Here's the lineup ,but there are some 'holes'.Can anyone fill me in on information?

Union Building ,Collyer Quay ,built in 1924 with 8 storeys:
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300union_building.jpg

Cathay Building ,Handy Road ,built in 1939 with 17 storeys ,70m:
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300ctb19421.jpg

Mandarin Hotel Tower 1,Orchard Road ,built 1971 with 36 storeys at 144m:
http://www.imagenode.com/files/transfer/5/2000/09/126887.jpg

UIC Building ,Shenton Way ,built 1973 with 40 stories at 156m:
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300uic_building.jpg

DBS Building ,Shenton Way ,built 1975 with 50 floors at 186m:
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300adsss.jpg

International Plaza ,Anson Road ,built 1985 with 50 floors at 190m:
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300int_lplz.jpg

OCBC Centre ,Chulia Street ,built 1976 with 52 floors at 201m:
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300img0063.jpg

Temasek Tower ,Shenton Way ,built 1986 with 52 floors at 235m:
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300109.jpg

OUB Centre ,Raffles Place ,built 1986 with 63 floors at 280m:
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300img0111111111111.jpg

The UOB Centre was the greatest!It was the tallest building outside the United States when built!:D

:applause::applause:

I was trying to plug the holes, if I can, but I am not too sure if these qualify:

Bank of China
18 Floors, 1953. No idea about the height thou.

http://www.imagenode.com/files/transfer/6/2003/03/183306.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007351-8262-3202-1116/img0033.jpg

Asia Insurance Building
19 floors, built in 1954. Surprisingly, the height stated in s.com is 57metres.

http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/049247_main.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007351-8262-3202-1116/img0082.jpg

UOB Building (Current UOB Plaza Two)
Dunt seem to know when it was built...only know the 1970s. 38 Floors, 162m

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007351-8262-3202-1116/img0030.jpg

The UOB Building was built in 1974.Few years too late.....

Anyway ,the height for the Cathay ,70m ,I doubt it.I think it is actually 55m or so.Calculated this through ratio.I took a photo of the Cathay ,measured the building's side in the photo and compared it with the length of the side in actual terms as shown in the street directory.Used that and the height of the building in the photo to make a rough estimate...

You know what I mean ,do you?

Used the same method to estimate for the BOC ,turned out to be 56m.Wonder if I'm accurate...

I'm no maths expert.

Yes I know what you mean. The thing about Cathay is that I wonder where the height was being mesured from, considering it was built on a hill. Also notice it has that thing poking out into the sky. That would have been a height cheater. :D

Where did you get the completion date of the UOB from? I would like to add it into s.com. ;)

How about trying to calculate the height of AI building, and see if it tallies? I think it wont be easy, for frankly, I know the street directory is not 100% accurate as well! :cool:

I ,like you ,was curious about the UOB's completion date ,so I went all the way to Raffles Place.There is a Historical Sign there.It gave the date ,height and floor count.

The thing on the Cathay's roof was a flagpole.That was removed during renonvation works along with the 4 antennae masts in 1977.The works were complete in 1978.

Originally posted by redstone

I ,like you ,was curious about the UOB's completion date ,so I went all the way to Raffles Place.There is a Historical Sign there.It gave the date ,height and floor count.

The thing on the Cathay's roof was a flagpole.That was removed during renonvation works along with the 4 antennae masts in 1977.The works were complete in 1978. Goodness! Looks like I MUST make a trip down very soon to see for myself! ;)

From what I know of Cathay, it underwent a series of upgrading works actually. I wonder if they took down anything else subsequently as well, including the ones you mentioned. But I dunt think they actually measured the flagpole and anteennae? ;)

If you used the 2001 edition of the Street Directory, it is likely your measurements wont be accurate. They simplified the drawings of the building footprints, so it isnt drawn to scale anymore. Try using the previous editions for this, and better still, get the even older editions which had blown up maps of the downtown area. Think that will help in the accuracy of a milimetre!

I can sense huaiwei's excitement:D

Hmm..I would have thought that the Shaw Building in Beach Road might also fill a gap, except I dont know when it was built.

You could use Trigonometry to calculate the height. Singapore's flat terrain is best for such things.

Never tried it though...:D

You could experiment with UOB

Can you do it for the sake of knowledge of all S'porean forumers?I'm in the Normal (Academic) course ,so the trigo we learn is different from those taught in Express course.

huaiwei ,I used the current (2002) edition.

Originally posted by redstone

Can you do it for the sake of knowledge of all S'porean forumers?I'm in the Normal (Academic) course ,so the trigo we learn is different from those taught in Express course. Wow...you are still in secondary school? You know alot for your age!

And btw, this sort of things should be left to your generation. I am as good as forgetting everything about maths by now! ;)

Originally posted by redstone

huaiwei ,I used the current (2002) edition. Ops. I meant the 2002/2003 edition (ie, 21st edition). Try not to use that edition...its highly inaccurate! ;)

That is the only one I have!

Originally posted by redstone

That is the only one I have! Ops, then go to http://www.streetdirectory.com for the online version, which is still based on the older edition maps! :D

Another potential former tallest is the second Ocean Building.
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005900-8120-3181-2403/img0107.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005888-8120-3181-2395/img0026.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005106-8073-3222-5040/img0002.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005123-8073-3222-4727/img0093.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980000201-6320-3081-0469/img0006.jpg

Does anyone know the construction date?

Another confirmation:
http://itclub.vs.moe.edu.sg/cyberfair2003/images/landmarks-victoriatheatre-2.jpg

Victoria Theatre and Memorial Hall (as it is known then) ,the clock tower was built in 1905 to 54m.The tower has floors in it.

Anyone know of any proposals taller than 280m for Singapore?

Cliff had a diagram in SSP called Rahadja centre (sp?) that was 380m tall.

Well ,I've read of a very hard to believe proposal called The City Pyramid or something ,supposed to be 1000m+.Yeah ,right...

I've found the timeframe for the construction of the second Ocean Building ,between 1910 and 1930.Can anyone help me?

Anyone know how tall is the Supreme Court's dome?

Originally posted by redstone

Victoria Theatre and Memorial Hall (as it is known then) ,the clock tower was built in 1905 to 54m.The tower has floors in it. So how many floors are there in it?

Originally posted by redstone

Well ,I've read of a very hard to believe proposal called The City Pyramid or something ,supposed to be 1000m+.Yeah ,right...

I've found the timeframe for the construction of the second Ocean Building ,between 1910 and 1930.Can anyone help me?

I saw another one is called something like Pyramid in Pyramid, I could'nt beleive my eyes! It's the 5th tallest in the world, with X-Seed 4000 being the tallest.:D

I think is 9.

Hm...didnt nova sg mentioned something about the original plans for the Republic Plaza site? I heard of it before, but have a very faint recollection of it...

Originally posted by redstone

I think is 9. 9 counting from groundlevel? BTW, where did you get the info? ;)

Oh ya, the 400m hight 80 storey republic plaza

9 from the ground all the way up to the part where a lot of columns support the dome.There was a bell there.A lift reaches halfway up the tower ,then there's a stairway up.

At one level is the winding room for the clock ,another is the clock mechanical parts ,where the faces are.

A few months ago ,there's a children's show on Ch 8 ,Sunday at 10am ,I think ,'Yin Yi Dai' is the name.Once ,the children had a 'mission' to go up the clock tower.I accidentely came across the show.Very interesting...

Originally posted by redstone

9 from the ground all the way up to the part where a lot of columns support the dome.There was a bell there.A lift reaches halfway up the tower ,then there's a stairway up.

At one level is the winding room for the clock ,another is the clock mechanical parts ,where the faces are.

A few months ago ,there's a children's show on Ch 8 ,Sunday at 10am ,I think ,'Yin Yi Dai' is the name.Once ,the children had a 'mission' to go up the clock tower.I accidentely came across the show.Very interesting... Hmm....thats interesting...I will take note of that height figure for s.com! :D

BTW, you guys saw the news article about the central fire station tower?

Originally posted by Cliff

Oh ya, the 400m hight 80 storey republic plaza Was it nova who gave the height of 400m and 80 storeys? I wonder where he got that form...

I also heard it from him, and you seemed to agree, so since 2 people thought the same thing, I agreed too.:D

Originally posted by Cliff

I also heard it from him, and you seemed to agree, so since 2 people thought the same thing, I agreed too.:D Ops!! Nono...I could not remember the height data at all, although I did recall roughly seeing the desig nof it with some sort of paramidal top or something.....is that the same as your "pyramid in pyramid" thingy??

Originally posted by huaiwei

Was it nova who gave the height of 400m and 80 storeys? I wonder where he got that form...

Must be his design. He said it would have a SPIRE but didnt post any images of it.

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Must be his design. He said it would have a SPIRE but didnt post any images of it. Hahaha...maybe a spire ontop of that huge pyramid on top?? :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Hahaha...maybe a spire ontop of that huge pyramid on top?? :D

I think so....I remember Cliff did a picture of X-seed 4000 in singapore..quite funny:D

Originally posted by RafflesCity

I think so....I remember Cliff did a picture of X-seed 4000 in singapore..quite funny:D Actually he did a mock up of that 400m tower using one of my photos...hahaa! :cheers:

Here it is!:D
http://picserver.student.utwente.nl/getpicture.php?id=533893

OH yeah!! WIth that building we can claim the WTB!! wahaha :guns1:

Originally posted by TropicalSQ744

OH yeah!! WIth that building we can claim the WTB!! wahaha :guns1: Yeah right..its not even tall enough! And even then...look at how it "destroys" our skyline?? :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Yeah right..its not even tall enough! And even then...look at how it "destroys" our skyline?? :D

Exactly...whoever proposed a WTB on that site must be aesthetically and spatially misguided;)

Oh! it's only 400m! haha.. :D

If we were ever to build anything taller than 280m, it should have been at the current site of the OUB becos it would make the skyline look symmetrical then. :)

But then, Cliff wouldn't be happy about that becos we will have to remove his love.. ;)

Originally posted by TropicalSQ744

Oh! it's only 400m! haha.. :D

If we were ever to build anything taller than 280m, it should have been at the current site of the OUB becos it would make the skyline look symmetrical then. :)

But then, Cliff wouldn't be happy about that becos we will have to remove his love.. ;)

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Don't remove the beauty!

Wahaha...watever the case, anything taller then the OUB will be cursed by me...:D

The MacDonald House is located at 40A Orchard Road ,beside the Artrium@Orchard.
http://itclub.vs.moe.edu.sg/cyberfair2003/images/landmarks-macdonald-1.jpg
This little-known small building is in fact the oldest skyscraper in Singapore ,built in 1949.
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300macdonald_house_-1949.jpg
It was designed by Palmer & Turner in the Jacobean Style for the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and stands twelve storeys tall.
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300mcdd.gif
On 10 March 1965, a powerful bomb exploded on the mezzanine floor, near the lifts. The impact of the bomb killed three people, injured 33, shattered all windows within a 300 feet radius, and damaged cars outside the building.

It was sold and abandoned a few years ago.Now it is gazzeted a National Monument on January 2003.

BUT......

Only the façade would be preserved.
Anyone care to go there to take photos before it's gone?

Wow, what a strong building!

Heres my humble contribution. I love how its facade contrasts with its neighbour.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/2/103dscn1139.jpg

I just discovered that this building once served as the HQ of the HSBC before they moved to Raffles Place. ;) You can still find the old HSBC notices at the front entrance!

Anyone knows when it was built?

It's loacated at Mount Elizabeth.I know it is very old ,stands 16 storeys tall.

Possibily the oldest highrise hotel in Singapore.
http://www.hotelsonline.com.sg/Singapore%20Hotels/York%20Hotel/face.jpg
The old one is the one on the right.That's the one I'm talking about.

That's where the Penag buffet is held!:D

York Hotel has two blocks?? I didnt noe that...I went there for my cousin's wedding...thats the only impression i ever had of it.

My mistake ,it is 20 storeys tall.

I've found a time window.It was built in a year between 1950 and 1957.But I don't know the exact year.

How did you arrive at this time window?

I was checking out the National Archives archival website ,the oldest photo is dated 1957.

I've read in a book that has a date of completion ,but I forgot the date.All I remember is that is is after 1950.

icic...you do alot of research for each building! ;)

Actually I accidentely came across the date of completion in that book.

http://www.yorkhotel.com.sg/images/guest1.jpg
Here's a clearer picture.

geez....that is one of the first buildings I could remember bout Singapore because on my first trip to Singapore - I stayed there! :D

I was I think about 4/5 years old.......but I forgot which block I stayed at! :(

I remember my parents taking me for a short walk down to Orchard Rd at Tangs to shop...... :)

I had a post card with a very nice picture of the hotel nightime......but I just can't find it now........when I did, I would try to scan it and post it but its been years since I last saw it so the likelyhood of finding it is kinda slim :(

I thought I was going to see a pictures of a McDonald's restaurant. :D

The building looks like it's in good shape and well maintained considering it's age and what happened to it. It has an interesting shape too from the view of the last picture.

Interesting shape?? To me it just looks like a red box! :D

Hm....quite a history for such a architecturally uninspiring building eh? ;) Will look forward to your postcard, sze!

If I'm not wrong that places offers great Dim Sum on Sundays. Full house.

Originally posted by RafflesCity

If I'm not wrong that places offers great Dim Sum on Sundays. Full house. Oh? Maybe we can go there for a meal when you return. :D Oh better yet, when sze is around, so that he can relieve his past memories..haha!

Originally posted by huaiwei

Oh? Maybe we can go there for a meal when you return. :D Oh better yet, when sze is around, so that he can relieve his past memories..haha!

hahaa...great! anyone treating? tsk tsk! :D

But this time I can confirm I wouldn't be coming to Singapore this month :( .....most prolly maybe in March/April :)

Originally posted by szehoong

But this time I can confirm I wouldn't be coming to Singapore this month :( .....most prolly maybe in March/April :) Nvm..take your time.....I seriously wonder why you need to come so frequent when theres nothing much to do! :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Nvm..take your time.....I seriously wonder why you need to come so frequent when theres nothing much to do! :D

Well......it is like the nearest foreign city to KL......Bangkok is outta question as the airfare would be kinda expensive ( AirAsia might change that.... :D ) and I don't speak Thai.

In fact Singapore is still okay.......they see me Chinese and start speaking in Mandarin and Hokkien......I do comprehend a bit of Hokkien and quite a lot Mandarin but can't speak both.....well.....my Mandarin is much better than my Hokkien.....:D

I think I have no communication problem in Western cities esp North American ones as their English is clearer.......compared to Aussie cites...their slang sometimes is incomprehensible :D

Or maybe you just find Singapore pleasant and easy to move around in..say compared to Bangkok?:D

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Or maybe you just find Singapore pleasant and easy to move around in..say compared to Bangkok?:D Wah....that sounds like a blow below the belt! :D

Come to think of it, I realised all three of us have been to BKK before in recent memory. ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

Wah....that sounds like a blow below the belt! :D

Come to think of it, I realised all three of us have been to BKK before in recent memory. ;)

But its true! I find Singapore very easy to navigate in and pedestrian friendly. Especially in hot climate, the underground walkways are sometimes a relief! The pavements are also not potholed. Heck they even have a timer at traffic lights:cheers:

Hm...and talk about canals that dont stink....I had the interesting experience of having to cross such a canal/river everytime I go to BMK mall....;)

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005494-8073-3222-4699/img0001.jpg
Cathay Building ,1939

http://itclub.vs.moe.edu.sg/cyberfair2003/images/landmarks-macdonald-1.jpg
MacDonald House ,1949

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005861-8120-3181-2494/img0112.jpg
Bank of China Building ,1953

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005860-8120-3181-2493/img0087.jpg
Asia Insurance Building ,1954


http://www.yorkhotel.com.sg/images/guest1.jpg
York Hotel (Tower Block) ,between 1950-1957

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005138-8073-3222-0226/img0080.jpg
SIA Building ,1950s (?)

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005119-8073-3222-4723/img0100.jpg
Singapore Rubber House ,1960

Any more built before 1960?

Didnt we already have a thread on this same topic earlier on?

Really?Where is it?

Your short term memory abit the terok leh. :D

We have a huge thread about this already, and it was started by you!! :bash: ;)

http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=71589

Aiyoh ,many of the skyscrapers featured here ARE very old ,but are not formerly the tallest in Singapore!:D

Eh....dont know about u, but it does get a tad boring talking about the same few buildings over and over and over again! :D

Don't think anyone mentioned the S'pore Rubber House ,or MacDonald House (well ,except me :d) or the old SIA Building before.

It's history...

Walao...but not the cathay lah....how many more times u want to talk about it? :bash: :D

U got BOC and Asia Ins pics mixed up...

U consider housing blocks as icons??
There are two famous ones that most people will know:
1. Taman Jurong 21-storey Blk 64,65,66,67 linked into a diamond-shaped...

2. Toa Payoh there is a 3-sided shape block (don't know no.) having a tall-crown on rooftop. It was lighted when I'm young...

Originally posted by benny1973

2. Toa Payoh there is a 3-sided shape block (don't know no.) having a tall-crown on rooftop. It was lighted when I'm young... Its Block 53, and guess what? Its the OLDEST block in Toa Payoh!! ;)

This is an interesting tribute to the pioneers of scrapers in our bustling island.

Never heard of the Rubber House. Where is it located?

My favourites are the BOC, Asia Insurance Building and Shaw Centre. The first two look so distinguished standing amongst the stunning skyline, even if they dont stand out of it anymore.

Hmm..what about the Cockpit Hotel?

Was the AIB the tallest in S.E.A. before??

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980001353-8151-3231-2011/img0034.jpg
Toa Payoh estate ,1967

The 3-sided block is 19 storeys tall.Queen Elizabeth II once went up the block.:D

The Singapore Rubber House stood where the Hitachi Tower now is.
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007351-8262-3202-1116/img0030.jpg

How about this one at Beach Road? When was it built? Its very old and one of the tallest in the area..or the tallest in the city when it was built?

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/503/103shaw.jpg

That's the Shaw Towers ,built in the mid 1970s.The Golden Mile Tower and Golden Mile Complex is older ,built in the early 1970s.

Originally posted by Cliff

Was the AIB the tallest in S.E.A. before??

No ,the Cathay Building was taller.;)

The old SIA Building.
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980002919-8262-3202-1096/img0120.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005138-8073-3222-0226/img0080.jpg
Paiseh ah ,the building on the right that looks like a wire grille is actually the old AIA Building ,the photo was dated 1952.

Opening declaration of Asia Insurance Building. Singapore was still a colony then.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/503/9singcbd995.jpg

Originally posted by huaiwei

Hm...and talk about canals that dont stink....I had the interesting experience of having to cross such a canal/river everytime I go to BMK mall....;)

by boat or what?:?

Back to the topic of York Hotel it sure doesnt look 1950s to me. If it was it would have been one of the first skyscrapers.

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005781-8106-3181-5481/img0064.jpg
View from the balcony of the Cathay Building.

Originally posted by RafflesCity

by boat or what?:? by foot lah......the river was....eek...:D

I can't find pics of the New Seventh Storey Hotel at A2O.:bash: :bash: :bash: :bleep:

wow very historical:) :)

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300mdh1.jpg
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300mdh2.jpg
The MacDonald House ,built 1949.It once towered over the rest as the second tallest building in Singapore.

would be interesting to go inside and take pics:cheers:

Actually ,I wanted to cross the road to take photos of the interior through the glass door ,but the traffic was very heavy.

Care to take one when you're back?It'll only be in a month's time!:D

Can try..cos I wanna get a pic at whats going on with Cathay...:cool:

No action since the demolition.:(

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005039-8073-3222-4845/img0008.jpg
The MacDonald House

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005773-8106-3181-7860/img0036.jpg
The two towering giants ,Cathay Building and MacDonald House.

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007378-8105-3181-0352/img0060.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005124-8073-3222-4728/img0070.jpg
The first skyscraper along Orchard Road.

Walao...makes me wonder how u define a skyscraper as!! :bash: :D

What do you mean?

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005464-8073-3222-0210/img0003.jpg

Was that the Cathay Building? It sure look so different from what I recently remembered (not that it matters now since its gone).

btw you havent posted pics of that Hotel Rendezvous Building. What style is that? Art Deco? Old Beauty?

Yup!

1930s Art Deco!:D


The podium block are actually Art Deco shophouses.They are incorporated into the tower block ,which mimicks the Art Deco style of the shophouses.The tower is pretty new.

The temporary campus of the SMU at Bukit Timah has a skyscraper that looks very old.When was it built?

Its design is like the Rubber House, so I guess 50s or 60s.

Used to be the Teacher's Training College I think.

I wonder if there is a plaque there (the tower).

No pics of it?

http://www.smu.edu.sg/oee/development_series/2003/siba2003/images/block1b.gif
The Accountancy Block.

The blinking Block A is quite cute. :D

I searched A2O but can't find any pictures of the tower.Maybe someone should go there and check if there is a Declaration Of Opening Plaque.

The campus so out of place lah....no one will go there unless they WANT to go there...haha!

Are the blocks of flats opposite Hong Lim Park still there?
There are very old ,built in 1950s.

got a pic?

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980002913-8262-3202-1074/img0053.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005038-6320-3081-0033/img0115.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005884-8120-3181-2129/img0025.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005039-8073-3222-4845/img0007.jpg

Er....I think one of them kana demolished due to the NEL liao....

ONE only?

ONE only?
yes...the one on the extreme west...

One with the round staircases?

I dont know....I just know it is the western-most one.

Mandarin Hotel, tallest in Singapore in 1973 (pic by baq)

http://img51.photobucket.com/albums/v157/baqthier/orch20041.jpg

The Bukit Timah campus of the SMU is having an open house on 2 may to commemorate its 75th anniversary.Maybe there is a plaque at that tower.

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980002913-8262-3202-1074/img0053.jpg
Are these still around?

They look so typical old Singapore.

I think we still have these around at Tiong Bahru/ Bukit Ho Swee/ Kallang?

ASIA INSURANCE BUILDING

Also called AI Building.

Date of completion: 1955
Officially opened: 10 December 1955

This 20 storey building was the tallest in Singapore, possibily SEA when built.
It was the 4th skyscraper in Singapore.

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005860-8120-3181-2493/img0027.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005492-8073-3222-5029/img0037.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005861-8120-3181-2494/img0028.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005860-8120-3181-2493/img0087.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005100-8073-3222-4796/img0035.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005142-8073-3222-0227/img0110.jpg

http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/049247_main.jpg
http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/049247_right.jpg

OMG Singapore was so different then!

That 2nd pic is interesting as it has something to do with Queen Elizabeth II. She came to the throne in 1952 when they were building it I guess.

Interesting timeline. Singapore has a kickass collection of skyscrapers:cheers:

OCBC Centre - the tallest from 1976-1986 and a landmark on the skyline.

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/rotpics02/ocbc.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/rotpics02/ocbc2.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/rotpics02/ocbc3.jpg

Just passed by MacDonald House today. Its interior is under renovation and its offices are going to be leased out.

Wonder if they'll keep the original interior and restore it.

I dont even know what the original interior was like, but I'm sure it will be fitted out with all the latest requirements of office buildings today.

Wow, I want to take a peek inside someday.

The PMB once said they'd only preserve the facade!God, that's horrible!

The flag flying up there is a Singapore flag or what?

yah I saw a flag up there today but was lazy to take a pic - I vaguely remember it being a Singapore flag.

Hope they restore the facade too, looks old and ugly.Don't they paint it.Just spray it with high-pressure jet and very strong detergent to clean it.

RC, any pics of the renovation and restoration works?

I dont have any that I took as its all internal and I've not been inside.

Knight Frank is the marketing agent.

No outside shots too? :(

While walking around the city today I was sure to check out the former tallest buildings of Singapore. The OCBC actually looks lighter in colour than photos I had seen of it, and on close inspection the OUB Centre's aluminium facade was dirty. At the other end of town, the DBS Building has a slightly brown colour to its panels, not a silverly grey, so it looks quite 70s (and it was built in 1975). The International Plaza, while almost a 200 m building, is quite boring in design. The Hong Leong Building looks good, even though it's a box. At Orchard Road I also saw the 144 m high Meritus hotel which used to be the tallest building in Singapore but now is dwarfed by lots of buildings.

Did you miss Asia Insurance (1954) and Bank Of China (1953)?

Is the Bank of China behind that tall white building next to the SWFC lookalike Maybank Tower? I might have seen that one. I haven't seen the first one you mentioned.

Yup.The shorter tower is the old one.The taller one was built in 2001.

Asia Insurance (AI) is located near the other end of Raffles Place, across the road from NTUC (One Marina Boulevard).

At Orchard Road I also saw the 144 m high Meritus hotel which used to be the tallest building in Singapore but now is dwarfed by lots of buildings.

actually the Mandarin Hotel is still easily the tallest in the Orchard Rd area, although the Singtel Comcentre and the new BLVD under construction look as tall.:)

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005861-8120-3181-2494/img0062.jpg

http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/049247_top.jpg
Interesting shot.

http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/049247_closeup.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005142-8073-3222-0227/img0110.jpg
Is that the old SIA Building on the left? :?

Yes I think it is.

I wonder what theyre gonna do to MacDonald House...

http://img43.exs.cx/img43/1880/macdonald.jpg

Hey, did you take pictures of those buildings beside it?

Those are the last remaining Neo-Classical row buildings still in a row (looks like Raffles Place of the past).

There's a small shophouse sandwiched between two giants. :runaway:

Oh, btw, on one episode of Site & Sound, they say that the tower part of SMU was built in the 1950s! :banana:

Yes I think it is.
I wonder what theyre gonna do to MacDonald House...


Hmmm......I wonder if they're converting it into some budget hotel........:?

No...

It'll be office.There's a huge For Lease banner on the side

No...

It'll be office.There's a huge For Lease banner on the side

So it'll be a office space.......hmm seems like the DB area is going to be quite busy in the future......

Oh, btw, on one episode of Site & Sound, they say that the tower part of SMU was built in the 1950s! :banana:

SMU has a tower?

Those buildings beside the McDonald House, I took a pic before, posted in 'funky' buildings thread.

This:
http://www.smu.edu.sg/oee/development_series/2003/siba2003/images/block1b.gif

Anyone know of any proposals taller than 280m for Singapore?

Cliff had a diagram in SSP called Rahadja centre (sp?) that was 380m tall.

The Rahadja Centre is no more. Hendra Rahadja has a grand ambition in the 70s/80s to be the biggesst hotel operator in Singapore. Many hotels were planned/built, but the recession in 1984 put paid his ambition. Lost/sold Changi Meridien to Far East, Meridien Orchard to Ong Beng Seng. I think Glass Hotel (Concorde) and Regent Hotel also belonged to him - not sure. Rahadja Centre was then a huge hole in Marina Square which evolved into the 3 hotels - Oriental, Mandarin and Pan Pacific.

On a separate note, why don't The Sail@Marina add another 25m and make it to the 3rd tallest resi block in the world. At 270m, it would still be within the 280m limit. Current proposal at 245m will only make it to 10th - 12th tallest in the world.

Some stupid height limit due to planes' path to fly to Paya Lebar Airbase! :bash:

Perhaps one day, the PLAB would be closed, and no height limit.

wow..never heard of Hendra Rahadja...

what happened to him?

It wouldn't be possible with the stupid 280m restriction, too.

wow..never heard of Hendra Rahadja...

what happened to him?

Not sure. Probably East Mountain Rise Again - got back on his feet again. Do a search on him - but most of the news in Bahasa Indoensia. My Bahasa very limited - some business in Australia or something.

http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/049908_main.jpg

http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/049908_front.jpg

http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/049908_entrance.jpg

http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/049908_overview.jpg
^Feeling claustrophobic :lol:

Amazing shots of the BOC! :eek:

I like how his camera can capture the whole building beautifully :)

One of the most massive built in Singapore and a former tallest?

http://img120.exs.cx/img120/4267/intplaza.jpg

I saw that when I was taking photos of Capital Tower and Temasek Tower. Not a pretty building, but powerful looking.

Peninsula Plaza

http://files.photojerk.com/RafflesCity/peninsula.jpg

Mini WTC! :D

yes it is kinda special isnt? :cool:

I have a pic of SMU's tower, taken from a viaduct, would post here soon. :)

It's hard to imagine Singapore without skyscrapers.
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007351-8262-3202-1116/img0033.jpg

Bank Of China, 1953
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006858-8105-3181-0660/img0108.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006859-8105-3181-0659/img0003.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006859-8105-3181-0659/img0007.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006859-8105-3181-0659/img0051.jpg
^Top floor? :?

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006859-8105-3181-0659/img0083.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006914-8262-3202-2129/img0026.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007451-8263-3201-0182/img0020.jpg
^View from the BOC

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006859-8105-3181-0659/img0004.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005700-8120-3181-1678/img0066.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006859-8105-3181-0659/img0013.jpg
^Note the ceiling deco! :eek:

Nice looking interior of the Bank of China.

http://www.lbw.com.sg/consultant01.html
"Rahardja Centre Marina Centre (63-storey and 51-storey tower blocks and 10-storey podium with 2-level basements): Second opinion on design and construction of foundation system to foundation consultant, Kiso Jiban Consultants Co Ltd."

btw, I like Peninsula!

wow..cool dig

but no renderings

I thought the shape of Rahardja Centre kinda looked like the cancelled twin towers at new downtown

Yes there is no rendering. :(

Bank of China Building (1953), Battery Road

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/BOC/bocoldnew.jpg
^Old reflected in the new

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/BOC/bocrear.jpg
Art deco

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/BOC/boclions.jpg
Cute dog-like lions! :D ^_^

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/BOC/bocfront.jpg
Giant in the 50s, drawf now...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/BOC/bocup.jpg
^Big Brother's watching over it...

Asia Insurance (AI) Building (1954), Finlayson Green

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/AI/airightplaque.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/AI/aileftplaque.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/AI/aiback.jpg
^Now this looks creepy... :eek: Hong Kong-ish feel...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/AI/aiback2.jpg
Eerie... :eek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/AI/aicorner.jpg

very nice pics!!! :carrot:

I like the reflection of the building :okay:

Nice pictures Redstone! :) :)

Shaw Towers

quite tall when built in the 70s

http://img156.exs.cx/img156/3443/shawbldg2og.jpg

Taken on 21 Jan 2005
Great minds think alike!!! :) I have a similar pic too! :colgate:

http://img114.exs.cx/img114/859/shaw8fj.jpg

:guns1:

Excellent pictures hyacinthus and Raffles!

The first skyscraper of Singapore

Cathay Building

http://pro.corbis.com/images/U782921ACME.jpg?size=67&uid={8d6c4852-97f3-4ead-a4af-7b4b21719598}

MacDonald House (1949), Orchard Road
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/Orchard/mdhse.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/Orchard/mdhse2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/Orchard/mdhse3.jpg
^Rear

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/Orchard/mdhse4.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/Orchard/mdhse5.jpg

this is so ancient looking!^^

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/Orchard/mdhse5.jpg

i wonder what they will add to it or if there are any renderings

It can't be opened... :?

I think its just a decorative feature, I dont think they would use it anymore?

Is there no thread about this one ? Couldn't find any :-)

18th February

http://membres.lycos.fr/pengui/ssc/050218_mcdonald_house01.jpg

http://membres.lycos.fr/pengui/ssc/050218_mcdonald_house02.jpg

Under "earliest skyscrapers of singapore". ;)

Oh... Can merge this one with it then :-)

Khattar Wong to move into MacDonald House: sources

24 Feb 05

Law firm will leave UOB Plaza 1; it could save $1 psf in monthly rents

By KALPANA RASHIWALA

LAW firm Khattar Wong & Partners (KWP) is moving from UOB Plaza 1 in the prime Central Business District to MacDonald House in the Dhoby Ghaut area, sources have told BT.

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-02-24/krmacdonald-201546.jpg

The firm will occupy about 33,000 sq ft spread from the fifth to eight floors of the 10-storey historic building.

Citibank earlier inked a lease for 32,000 sq ft on the lower floors of MacDonald House.

A beauty/spa operator is understood to have taken up the top two floors, which means MacDonald House's 76,000 sq ft of net lettable area will be completely taken up when it opens in April after a $12 million interior upgrade by owner Tinifia Investment, which is controlled by the low-profile Po family of Indonesia.

The Pos are involved in property development projects in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Semarang. The family's $36 million acquisition of the freehold MacDonald House in 2003 was its first major property investment in Singapore.

The facade of the 56-year-old building must be kept under a monuments preservation scheme. The interior works that Tinifia ordered cover the ceilings, floors, lobby and lifts.

In addition, a mechanical parking system for 30 cars is being installed at the side of the building. There will be a valet service. Previously, MacDonald House did not have any carparking facilities.

The Po family is understood to be a client of KWP, and Tinifia's registered office is currently at KWP's office at UOB Plaza 1.

Market watchers estimate that the law firm could save up to $1 per square foot in gross monthly rents by moving to MacDonald House.

Sources say recent deals at UOB Plaza 1 for big spaces of about 30,000 sq ft were inked at about $4.50 psf a month. They estimate that monthly rents at MacDonald House are in the $3.50-$4 psf range.

Prime average rentals in the Central Business District rose 10 per cent last year, after three years of decline brought about by excess supply and weak demand due to the economic slowdown.

The tide has turned. Demand picked up last year, with the stock of occupied office space increasing by 1.065 million sq ft - against a contraction of 1.13 million sq ft in 2003.

Demand is expected to remain firm this year.

Property consultants say another factor that will support the recovery in rentals is that new supply over the next two years is limited.

One George Street, with about 450,000 sq ft of net lettable area, received its Temporary Occupation Permit recently. The 23-storey building, on the former Pidemco Centre site in South Bridge Road, is owned by Eureka Office Fund, an equal joint venture between CapitaLand and German insurer Ergo.

BT understands that about 20 per cent of the building is leased and tenants include a foreign mission and asset management companies.

Over in the New Downtown around Marina Bay, One Raffles Quay is slated for completion next year.

ABN Amro has inked a lease for about 160,000 sq ft and Deutsche Bank is expected to take up some 150,000 sq ft. The two account for almost a quarter of the project's 1.3 million sq ft of net lettable area.

Also expected to be completed next year is 3 Church Street, with about 291,390 sq ft of net lettable area.

There's a huge (temporary) hole on the side... :eek:
I wonder what the original interior looked like. Suprisingly, very few pics of it on A2O...

They are building an extension to it for the carpark apparently?

10 March 1965
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/PCD0058-6319-6319-0058/img052.jpg
The devastated interior

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/PCD0058-6319-6319-0058/img031.jpg
Most of the windows destroyed...

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/PCD0058-6319-6319-0058/img008.jpg

this is so ancient looking!^^

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/redstone2/Orchard/mdhse5.jpg

i wonder what they will add to it or if there are any renderings


Yea....I am quite facinated by these night safes. I was about to take the picture of Standard Chartered's Night Safe on Beach Street, Penang when my camera gave way :cry:

Looks like it's sealed up from the inside many years ago...
Now it serves as only a nostalgic deco...

OCBC

http://files.photojerk.com/RafflesCity/ocbc.jpg

http://files.photojerk.com/RafflesCity/ocbc2.jpg

Update on McDonald House:

the green scaffolding has been removed and it looks very 'clean'

Whats a night safe?

something to deposit your stuff at night?

I really dont know :D

redstone ought to know, but he isnt around ^^

Definitions of Night Safe on the Web:

A facility provided by a bank whereby a trader can deposit cash in a safe accessible from the street after the bank’s trading hours. The trader will attend the branch the following day for the money deposited in the night safe to be retrieved, counted and credited to a bank account.
www.indiainfoline.com/bisc/jama/jmmn.html

http://img171.echo.cx/img171/2507/mchouse6ed.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

hehe :)

http://img175.echo.cx/img175/4421/untitled19ab.jpg

:eek2:

oh so sleek so slim!!!

Cliff will love it!

pure OUB...a very significant building....

hehe :)

http://img175.echo.cx/img175/4421/untitled19ab.jpg

Why the top portion of the building looks like swaying or bent towards one side, it isn’t straight!

any pics or information about the "new" MacDonald House?

Why the top portion of the building looks like swaying or bent towards one side, it isn’t straight!

lens distortion.

any pics or information about the "new" MacDonald House?

Citibank opens flagship centre in Orchard Road

24 Jun 05

CITIBANK Singapore yesterday opened its flagship centre at MacDonald House in Orchard Road - its largest branch in Asia.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2005-06-24/h30c.jpg

The branch will span four levels of the historic building and is about twice the size of the one at 268 Orchard Road - beside the Heeren - where it relocated from. It had been there for 33 years.

The 37,000 sq ft branch employs 320 people compared with 120 at the old location. It will offer the full suite of banking and investment services.

The bank's business director (sales, distribution and marketing), Mr Joel Kornreich, said: 'We want to cover the Orchard Road area as best as we can.'

Pointing to the bank's Cuscaden Road branch, he added: 'We are now at both ends of Orchard Road.' The Cuscaden Road branch was one of two - the other is at Great World City - that were opened in March this year, bringing the total to six.

The bank reiterated that it intends to increase the number of branches here to eight and the number of ATM locations to 11 by year-end. It has committed $20 million to the project.

KELVIN WONG

Sekali wait got McDonald's at MacDonald? :lol::lol::lol: :D

:jk:

ok i'm just starting this because i dont knokw where to put what i just found.

is it just me or does this building (on the left) look really familiar? does it look really like BOC sg (the short one) or some other building?

http://www.kiat.net/pix/asia/images/hsbc19.jpg

Thats the Bank of China building in Hong Kong, and yes, it looks very much like the one in Singapore, and there is a similar one in Shanghai too. The one in Singapore was built around 1955. Art-Deco skyscraper.

yeah..so citibank cover the whole MacDonalad hse? what about smaller shops which are beneath the pedestrian pavement..i think shld spruce up some more shops with new renovation of cathay plaza and nearby plaza singapura.that makes the whole area around dhoby ghaut exciting with the fort canning park nearby for the green lung purpose.

:runaway:

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/PCD0058-6319-6319-0058/img030.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/PCD0058-6319-6319-0058/img031.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/PCD0058-6319-6319-0058/img011.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/PCD0058-6319-6319-0058/img016.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/PCD0058-6319-6319-0058/img012.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/PCD0058-6319-6319-0058/img015.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/PCD0058-6319-6319-0058/img010.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/PCD0058-6319-6319-0058/img052.jpg

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/6517/mc1uh.jpg
http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/4244/mp6bu.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2129/ml6jh.jpg
Lift lobby. Here was where the bomb exploded.

u didn't go up to the top? :)

Can? :eek:
I want!!!!!!

Hey, anyone has pics of MacDonald before renovations?
http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/images/simg.php?r=11048348072383&bo=1
I noticed the side, ground floor was modified. A huge hole was cut into the building during renovation....

Tall structures of the past:

Saint Andrew's Cathedral
Clock Tower, Victoria Theatre & Memorial Hall (height unknown, 1906)
Ocean Buiding (1910s?)
Union Building (1924)
Supreme Court (1939)
Cathay Building (1939)
MacDonald House (1949)
Blocks 1 to 5 Upper Pickering Street (1952)
Bank Of China Building (1954)
AI Building (1955)
Seventh Storey Hotel (1955)
AIA Building (1950s)
Forfar House (1956)
Rubber House (1960)
MND Complex (1960s)
Selegie House (1963)
SCCCI Building (1964)
SIA Building (1960s)
Banda Street Flats (1960s)

I think those were some of the tallest structures in the city area before 1970s skyscraper boom.

Any alterations or comments? :D

You should label which ones are no longer existing today

interesting list!

Yes you should add the height and the status (emporis style) for each building :-)
Great list ^ ^