's a good mix of men and women at the newly opened Singapore outlet.

But they've received more praise from women about the shows at other Crazy Horse outfits in Paris and Las Vegas. - CNA/ir

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

The upcoming MOS

(taken from lianhe Zaobao)

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/8025/dsc0091317jk.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9782/dsc0091519of.jpg

looks exciting on the outside already :yes:

Should go there and take pictures someday......:D:yes:

soon...soon :yes:

Thinking in the midst of the excitment

http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/5016/dsc0098118hv.jpg

Thinking in the midst of the excitment

http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/5016/dsc0098118hv.jpg

Wow, I'm impressed with the colors of this pic :-)

^ Thanks.....:D

The "umbrellas" close up

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5695/dsc0097619ot.jpg

This story was printed from TODAYonline

It's twice as big as Zouk

A peep into the funky world of the Ministry of Sound

Thursday • December 15, 2005

David Chew
david.chew@newstoday.com

CYCLONES born of fan and foam on the dance floor. A six-metre wall of water that acts as a projection screen. VIP rooms that offer their own personal DJs.

These are frills to thrill party-goers when world-famous nightclub Ministry of Sound (MOS) opens the doors of its largest outlet around the globe on Friday, right here in Singapore.

The Clarke Quay club, built at the cost of $7.2 million, will play host to legends in R&B, disco and other genres of music.

Founded in England in the 1980s, MOS has been credited for the worldwide popularity of house music.

But being the leader in the nightclub scene these days isn't just "merely about good DJs anymore, it's not just about the facilities", said general manager Terry Lumb, who gave the press a sneak preview of the facilities yesterday.

Roughly twice the size of competitor Zouk at Jiak Kim Street, MOS aims to set itself even further apart by offering a unique clubbing experience every night with a "live" aspect, which will include orchestras, choirs and electric violinists.

Throwing down the gauntlet for other local nightspots, he said: "We will lead the nightlife industry in Singapore into a whole new market of shows, productions."

For instance, Mr Lumb hopes to bring the nascent United Kingdom/indie scene here "to the forefront of the music scene, to bring it to the masses".

The club, which spans more than 12,000 sq m at The Cannery, is split into two levels.

Speciality areas include a main hall that will play the trademark MOS dance anthems and house music; a lounge which will play retro disco music; an R&B area called Smoove; and three VIP rooms each with their own DJ and DJ console.

The club can hold more than 3,000 people and has a $1-million sound system. Some of the murals are decorated by Italian graffiti artists and a fibre-optics chandelier greets visitors in the reception area.

The club opens to the public at 10pm this Friday.

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

16 December 2005

Ministry of Sound prepares to break taboos
By Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : The biggest outfit of British dance club, Ministry of Sound, opens its doors in Singapore on Friday.

Built at about S$7 million, the 40,000 square foot venue is the biggest outfit under the brand worldwide.

The two-storey club at Clarke Quay can hold over 3,000 party-goers, who will get to enjoy four different genres of music under one roof.

The club expects to do well in a competitive entertainment scene where others have floundered.

Said Terry Lumb, general manager at Ministry of Sound, "Some of the clubs in Singapore in the past have closed, have had a limited appeal through one genre of music; so they can be in the dance club specifically, with no other offerings.

"It's not just about dance music; it's not just about R&B. It's about being prepared to break the taboos; it's about being prepared to open new horizons. And club goers can expect at Ministry of Sound in Singapore, the unexpected." - CNA

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

When is no smoking rule in pubs/discos going to take effect next year?

I think it's June 2006.....not very sure though.....:yes:

I wonder how it will affect the business? :dunno:

Not sure, but I think there will be smoking corner......:yes:

Merchant Court Hotel near Clarke Quay

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/3741/dsc0097111td.jpg

This Sony camera creates many stars... :dizzy:


http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4801/dscn07051ho.jpg

The Sony's engineer idea of dazzling......:lol:

This Sony camera creates many stars... :dizzy:

My sony camera only knows how to create big over-exposed patches :°-(

Anyone checking this out?? :D

The Electric New Paper :

Giant chandelier, figure 8 layout

The much-hyped Ministry of Sound Singapore will come alive on Friday at Clarke Quay, here's what to expect behind its doors:

THE biggest Ministry Of Sound (MOS) Singapore clubbing outlet will finally open its doors this Friday, but Mr Terry Lumb has a big task at hand.

By Gregory Leow
15 December 2005

THE biggest Ministry Of Sound (MOS) Singapore clubbing outlet will finally open its doors this Friday, but Mr Terry Lumb has a big task at hand.

He has been in Singapore only eight weeks as its general manager.

Mr Lumb is helping to bring the club into the saturated scene here, granted it's a world-famous name. But as a non-Asian, grasping local clubbing culture is going to be a challenge.

Local club Zouk, on the other hand, has been at it for 14 years and has rightly won the trust and hearts of clubbers.

Mr Lumb understands that. He said: 'Zouk is a great club and very successful at what it does.'

His plan for MOS Singapore, built at an estimated $7 million, is to offer a different emphasis from what has been established.

'The idea of pairing up a DJ with a bongo player on stage has been done in the UK. But people have outgrown that. So for a change, why not an electric violinist?' said Mr Lumb, 42.

Mr Lumb is not new to the nightlife industry. He has been involved in clubs in the UK, such as Dome in Birmingham and Waterfall in Blackpool, for about 22 years.

While the British design team, as well as the UK operations manager and chief designer, involved in setting up MOS Singapore have left, Mr Lumb will be in charge for the next two years.

'We will be shepherding nightclubs here, with new and varying elements,' declared Mr Lumb.

WATER CURTAIN

Design-wise, MOS hopes to impress clubbers with grand pieces like a fibre-optic chandelier, spanning 4.6m and over two storeys high.

There will be a water curtain, 6m by 4.6m, offering a double-sided projection with impressive 'fire' and 'falling snow' backdrops in the main dance hall. Alongside designer furniture from Europe, Japan and the UK, DJ Justin Berkmann, one of the founders of the original MOS in London, has helped to bring in Kas and Cyop, leading Italian graffiti artists to do some of the internal artwork.

Though Mr Berkmann, who set up MOS London with Mr James Palumbo and Mr Humphrey Waterhouse, is no longer officially associated with MOS, he has been here tweaking the sound system.

He is most proud of the 'figure 8' layout, which allows clubbers to walk around easily. It is something that is missing in many clubs, he said.

'People like to move from room to room to dance,' said Mr Berkmann, 42, who was responsible for the MOS name and logo.

He added that MOS Singapore is like an evolution to the original MOS London: 'People like clubs which are not too polished, not too perfect. Clubs which are a bit darker and yet fun, do not take themselves too seriously. This MOS has that.'

All you want to know about MOS Singapore

The different areas:

Ministry: Main dance hall. Dance anthems, with deep house, breaks, progressive house, funky/vocal house, electroclash

54: Pop and retro, with multi-coloured led dancefloors like the original Studio 54.

Smoove: R&B music

Tattinger Lounge: cutting edge and innovative music

Pure: Member's lounge with bed booths, playing chilled out funky house

VIP rooms: Scattered around the complex for the super VIPs, with its own DJ console and bar

Entrance charges:

Before 10.30pm, entry charges will vary from $10 to $20, depending on the night. After 10.30pm, $20, including one drink for the first floor (Ministry and Smoove) and $25, including two drinks for the second floor (54 and Pure).

Other details:

Price of a standard gin and tonic, non-happy hour: $11.50 (1st floor) and $14 (2nd floor)Capacity: 3,160 people

Size: 12,192 sq m

Opening hours: 9pm to 4am, every day

Resident DJs: 10, six British and four local.

Location: The Cannery, Clarke Quay

Sound system: $1 million, a collaboration by Mr Austin Derek and Mr Steven Dash. Mr Dash has designed sound systems at top clubs such as Cocoon (Germany), Home (London) and Twilo (NYC), while Mr Derek was the engineer behind the original MOS sound system.

WIN EXCLUSIVE LAUNCH PARTY PASSES

Just log on to www.ministryofsound.com.sg/contest and sign up to be on its mailing list and you'll stand a chance to win one of 10 free exclusive entry passes.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved.

Ministry of Sound opening

Big sound draws big crowd

SINGAPORE meet Ministry Of Sound (MOS). Ministry, meet Singapore.
The biggest superclub in Singapore's history had its grand opening at Clarke Quay yesterday.

By Gregory Leow
18 December 2005

SINGAPORE meet Ministry Of Sound (MOS). Ministry, meet Singapore.

The biggest superclub in Singapore's history had its grand opening at Clarke Quay yesterday.

Party-goers were there almost two hours before the doors opened at 10pm.

And 15 minutes later, the queue of about 300 clubbers almost reached River Valley Road. By 10.30pm, already more than a 1,000 people had shown up.

While many had invitations, about half didn't. They just wanted to see the club. People in the queue we interviewed had high expectations.

'I expect it to be better or at least different from Zouk. It is a famous brand and there has been talk about them coming for so many years. It is finally here,' said IT engineer Rave Tan, 36.

Clubbers were looking forward to the different rooms, the big space inside and expected a wider range of music.

Outside, stilt-walkers, plate-spinners and fire-breathers entertained the crowd. VIP guests were allowed in from 9pm.

Celebrities, such as Sheikh Haikel and Angela May, were interviewing people for television.

Once the crowd got in, reactions were mixed.

'It is much bigger than I expected. The different rooms are very nicely designed. I expected it after seeing the nice design at Heeren's Balcony,' said Ms Cheng, 21.

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-12-17/pg4bt.jpg

Mr Keith Ng, 20, said: 'It is nothing special. Nothing different from Zouk. Maybe it will change over time.'

Another clubber, Mr Mark Anthony, 18, said he would prefer it over Zouk: 'The place is awesome. You can only stand around or dance at Zouk, but here, there is space and chairs for you to chill out.'

Lawyer John Pok, 37, thinks that MOS will give Zouk a run for its money, but he did not like the sound system: 'It is loud, but it is not that clear. The sound is a bit muffled.'

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-12-17/pg4t.jpg

He also felt that there should be more lighting as he almost tripped on several occasions.

The most packed room was Smoove, playing R&B music. By 11pm, the club was roughly half-full. The club's capacity is 3,160.

Said student Sharon Chong, 24: 'I like the interiors, the graffiti and the cage around the dance floor, very grunge.'

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. No. 198402868E. All rights reserved.

I wonder how it will affect the business? :dunno:

in Sweden it went pretty ok with the smooking law,its a good thing....Raffie will not like it;):)

Some scenes from Cavenagh Bridge

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/cvb.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/cvb2.jpg
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3580/cvb39zr.jpg

Hmm....seems like the bridge is becoming quite popular with tourist.....:yes:

very much so...I always see tourists hanging around that spot taking pics

I'm sure the Fullerton is also an attraction for them :happy:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/fullerton4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/fullerton3.jpg

^the evening shots look fabulous.....:cool:

^^

thanks...the red does add a sense of warmth to the darkening evening :happy:

nice pics! fullerton looks so classy...

Very nice colour lighting! :cool:

wow singapore river is beautiful

More river scenes

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/riverscene.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/riverscene2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/riverscene3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/riverscene4.jpg

like the contrast of the last pic.

Thanks

Here are 2 pics of Clarke Quay

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/cq1.jpg
http://img333.imageshack.us/img333/5488/cq22fc.jpg

btw more of the renovation work has been completed.

There is now a dancing water fountain in the middle of the courtyard, with some coloured lights embedded on the ground.

Are the 'angel' thingies complete? :dunno:

erm...what 'angel's ?

The project to turn the streets into covered walkways... the name is 'angel' something...

i think it is not completed yet.

Some pics I took last yr...think I didnt up them here...

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/3046/p1060875a1ok.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7863/p10801517cb.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/6589/p10801656mf.jpg

=)

Superb.....:eek::okay:

Clarke Quay is indeed beautiful :yes:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/cqa.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/cqb.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/cqc.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/cqf.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/cqe.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/cqd.jpg

^Marvellous!!!!:eek:

Thanks!

The water fountain was recently opened up...there are still more areas that are still yet to be opened up...its awesome :cool:

The water fountain is fun! :happy:

Lovely pictures! :)

Wow.....seems like D50 is truly impressive.....:okay:

WOW! So beautiful, raffie!

thanks guys, will post more pics another day :cool:

^Can't wait.....:yes:

My first posting from my new toy.....:D

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/City%20Landscape/DSC_01266.jpg

Another one.....:D

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/City%20Landscape/DSC_0128.jpg

Colourful Shophouses......Can see quite a number of photographers around.....:D
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/City%20Landscape/DSC_0132.jpg

This is so romantic......:yes:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/City%20Landscape/DSC_01477.jpg

Awesome!

Congrats on your new toy!

Clarke Quay has got to be the river's most photogenic spot now :cool:

Awesome!

Congrats on your new toy!

Clarke Quay has got to be the river's most photogenic spot now :cool:

Thanks......:D

Clarke Quay is so gorgeous at night now......I think it'll be more exciting when SOHO@Central opens......:yes:

I think orange goes really well with the shophouses.....:yes: (best out of all colours)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/City%20Landscape/DSC_0127.jpg

eh...I really prefer blue and purple, but orange/red really suits that Chinese-style building...btw is there green? I dont recall seeing it.

Some of the alterations involve adding glass panels to create shop-frontages, but the glass itself doesnt detract from the building:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/cqdecor.jpg

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6190/cqdecor29rr.jpg

^ Super smooth shots....:eek:

There's green also......but i think thats the most ugly one.....:lol:

yes...I dont remember green...not an easy-colour

thanks :cool:

Lotus in clarke quay.....:lol:

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/City%20Landscape/DSC_0137.jpg

CLASSIC SINGAPORE

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/nitezwpp.jpg

^ Brilliant picture.....:eek:

^ Capital Tower looks soooooooo tiny comparing to the others...

Cavenagh Bridge and skyscrapers of the river:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/nitez5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/nitez6.jpg

hope this lighting will be enhanced with more lazers, and it will brighten up the sky

Lazy riverside

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7273/rv1504b1rt.jpg
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/8016/rv1504c0iv.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8936/rv15045va.jpg

Dine out by the river
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/70-300mm/DSC_0040.jpg

Like some porridge?? :D
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/70-300mm/DSC_0043.jpg

Grey and blue seems to go well together....:D
1.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Sigma/DSC_0024.jpg
2.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Sigma/DSC_0020.jpg
3.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Sigma/DSC_0023.jpg

Thought provoking fountain
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Sigma/DSC_0313.jpg

brilliant!!!!

Thanks.....:D

Here's a few more
1.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Sigma/DSC_0309.jpg
2.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Sigma/DSC_0316.jpg
3.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Sigma/DSC_0307.jpg

Skyscrapers on the edge of the river

http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/1566/sgriveredit9bs.jpg

Beautiful day pics :yes:

Clarke Quay is definitely very photogenic at night with the fountains :)

Sexy bridges Part 1....:D
1.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Bridges/DSC_0099.jpg
2.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Bridges/DSC_0101.jpg
3.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Bridges/DSC_0103.jpg

^ Part 2.....:D
1.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Bridges/DSC_0122r.jpg
2.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Bridges/DSC_0128.jpg

the bridge is nice, but alittle skinny

the bridge is nice, but alittle skinny

Haha.....amusing observation.....:D

Here's another one near the area.....:D
1.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Bridges/DSC_0116.jpg
2.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Bridges/DSC_0119.jpg
3.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Bridges/DSC_0118.jpg

See Double
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Sigma%2018-200mm/DSC_0106.jpg

I guess we seldom take from this angle.....:)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Sigma%2018-200mm/DSC_0107.jpg

08 May 2006

Clarke Quay celebrates completion of phase two of $80m revamp
By Johnson Choo, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Phase two of the $80 million revamp of Clarke Quay has just been completed.

Developer CapitaLand Retail began the work in February 2004 and wants to transform the area into a premier entertainment and F&B hub in Singapore.

Marking the completion of a new roof canopy is a party right in the heart of Clarke Quay.

The fountain in the centre of the precinct is not only decorative, it is also an integral part of a massive cooling system that will provide a cooler environment for visitors.

Unlike air-conditioning, air is drawn in along the walkways over the 16-degree cold water, thereby cooling the ambient temperature.

"We have a cultural setting; historically this place was used for merchant trade so you have all the warehouses and historical buildings here. So we came up with a great retail and F&B concept with entertainment, and solve the environmental issue," said Pua Seck Guan, CEO of CapitaLand Retail.

With the cooler environment, CapitaLand is hoping to see human traffic increase from 320,000 to more than 500,000 a month.

Since 2005, retail and F&B operators have seen an increase in business by up to 50 percent.

CapitaLand says a good mix of tenants is key to success.

"We have achieved more than 85 percent occupancy today. We are just awaiting the 3rd phase to be completed by October this year, and we're confident of achieving full occupancy or near 100 percent. Our objective is to create Clarke Quay as one of the region's most exciting and successful entertainment and F&B. It will help Singapore draw the tourists here," said Pua.

If CapitaLand succeeds in rejuvenating Clarke Quay, it will consider transplanting this entire concept to other markets, the first of which could be China.

The entire redevelopment is scheduled to be completed in October 2006.

- CNA /ls




Copyright © 2006 MCN International Pte Ltd

Cool pics of the bridges

Did you get a pic of the bridge thats painted in multi-colours?

Hopefully that stretch of the river could get livelier as its still rather quiet.

Cool pics of the bridges

Did you get a pic of the bridge thats painted in multi-colours?

Hopefully that stretch of the river could get livelier as its still rather quiet.

Yes....I've got some pictures of it....:D I find the place rather quiet.....they should revamp the place.....:yes:

1.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Bridges/DSC_0108.jpg
2.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Bridges/DSC_0112.jpg
3.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Bridges/DSC_0114.jpg

Thanks...I think thats the most 'loud' bridge...I'm sure it must have caught your attention, but I also like the simplicty of the first 2 :D

There is a lot of urban renewal going on nearby...although it seems likely to be a higher end condo area...nevertheless the increased density and projects coming onstream in the future could add more vibrancy.

Meanwhile, its good for a quiet walk, to get away from the crowds at Clarke Quay :happy:

Thanks...I think thats the most 'loud' bridge...I'm sure it must have caught your attention, but I also like the simplicty of the first 2 :D

There is a lot of urban renewal going on nearby...although it seems likely to be a higher end condo area...nevertheless the increased density and projects coming onstream in the future could add more vibrancy.

Meanwhile, its good for a quiet walk, to get away from the crowds at Clarke Quay :happy:

Yeah....I dun think anyone will miss the bridge when u're walking there...:lol:

The quietness can be quite alluring sometimes.....a bit like Kallang....:yes:

Which angle is better?? :D

1.
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/8927/dsc03295ks.jpg
2.
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/5738/dsc03343yx.jpg

hmmm... none of the above.

Trying out my remote and my zoom lens.....:D

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Tanjong%20Pagar/DSC_0070.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Tanjong%20Pagar/DSC_0069.jpg

Copthone Waterfront
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1603/dsc01341kb.jpg

One of the most stunningly-lit hotels :yes:

^ Yes.....:yes:

Hmm....seem like the Nikon 70-300mm lens control glare better than the Sigma 18-200mm......:yes:

Quay battles

28 May 06

While an overhauled Clarke Quay is drawing the crowds away from key rival Boat Quay, Robertson Quay and Marina South have their own image problems to iron out

By Tan Dawn Wei

WHEN it comes to extreme makeovers, the new Clarke Quay has really pushed the boat out... in more ways than one. With the entertainment strip's two-year cosmetic job near completion - the third and last phase will be sewn up by October - its nearby sister waterfront patch, Boat Quay, is feeling the heat.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2006-05-28/ST_IMAGES_LIFDTQUAY.jpg
BRIGHT LIGHTS: The crowds are back at Clarke Quay after a revamp that includes riverside dining in lotus-like pods that lend a festive air to the place. -- JESSICA LIM


Clarke Quay now covers 280,000 sq ft and is looking spruce, thanks to the $80 million upgrade, and has a top-notch landlord to attract the best tenants and in turn, a classy crowd of customers.

Boat Quay, on the other hand, is half the size, managed by a mixed bag of landlords, and is beset by annoying touts and the occasional young unruly crowd.

It wasn't always this way. When it first opened in restored glory in 1993, Boat Quay was the one putting Clarke Quay in the shade. It was hot and happening, drawing crowds who loved its quaint shophouses and outdoor ambience.

Clarke Quay, further along the Singapore River, opened the same year after a $220 million restoration, but without the same pizzazz. It had a family-oriented festival village concept, in accordance with its Urban Redevelopment Authority blueprint.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2006-05-28/ST_IMAGES_LIFDTQUAY1t.jpg
BLEAK TIMES: Dwindling business in Boat Quay has caused some restaurants to resort to touting, which further drives customers away.

Now, it is having its time in the sun, encroaching on Boat Quay's turf with an aggressive move into the yuppies/tourists territory through a large contingent of stylish bars and restaurants.

While some Boat Quay tenants have put on a brave face, one bar, at least, admits that business has dipped 20 per cent since Clarke Quay's makeover.

Indeed, human traffic at Clarke Quay has gone up from 200,000 to 300,000 a month to 500,000, now that it has completed its second phase.

By the time Phase 3 is done, landlord CapitaLand projects the numbers to be between 800,000 and one million a month.

'You can say that Boat Quay is a competitor but only on a very small scale,' says Mr Pua Seck Guan, 42, chief executive officer of CapitaLand Retail.

Yes, it's a bit of a David and Goliath situation - Clarke Quay's parent is itself the mother of almost all Singapore's listed property companies with a footprint in more than 70 cities.

Clarke Quay enjoys a privileged 'upbringing' - parent CapitaLand makes sure you mix with the right company (it is strict about its tenant mix), your grooming is impeccable (it hired renowned British architect Will Alsop), you're protected from the elements (part of the design includes weatherproofing) and you get to bask in the limelight (a landlord-driven marketing campaign).

Boat Quay, on the other hand, has a multi-parentage of individual landlords, no complementary tenant mix to speak of and no central management infrastructure that can map out and execute promotional plans.

On top of that, it suffers from an image problem, thanks to the incessant touts trying to woo customers into the many restaurants along the riverfront stretch.

'Boat Quay is too touristy and shady, and this has to do with the Lians and Bengs who frequent the cheaper outlets there. The touts spoil the atmosphere of the place,' says writer Jaclyn Tan, 22, who has stopped patronising the strip.

The Boat Quay Business Association's president, Mr Colin MacDonald, 38, readily admits that touting is the No. 1 complaint it receives from patrons.

'Unfortunately, it's a difficult issue to counter without the support of the authorities. It's always very difficult to modify people's behaviour,' he says.

Not only that, traffic is also bad, roads are narrow and parking is a problem, laments Miss Ting Ng, 29, manager of Eski Bar.

Boat Quay's businesses want a solution to all their woes - top on the list being their lack of cohesion.

'Boat Quay is gradually going downhill. There is no one to stop the opening of shoddy establishments or touting. The Government finds it hard to come in and change things because there is no unity among landlords,' says Mr Eddie Chan, 67, director of Jazz@Southbridge, a popular live jazz bar situated at one end of Boat Quay.

It's a sentiment shared by Mr Andrew Koh, 35, general manager of Harry's Bar: 'In Clarke Quay, the landlords all speak the same language. The challenge for Boat Quay is to match that and attract a bigger flow of traffic.'

Which is why the Boat Quay Business Association has set the wheels of a unity plan in motion.

It is working with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and is conducting a feasibility study for a 'Business Improvement District' - a management model much like Times Square in New York City, where a government-endorsed private sector body would be responsible for managing the area.

'It's similar to how a management corporation would work in a condo,' explains Mr MacDonald, who owns Molly Malone's Irish Pub and BQ Bar.

While he says Clarke Quay's facelift was not an impetus for them to get their act together, it has made them more conscious about keeping up their standards and positioning Boat Quay better.

It'll be a tough fight, given Boat Quay is up against Clarke Quay's single-minded vision of being a must-stop for tourists, and also the F&B and entertainment precinct of choice for Singaporeans.

Varied, quality offerings plus unmatched ambience plus continual innovation equal sustainability, so goes CapitaLand's formula.

So in its first phase, it went out and courted brand names like IndoChine which has a track record of running bars and restaurants with something unique to offer.

The F&B group now operates the two-storey Madame Butterfly restaurant and Bar Cocoon at Clarke Quay.

There's a further boost on the horizon - literally. Above the Clarke Quay MRT station, the steel structures of Central are fast taking shape. It is Far East Organization's $500 million project, comprising a 25-storey tower for studio offices, another 25-storey office tower, two lower-rise SoHo (Small Office Home Office) blocks and a five-storey glitzy mall run by Parco targeted at hip urbanites, due to open later this year.

Adding to the buzz - and critical mass - are the major renovation plans for neighbouring, recently-sold Liang Court Shopping Centre, which could see its frontage switch from River Valley Road to face the Singapore River.

By STB's own yardstick, the river will become a round-the-clock fun strip by 2015, stretching from Marina Bay to Great World City.

It has already called for proposals to turn the stretch into a magnet for foreign high-spenders who will splash their cash on the dining and entertainment options dotting the waterfront.

For now, patrons can look forward to the return of Satay Club to Clarke Quay in October and more new retailers, including The Highlander, touted as Singapore's first Scottish bar and restaurant, and another Dashing Diva Nail Spa outlet.

Current tenants are basking in the fresh hype. Mr Bill Graham, 62, owner of Quayside Dining and Peony Jade, who has been at Clarke Quay since 2002, says business is up '400 per cent' from then. 'It's like night and day,' he exclaims.

Ms Roslyn Ng, marketing and communications manager of Royal Selangor, has also seen the profile of the pewter-maker's clientele changed from 2004.

Before, it saw many families coming through the door. Now, it's more expats, foreigners and executives, or as Ms Ng, who is in her late 40s, describes, 'the in crowd'.

Even so, Boat Quay still has a firm grasp on its niche - weary executives in the neighbourhood still prefer to roll out of their offices in the evenings for a pint just 20 paces away.

And there are those who will toast to Boat Quay's 'organically-grown', slightly messy charm over Clarke Quay's highly-manufactured uniformity.

Otherwise, there is always the third quay - oft-overlooked Robertson Quay, a combination of residential and commercial outlets.

But, as proud Boat Quay tenant, Mr Chan of Jazz@Southbridge , puts it: 'Boat Quay has the river, when you go to Clarke Quay you get a canal, when you go to Robertson Quay you get a drain.'

WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY EISEN TEO

Some scenes from further up river, including a shot of a 'landmark' riverside hotel, The Grand Copthorne.

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One of the newer bridges, to add to the collection of bridges spanning the river...

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Business Times - 27 Jun 2006

Riverside hotel site put up for tender

THE Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has launched a hotel site at Clemenceau Avenue and Unity Street for sale by public tender after an unnamed developer committed to bid at least $25 million two weeks ago.

Judging by its location, Hok Yean Chee, executive vice-president and head of advisory (Asia) at Jones Lang LaSalle says that a 'lifestyle boutique hotel concept' would probably work.

The 0.39 ha site has a plot ratio of 2.8 and has a maximum gross floor area of 11,056 sq m. The main frontage is along Clemenceau Avenue and Unity Street, but it does also enjoy direct access to the promenade at the Singapore River. And going by the reversal of fortunes at the upgraded and now bustling Clarke Quay, Ms Hok expects there could be some spillover effect for any new hotel in the vicinity.

There already are hotels along the river, including the neighbouring Robertson Quay Hotel, but Ms Hok believes an appropriately 'hip hotel' like the New Majestic might make a difference. At about $25 million, Ms Hok works out that the cost of the hotel would be about $150,000 per room (or 'per key' in industry language). Most five-star hotels cost upwards of $500,000 per key to build.

Wallace Chu, head of research at Savills Singapore, says that there is no indication as to who might make the winning bid, adding that he does not rule out foreign developers. 'They might want to take advantage of the revamp of Clarke Quay. I do see the improvements in the entertainment factor there,' he added.

This is the first Government Land Sales Scheme hotel site on the reserve list to be launched this year. Another site in Sinaran Drive near Novena MRT station has yet to receive a minimum committed bid.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Pic 2 looks so serene!

Thanks...that whole stretch around the river is a generally calm and serene spot...a really ideal place to just relax especially after work...just watch the river boats go by etc.

Such a serene spot is an asset to Singapore, especially when many other Asian city centres are like frenzied markets.

:lol:

Tell them go Little India area. =P

Hi Raffles and Penguin, thanks for the great help!! :) :cheers: These are some of my finished pictures, im new to irfanview so it might not be as good! Hope you like them all! Thanks alot again for the great help! :) :cheers:


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Srakovski! Love the colours!

OUB seems to merge into the clouds...and this is a nice shot of Republic Plaza :)

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