What skyscrapers in Singapore have special lighting at night?
What are your favourites? Post pics!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/sunnite4.jpg

My favourites are:

UOB Plaza - the lightings enhance the rotated corners and they only light up on festive occasions, making it more special

Capital Tower - the only building (apart from Battery Rd) that changes colour at night HK-style. Very colourful!

Parkview Square - simply awesome

The Concourse - looks like a pillar of salt

1 George Street - the blue is haunting

UOB Plaza

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8813/dsc74398yw.jpg

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8664/p10008672ve.jpg

taken by hyacinthus

Capital Tower

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/capital2.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/capital5.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/capital.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/capital4.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/capital3.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/capital6.jpg

Parkview Square

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2455/4064055390_cd9569dd80.jpg

pics by hyacinthus

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/2305/dsc77191ru.jpg

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5250/dsc77187db.jpg

Oh no....let me go find ALL my nite shots.....they are all over the place!! :D

The Concourse

1.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/sunnite7.jpg

2.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/kalnite3.jpg


1 George Street

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/2503a.jpg

the concourse looks like a skyscraper on stilts!

the millenia tower is lit up quite nicely as well
http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/IMGP2307.jpg


and on some occassions singapore land tower is scarily bright!
http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/IMGP2299.jpg


the orchard parksuites building is quite gorgeously lit as well. ngee ann city is bright. (but not too skyscraping?)
http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/singapore/IMGP2071.jpg

Cool pics! I think Takashimaya and Orchard Parksuites are often forgotten..but they look really grand.

The Land Tower looks really good when lit up after its recladding..too bad its only on festive occasions:cheers:

Here is a pic of the landmark Marriot Hotel on Orchard Road

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/onite1.jpg

Does anyone hapen to know the number of floors in NGee Ann city? I realised I still dont have that figure...

somewhere in the back of my head its saying 24 or 27... but i dont know why

If I roughly count from the pictures..it seems somewhere between 24 or 27?

Should be less than 30..although best is to go there and check out the lifts;)

I actually like the suntec city towers at night. From other posts i've read, i get the impression that the suntec city towers aren't very popular? Well, if so, than i'm an exception. ;)

i didnt like it at first... but i think i sort of got used to it...

Well...they do look ok when seen collectively, and with the other surrounding buildings. The different lighting systems do make it more interesting. ;)

Originally posted by EyeToEye

I actually like the suntec city towers at night. From other posts i've read, i get the impression that the suntec city towers aren't very popular? Well, if so, than i'm an exception. ;)

They frame the Beach Road area nicely at night. Very impressive when viewed from the Padang. On your left you get the grand old Supreme Court, City Hall & St Andrews cathedral, on your right the organic looking Esplanade and up ahead, the futuristic outline of SunTec City:cool:

http://www.cimmaroninternational.com/assets/images/cimmaron/suntec.jpg

Aye...I tot you hate Suntec's lighting, Raffi? :? :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Aye...I tot you hate Suntec's lighting, Raffi? :? :D

Is it? I dont recall. You also said I hated UIC Building! lol

and check this out:

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9044/capitaltower2small5xy.gif

by hyacinthus
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9297/dsc06390ec.jpg

Wow! Nice!!!!!

why was the singapore land tower lit?

Originally posted by heirloom

why was the singapore land tower lit?

It looks gorgeous. Like a longs shaft of light.

Originally posted by heirloom

why was the singapore land tower lit? Because of national day?

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/503/103rot.jpg
You can see a bit of the Parkview Square beside The Gateway!:D

This picture from 1987 shows OCBC Centre and International Plaza lighted up. Actually International Plaza does look quite nice at night.

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006057-8120-3181-2087/img0073.jpg

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

omigod! why ocbc dont light up anymore?! so nice?!

Sweet pictures! :eek:

Originally posted by heirloom

omigod! why ocbc dont light up anymore?! so nice?!

Beats me man..maybe UOB took the limelight away from it. It does look like its smiling though:D

It looks like a chocolate bar... ;)

International Plaza seems to look like a christmas tree in there. :D

it looks like a handsome robot :) will someone please be urban planner and force all buildings to light up all year round

Originally posted by heirloom

it looks like a handsome robot :) will someone please be urban planner and force all buildings to light up all year round

I think light-up on rare occasions makes them more special. Of course Singapore can go the HK way and go for mega-tacky:cheers:

NTUC Building by hyacinthus:
http://img224.exs.cx/img224/1887/ntuc8bc.jpg

but singapore light-ups are different from hong kong light-ups... there's no tacky factor in singaproe light ups so far... aside from a slight hint of it in capital tower..

Totally agree. It looks better with white lighting and just a dash of colour from 1 or 2 buildings, and what really adds sophistication is the lighting of our past historical treasures, like the Fullerton Hotel seen in this pic:cool:


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3559028032_ee1d600c93_b.jpg

Pic from http://www.flickr.com/photos/alvintham/

if all buildings were lit up ... singapore would be like the land of white light? so nice and ethereal.. probably hot too haha all the heat from the flashlamps.

OMG!
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006057-8120-3181-2087/img0073.jpg
Look at CPF Building!

Actually, what's the use of rigging up a building to light up if it's only going to do so once a year anyway? :?

The most beautiful skyscraper in Singapore in its awesome glory!
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Farrer/DSC_0010.jpg

^^

by babystan03

Originally posted by redstone

The most beautiful skyscraper in Singapore in its awesome glory!
http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/188778_night1.jpg

Definately. It has this eery, gothic kind of feel that sort of makes you quiver inside.. hehe..

Cool! Perhaps they have wierd things hidding in the top of the building? ;)

There are 8 8m-tall gargoyles (statues of Greek men) holding up spheres.They are backed by intricate decorative Art Deco grilles.

There are several 'gargoyles' on the building ,including 6 holding up 2 giant "dishes" on the two corners of the concourse ,facing North Bridge Road.

There are 44 6m tall cobbles ,8 levels of streamlined Art Deco accent bends.

i didnt know there were men gargoyles :/ i'd prefer normal scary scary gargoyles.. this just looks like oscar awards.. but still nice :D glamorous...

Yeah loh!! Reminds me of the Oscars too..hahaha! :D Seems like the perfect venue for the film awards!

actually lights dont really consume that much electricity... air con is the killer... so. TURN ON ALL YOUR LIGHTS!

http://www.jellesen.dk/webcrea/places/sing/33x.jpg

NTUC Building by night.

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/ssc1819/ntuc4.jpg

The most colourful skyscraper in Singapore at night, it cant be missed as it changes colour like every 10 seconds. Simply beautiful!

Fresh pics
http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/capital2.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/capital5.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/capital.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/capital4.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/capital3.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/capital6.jpg

Colorful!
http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/capital2.jpg
Where was this taken from? Looks like a nice spot to see other scrapers too

It is good to see a non-pyramidal, non-spire, non-gaudy top that works well, I like this one, get back to boxes ;-)

How tall is it, looks about what, 750 feet or so?

Thanks for the pics

@baq, I took it from that block of flats outside Tanjong Pagar MRT (the place where I met you in April when you walked from the railway station:D)

@LibertyTwo, it is 254m/833ft. The shape bears a striking resemblance to the steeples of Hindu temples.

Very nice.

I wonder how to get night photos of bottom-up shots of skyscrapers like what you did? Either I make the tripod until it looks awkward in an angle and shoot. But how to do those really at the bottom up shots, I can't make the tripod tilt until the camera faces the sky. :D

And here's a shot at nearly evening(posted here before, post again):

http://users.fragnetics.com/cw8/photos/capitaltower3.jpg :D

Every ten seconds? :eek:

Anyways, nice pics, you have to add the first one to the ROT!

Excellent shots of Capital.......:eek:

OoOo has it always been like that?

nice, yeah it must be new I saw that tower from my hotel room when I was there 1 and a half year ago but there was no light shiffting color.

The most colourful skyscraper in Singapore at night, it cant be missed as it changes colour like every 10 seconds. Simply beautiful!



U know, Capital Tower is strange when I look up around Ann Siang Hill :runaway:

Like a giant stood up gazing at you :crazy2:

U know, Capital Tower is strange when I look up around Ann Siang Hill :runaway:

Like a giant stood up gazing at you :crazy2:

you mean like this? :D

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sceneb.jpg

OoOo has it always been like that?

yup, since the year 2000 when it was built :yes:

@rayman, they did turn off the lights for some time last year

He He~~~~~ Yapa :devil:

Especially at nite :runaway:

Nice stuff, the neon brings the city to life, unlike many North American Cities

That's interesting..

Jeez....that first picture dosent even look like Singapore! :D

yup, since the year 2000 when it was built :yes:

@rayman, they did turn off the lights for some time last year

2000 eh..? Its rather young. But I guess I wouldn't know when it was built since I gained my skyscraper-knowledge from this site which opened in 2002

the neon lightning is wonderful!!!

WOW, I never knew about this jewel at night! :eek:

How many colors does it change to?

It is actually similar to Hong Kong's Central Tower or The Centre... something like that... The light changes its colour

Love the canyon view great tower at back of the CBD

@baq, I took it from that block of flats outside Tanjong Pagar MRT (the place where I met you in April when you walked from the railway station:D)


oh! Thanks to those long outdoor corridors! Really convenient :cool:

WOW, I never knew about this jewel at night! :eek:

How many colors does it change to?

all colours of the rainbow except yellow :)

the changes are gradual though, like pink to red, green through turqoise through blue etc.

The lighted pyramid tops of Rowell Court:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/lavnite3.jpg

I think it looks great, I saw a moving image of it changing colour, and it looks great

Beautiful lantern. Nice to see that it changes colour from night to night. They should let it be lit yellow as well.

Do any of Singapore's skyscrapers have special lighting for holidays?

If you have some examples please post them.

I created a thread just for this topic here, so I'll merge this with that later.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=90768

Anyway some buildings in the city DO have lighting just for occasions, especially National Day, which is in August, so for the entire month you can expect to see them lighted up.

some of my recent pics

UOB Plaza
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/503/103uobnite.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/503/103uobnite2.jpg

Land Tower
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/503/103landtowernite.jpg

Supreme Court
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103scnite.jpg

City Hall looks the same as Sup Court.

Old Vic was also illuminated, right?

The Victoria Hall was surprisingly not illuminated except for the clock as usual. In fact I have not seen it lighted up in a long time (or does it even have night lighting?).

another pic of the Supreme Court by babystan03
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/One%20George/DSC_0025.jpg

Hey, is that the same Merlion that I saw on the other side of the river when I went to Singapore? Was it moved? How old is it?

Hey, is that the same Merlion that I saw on the other side of the river when I went to Singapore? Was it moved? How old is it?

yes. It was moved in 2002 to its new location as the old location was blocked by a new bridge. It was originally built in 1971.

More pics and info on how they moved it in the Merlion thread :)

I say HDB Hub's ring and sides flooded with lighting. That was 7.30pm today. Everytime I knock off at 10 plus, the tower is dark except for some internal lights.

that is rare! :eek:

maybe cos its Christmas eve :)

Queenstown 40-storey HDB flats

by OffPeakClassic8

http://img112.exs.cx/img112/5932/2005blk52qt40pn7ih.jpg

wow blue lights are fun!

You sound like a fly mesmerised by giant neon lamps...

nice flats. I was hoping for a better looking colour scheme though.

nice flats. I was hoping for a better looking colour scheme though.

Yeah. Most likely it's just the photo, but the blue really looks quite glaring. I would have prefered some nice greys or beiges or prussian blues...

Differents colours of Capital Tower......:D

http://img234.exs.cx/img234/4254/capital2qx.jpg

Does the colour of the wording change previously? :?

its always been changing

Oh, it changes colour with the top last time....
But now only the words change???

Yes, saving costs I guess.:)

Taken from Ann Siang Hill Park
http://img212.exs.cx/img212/3483/dscn00766bm.jpg

http://img70.exs.cx/img70/8642/dscn00781uh.jpg

Provocative pic... the ugly and the beautiful....

NTUC Building

http://img224.exs.cx/img224/1887/ntuc8bc.jpg

:master: :cool:

Provocative pic... the ugly and the beautiful....

Ugly indeed. (the bottom, of course.)]

I detest the building in front of the SGX Tower on the right side of the pic.

I hate that too...
Got numerous very ugly 70s offices along that row.... :puke:

7 Apr 2005
Singapore Skyline at Night Again...
Without tripod. Using the camera bag as support.

http://img173.exs.cx/img173/5960/dsc08051te.jpg

11 Apr 2005
Goldbell Towers
47 Scotts Road

http://img229.echo.cx/img229/4894/dsc10947vp.jpg

Rarely photographed building :yes:

Its so difficult to get a pic of it from the front! But your pic shows the structure quite clearly :cool:

Wah, so serene... :D


The sheer thin line of Goldbell is certainly the most unique! :D

Great Eastern Building

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/9374/genite5ke.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://tinypic.com/9urnef.jpg

So grand.... :cool:
Look so Chicago or New York.... :D

very pretty pics :) looks like this is better than your previous cam.

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/8526/singapore18005rf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img336.imageshack.us/img336/2194/hsc3mg.jpg
Powerful spotlights light up the corners of High Street Centre, sending columns of light into the sky! :cool::cool::cool:

http://img336.imageshack.us/img336/5251/hsc16fw.jpg
Column of light :cool:

I was pretty sure that once the crown of High St was ready, they'd light it up :cool:

The spotlights are ver very very cool... :cool:
A complete metamorphosis from the old HSC....

the blackness of most of the building looks very powerful

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/4403/dsc77109wc.jpg

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/2305/dsc77191ru.jpg

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5250/dsc77187db.jpg

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/2641/dsc771a9rn.jpg

12 Aug 2005
Concourse

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5092/dsc77334jb.jpg

Suntec City

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/9186/dsc77099zc.jpg

these are simply fabulous, stunning shots...quite frankly, the best shots I've seen of these less-often-photographed Singapore skyscrapers.

:eek2: :eek2:

all the pics that hyacinthus posted on 12 august totally made me very extremely speechless... every image looks so clear and sharp! total beauty...

The wonders produced by a good DSLR and a good photographer....:yes:

Making City Skylines More Bird-Friendly

This is the time of year in the United States when millions of birds are completing their migrations north from their winter homes.

It is also a dangerous time of year, especially for birds flying through major cities. Bird scientists, ornithologists, estimate more than 100 million birds die each year by flying into buildings. Several North American cities are trying to make their skylines more bird-friendly.

At the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, conservation ecologist Doug Stotz pulls open a wide drawer in a research storage part of the museum. It is filled with dead birds. Each has a small tag tied around its legs, listing the type of bird and when it was found. All of these birds died by flying into the large windows at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center. "The big families are sparrows, which these represent. That is a sparrow, these are sparrows. And, the warblers, which are mostly these yellow guys," he says.

Field Museum scientists have been collecting dead birds from McCormick Place for about 25 years. They've picked up nearly 30,000. Mr. Stotz says most die during the migration periods in the spring and fall. Chicago's parkland along Lake Michigan makes it an inviting pit stop for birds following the lake on their migration routes. But lights from some of the city's most recognizable buildings somehow confuse the birds and create a fatal attraction. "Whether the glass is reflective or transparent, birds do not see it. They do not see it as something stopping them. It is sort of like when you have a newly-cleaned sliding glass door and you do not know that it is closed, you might walk into it," he says. "Birds never know that it is closed."

For the last two years, Mr. Stotz and his colleagues have been visiting McCormick Place every day during the migration season, noting how many birds were found each day, and whether the building's lights had been on or off the previous night. "We found that when the lights are turned off at McCormick Place, it cut the number of birds hitting [the building] by more than 80-percent," he says.

Chicago is not the only city whose skyline presents a migratory hazard. Toronto, another lakefront city, estimates 10,000 birds a year die hitting its buildings. Mike Mesure first heard that in the late 1980's. "I had never heard of this issue. I had to go down and check it out. I got up bright and early one morning, went downtown, pulled over the car, opened the door and there was a bird. And another bird. And another bird. I was shocked," he says.

He has helped create Toronto's Fatal Light Awareness Program, or FLAP an effort to work with building managers and reduce the number of dead birds on downtown streets. "Basically it was a series of steps we were recommending buildings comply to in accomplishing light reduction," he says. "By doing so they would save birds' lives and also save hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs and emissions into the atmosphere to produce hydro (electricity) and so forth. All of this combined is a win-win situation."

Mr. Mesure says about 100 buildings participate in his program. Additionally, FLAP volunteers roam downtown streets before sunrise during the migration seasons, collecting injured birds. It has also established six locations throughout the city where anyone can take an injured bird, and a FLAP volunteer will pick it up. "The beauty of that is it makes people feel good," he says. "They feel like they are doing something to help the bird, and they love to participate."

Aside from windows, another bird hazard in Chicago is decorative lighting atop many tall buildings. About 20 buildings are participating in a two-year old program called, "Lights Out Chicago." It asks outdoor lighting be turned off after 11 o'clock at night, when migration tends to be heavier.

Program coordinator Jane Pollock says the engineer of one building which turns off its rooftop lighting at night has noticed a difference. "He said that since the lights have been turned out there, they have seen very few dead birds," she says. "There was one [bird] up there at the time we were there at the height of the migration period. He said you might see five or six in one week. Previously, we had information from several people that they would take shovels-full of birds off that roof." Ms. Pollock hopes the Field Museum's study suggesting dark buildings appear to be safer buildings to birds will encourage more participation in the 'Lights Out" program.

Source: Michael Leland. VOA News. May 25, 2002.

:D

I'm not sure there are any migrating birds going through here ^ ^

Ahh....the beautiful white cranes from Siberia.:D hahahaha

hmm... I think money is still the main concern here...
or at least they should considering lighting it up may be once a month right?

I'm not sure there are any migrating birds going through here ^ ^

oh lots! Singapore is apparently a transit stop for many migratory birds. Read the article somewhere...I think many can be seen in the Sungei Buloh marshlands and Kranji area.

But whether this has anything to do with the lighting of UOB, I seriously doubt it ;)

But...going by these pics taken by hyacinthus, UOB should consider turning on their lights more often! :banana:

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8813/dsc74398yw.jpg

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/1605/dsc74375th.jpg

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8664/p10008672ve.jpg

As an aside, I noted that on the night before the announcement of the winning Olympic city, UOB Plaza and several other buildings stayed lit all night way past 1 am! :eek:

As an aside, I noted that on the night before the announcement of the winning Olympic city, UOB Plaza and several other buildings stayed lit all night way past 1 am! :eek:
with all the foreign dignitaries around definitely they would spare no expenses at lighting the building ... and also with potential investors and even the global media around the area....

Should light in different colours like ESB! :cool:

Should light in different colours like ESB! :cool:

i have this thought too! different colours for different occasions!

All white is a little too intense and boring....

White seems to complement this building well, maybe blue lighting can be used.

But having other colours does seem tacky, especially if the colour beams the entire length of the building...I cant think of any highrise in the world that does that.

The Center in HK?(But awfully tacky)

LOL, But the colours on The Centre are only applied to various verticals on the building...imagine how disgusting if they washed the entire building with red or orange or pink lights!

But the Bank of China's new lighting scheme and 2IFC are really awesome...and they dont use coloured lights.

I especially like 2IFC, the only problem is, they only turn on the front, the back which faces the mountains is dark.

But I do like BOC's lighting, its my fav. building in HK(no hard feelings for taking OUB's tallest title:))

LOL, But the colours on The Centre are only applied to various verticals on the building...imagine how disgusting if they washed the entire building with red or orange or pink lights!

That would be quite funny, actually, IMO :-)

The Centre's lighting is tacky. Awful.

1 George only lights up it's riverside crown....
Parkview, the ENTIRE tower is lit up, and the awful green lights are gone! :cool:
As for Capital, it no longer has a Rainbow Top. Now a Golden Sun At Night top. :lol::(

Well in future, I hope they do light up the Sail in a big way that would add excitement to the bay :cool:

Residents would be disturbed by the lights leh...... :(

^^ so considerate? :D

Oh ya, residential towers never have fancy lights, and I doubt even the crown will have lights, since the penthouses are there.

BLVD and Four Seasons Park have lights on. even some HDB flats has lights at the crown. I believe there will be lights on Sail@Marina as well.

the green lights of parkview are not awful! they're wonderfully sinister :D

just a thought...

how about having UOB Plaza One lighting up its very 1st layer of its lighting everynight to some what like Repblic Plaza and having it in different colours during different occasions like the ESB? at least thats more cost saving then lighting up everything?

Dance with Capital Tower! ;)

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2165/capitaltower19qv.gif

hehe... That's because it's taken at Clarke Quay with no tripod.

Good anyway :-) What software do you use to make the animated GIF ?

Capital Tower has been lighten up all the week till about 23:30... That's great ^^

^ its back with flashing colors?!?!?

wow! very cool! :happy:

Will be nice as avatar....got 'green flavour' ? :D

Thanks! ;)

Here's a better version.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9044/capitaltower2small5xy.gif

looks like a disco building! :D

Kerrisdale

adding light to the dark skies over Jalan Besar

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/kerris0711.jpg

Very nice!!!

The streets off Jalan Besar are very dark at night.... :runaway:

My version of Kerrisdale ;)
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/8111/kerrispano59la.jpg

Aftermath of Fireworks
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3130/dsc79901rb.jpg

^ I believe those were taken by D70..so beautiful...:yes:

Plans to enhance lighting of city buildings could increase costs

7 Mar 06

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpytAs00.jpg

SINGAPORE : The Urban Redevelopment Authority's lighting master plan to illuminate the city skyline is expected to raise the appeal of Singapore.

The Singapore city skyline is a familiar sight to locals and some tourists and there are new plans to literally cast it in different light.

Architects are in favour of adding glitter to the cityscape, citing glowing examples like Shanghai, New York and London.

But while lighting features can be factored into future projects, analysts say it may take some persuasion to get existing building owners to buy in to the idea.

"Business people will be calculating whether this new lighting scheme can really enhance the value of their property. But looking at the rising energy cost, some would be asking, in the long term, if this is something that is sustainable or justifiable in the ecological sense," Nicholas Mak, director of Consultancy & Research at Knight Frank.

"Assuming that the building is going to be lighted up 10 to 12 hours every night, the running cost, electricity bill could be somewhere in the 5 digit figures monthly," he said.

Such expenses will probably be passed on to building tenants by way of service charges, thereby increasing their business costs slightly.

Another challenge is integrating the lighting feature into existing buildings.

"One has to understand that the guidelines set by the authorities have to be very broad, and not too prescriptive. For existing buildings, there would be some cost factor that one has to acknowledge," said Rita Soh, president of the Singapore Institute of Architects.

"So for building owners to take an active role in that, perhaps there could be some incentives, monetary or otherwise, to encourage them to really take the trouble to spruce up the building and incorporate lighting," she added.

Architects say lighting can be done on three levels - at the street level, on the body of the building to highlight special features, and on the rooftop.

But the lighting scheme has to be well-choreographed so that it complements other developments in the area.

The authorities are expected to announce more details of the lighting master plan at the end of the month.

A la HK? :D

Maybe, or maybe not.

Depends on the types and colours of lighting....I imagine the IR will be very brightly lit though :cool:

are there any water features to complement the lighting, greens and bridge?

merlion?

maybe the future IR will have some water fountains to activate the promenade, as seen in those mock renderings

don't know i would enjoy the current 'peace filled' marina area or the future marina area...



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/shao_ye/sporecbdnite_03.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/shao_ye/sporecbdnite_02.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/shao_ye/sporecbdnite_01.jpg

Singapore's CBDs's skyline is really gorgeous.

Close up shot of the CBD
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/City%20Landscape/DSC025081.jpg

Some skyscrapers near Far East Square

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/City%20Landscape/DSC_0050.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/City%20Landscape/DSC_0047.jpg

Nice right?? :D

Nice...especially 1st one :yes:

1 Marina Boulevard (NTUC Centre):

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/6605/nitezntuc0fs.jpg

Thanks.....skyscrapers always look more sexy when there are people working.....:yes:

I just love Millenia.....:yes:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Shaw%20Carpark/DSC_0103.jpg

Suntec
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Shaw%20Carpark/DSC_0112.jpg

Raffles City
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Shaw%20Carpark/DSC_0115.jpg

Gorgeous shots, especially like the last few!

i love the clinical feel of the first pic

The skies are very nice

The skies are very nice

Yes.....it's blue....:yes:

My first picture using bulb mode.....:D
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Tanjong%20Pagar/DSC_0046.jpg

The top of Capital Tower kinda reminds me of ice-kachang :D

^Yeah.....a bit.....:lol:

Quiet street leading to 3 Church Street
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/One%20George/DSC_0034.jpg

The Concourse

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/4979/ccnite0df.jpg

Orchard Parksuites

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/1760/parksuitesnite4oh.jpg

nice picture of Orchard Parksuites :)

btw, Cliff took and posted this in Clubsnap. It's a view from Parksuites' 24th flr.
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8113/viewsml7up.jpg

^ Wah so sexy.....:eek: (referring to both cliffy and raffie pictures)

a 'foretaste' of the view from the future 50-storey tower above Orchard MRT then! :happy:

nothing seems to happen yet on that site. :(

Well, a sign that says something like 'this is now private land' has gone up on the site, and I saw testing equipment last month.

I think whatever will happen could happen this year :yes:

So whatever would happen to the entrance of the MRT?

The park is known to be a gathering place for the Fillipino domestic service community.

goodness, that picture is incredible!

^You mean cliffy's picture??:?

Let there be Light

By Patricia Bay

Today, Singapore’s beautifully sculpted skyline is visible in the day but fades into the night after dark. This is set to change with URA’s new lighting plan for the Central Business District (CBD) and Marina Bay, and incentives to encourage buildings in the area to integrate lighting as part of their building design.

MANY CITIES RECOGNISE the importance of lighting in creating a memorable image at night. Good lighting of buildings and public spaces can transform the image of the city at night and increase its appeal. It enlivens the visitor’s experience and provides a sense of place. More significantly, it can help develop a signature image for the city.

Lighting is also increasingly seen by developers and architects as part and parcel of building design. It enhances the building’s architectural features at night and gives it a presence in the skyline.

In a bid to create a more vibrant and attractive cityscape, URA has developed a lighting plan for the CBD and Marina Bay area. To facilitate the realisation of this plan, URA has also introduced new lighting incentives to encourage building owners to incorporate building lighting as part of the overall architecture of their developments. This was announced by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development, at URA’s Corporate Plan Seminar on 24 March 2006.

Lighting plays up Singapore’s uniqueness
The main design concept for both public spaces and buildings within the CBD and Marina Bay is to use lighting to enhance and emphasise Singapore’s unique features as a tropical metropolis and garden city. The key strategies include tempering our hot and humid climate by using a combination of white and blue-white light for a cooling effect, and re-creating or ‘mimicking’ the pattern of shadows created by strong sunlight in the day using lighting. A variety of lighting methods will also be used to create a visually rich and varied experience. White light will be used for the main arterial roads to distinguish the district and give it a ‘corporate’ feel as a business and financial hub. Lighting will also highlight the lush greenery and waters to bring out the sense of tropical-ness even at night.

Creating a signature skyline at night
By day, the existing buildings and skyscrapers within the CBD and Marina Centre areas form the signature skyline of Singapore as viewed from across Marina Bay.

They also mark the “gateway” into the city for visitors approaching from Changi Airport. To bring out the city skyline at night, owners of existing and future buildings in the area are encouraged to incorporate lighting into the overall design of their development, to highlight the building crown, façade and main architectural features.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline06/skyline06-02/images/p3_image.jpg

Incentives for lighting up
To encourage more building owners within the CBD and Marina Centre to install quality lighting for their developments, URA is offering additional Gross Floor Area (GFA) or a cash grant to help defray part of the capital cost of installing lighting.

For new developments and major redevelopment projects, they stand to enjoy up to 2% additional GFA beyond the maximum allowable GFA under the Master Plan 2003 if they incorporate lighting into their development. The additional GFA is computed based on the equivalent value of the lighting installed.

For existing building owners not planning to redevelop or undertake major renovations but are keen to install lighting for their buildings, they can apply for a cash grant to cover half the cost of the lighting installation. This grant is capped at the equivalent value of the 2% additional GFA or S$500,000, whichever is lower. All in all, the government has set aside a S$10 million fund for this cash grant, which building owners can apply for over a five year period.

All lighting proposals will be evaluated by URA and the incentives will be given for quality lighting proposals that contribute to the city skyline. URA will also work with building owners to install lighting that is easy to maintain and energy-efficient so as to minimise long-term running costs

“These incentives, we hope, will accelerate the lighting up of existing buildings within the CBD and Marina Centre area, so that through the collaborative effort of building owners, we can have a spectacular Singapore skyline, especially for national events and festive occasions,” said Mr Ler Seng Ann, URA’s Director (Conservation and Development Services).

http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline06/skyline06-02/images/p4_image.jpg

^ Sounds exciting.....:eek:

Six Battery has a very nice lighting, sadly the lights are too small.

Very pack skyscrapers....:D
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e126/ylstan02/Good%20Friday%20Eve/DSC_0068.jpg

^^^Whoa!!!! The last pic is very impressive, thanks, Babystan03.

One Raffles Quay

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/rqnite1.jpg

Looks classy....:cool:

It looks very good when you are on the ground floor too.....:yes:

yes..but unfortunately, they seldom light up the top :-P

Get ready to see the city in a new light


22 Nov 06

SINGAPORE may soon get a special glow about it at night.
If all goes according to a plan already on the table, lights will show off Singapore's lush greenery to best advantage after sundown.

Bodies of water will be lit from below the surface, and the undersides of bridges will be festooned with lights.

There's more.

Taking a leaf from the original City of Light - Paris - walkways will be lit subtly to evoke the magic of being out at night, while Central Business District (CBD) streets will be cast in a blue-white glow to cool down this tropical island's ambience.

For those who prefer to be hit between the eyes with light instead of a soft glow, the Bras Basah-Bugis area is the place to be - it has been earmarked as a round-the-clock entertainment zone emblazoned with creative neon signs and advertising panels.

All in, four downtown areas have been identified for light-ups - each to project its own look and feel solely through lighting design.

The four areas identified by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) are the Orchard Road belt, the Bras Basah and Bugis area, the CBD and Marina Bay, and the Singapore River.

A Japanese lighting expert has been hired, and he has identified some of Singapore's features which can be enhanced through lights.

The expert, Mr Kaoru Mende of Lighting Planners Associates, is behind the idea to change the CBD's streetlights to bluish-white ones.

He also recommended playing up the Garden City's greenery and its bodies of water, and said the Bras Basah-Bugis area was the best place to show Singapore's cultural vibrancy through lights.

The URA, meanwhile, is reviewing advertisement guidelines for the area to encourage more creative use of signs and media panels.

Proposals aside, one light-up idea has already been confirmed for the Orchard Road strip by year's end.

Traffic at the Orchard and Bideford road junction in front of the Paragon shopping mall will be halted at fixed times nightly, when lights will flash and dance there.

In those precious few minutes, pedestrians will be free to make their way across that junction in any direction they please.

Views from the public on these proposals will also be canvassed. The ideas are showcased in an exhibition at the URA Centre which was opened last night by Minister of State (National Development) Grace Fu.

The exhibition will be open every day, except Sundays, until Feb 28.

URA's acting head of urban design, Ms Yap Lay Bee, said the exhibition aimed to show the public the immense potential of lighting to create a signature skyline.

The URA also hopes to drum up the private sector's interest in the effort, she added.

As an incentive to light up, businesses can apply for government funds that were set up earlier this year.

Those in the Orchard Road area can tap into the $40 million mall-enhancement fund; those in the CBD will have access to $10 million. The URA will also nudge government agencies into lighting up public areas.

By Lim Wei Chean


http://straitstimes.asiaone.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20061121/ST_IMAGES_NDWCLIGHT-O4Ct.jpg

http://straitstimes.asiaone.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20061121/ST_IMAGES_NDWCLIGHTt.jpg

Orchard Road belt

By year's end, lights will flash and dance at fixed times nightly at the Orchard and Bideford road junction in front of the Paragon shopping mall.


Central Business District and Marina Bay

Streets will be cast in a blue-white glow.


Bras Basah and Bugis area

Earmarked as a round-the-clock entertainment zone emblazoned with creative neon signs and advertising panels.


Singapore River

Proposed jelly-fish lights in the river will add more colour and charm to the otherwise quiet stretch opposite Boat Quay.

Sounds exciting.....:D

definitely very exciting and sounds well conceived....although SIngapore's city centre is not that big, having different schemes for different parts will give people distinctly different feels as you cross from one zone to another....just like the feel of Chinatown & Little India contrast to the calm and quiet of the river

definitely very exciting and sounds well conceived....although SIngapore's city centre is not that big, having different schemes for different parts will give people distinctly different feels as you cross from one zone to another....just like the feel of Chinatown & Little India contrast to the calm and quiet of the river

I'm just glad that they are finally doing it......:yes:

More night photos opportunities too......:happy:

URA exhibition on lighting up the city....:)
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8258/dscf0435pp6.jpg

This is nice...:yes:
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1071/dscf0430ui8.jpg

This looks VERY familar....:lol::eek:
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/843/dscf0431so0.jpg

Bugis/Bras Basah Exhibits
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/7167/dscf0434tf4.jpg

Artist impression of future bugis
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2357/dscf0433hj8.jpg

where is it held at?

The exhibition is on at URA centre.

Business Times - 22 Nov 2006

Building lighting incentives pay off

THE Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) says that since announcing it would offer incentives for lighting up buildings in the CBD and Marina Bay in March, one application has already been granted.

The incentives are in the form of an additional 2 per cent gross floor area (GFA) for new developments or a cash grant of not more than $500,000 for existing buildings. URA added that it had received several indications of interest from building owners, and received two formal applications. It said: 'One of them has been granted approval for GFA incentives while the other is pending approval.' Other initiatives to light up the city include using more brightly lit advertising signages.

Speaking at the launch of URA's 'Lighting Up Our City' exhibition at the URA Centre Atrium yesterday, Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu said: 'URA is currently in the process of reviewing the advertisement guidelines to encourage more bright lights at appropriate districts, and the Bras Basah/Bugis area is one of the districts under review.'

Ms Fu also announced that the URA had drawn up a detailed lighting plan covering Orchard Road, Singapore River, Bras Basah/Bugis and the CBD/Marina Bay.

Together with lighting consultant Lighting Planners Associates, URA has proposed dramatic lighting solutions, including moving and changing lights at the junction of Bideford Road and Orchard Road, as well as floating lights on the Singapore River. URA says this could be implemented within two years.

Media walls, 3D 'art-vertisement' and animation have been proposed for Bras Basah/Bugis area although this is likely to require more private sector involvement.

On the perception that building lighting is a drain on electricity, URA said that this typically requires only one per cent of a building's total energy costs.

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

OMG I can't wait, "brightly lit advertising signages"

Thanks for the pictures babystan...got more?

I think Bugis really has the potential to be really bright and bustling...we could do with more of those Oden Tower-like signages there.

I look forward to those coloured jelly-fish lights in the river...the lighting plan reveals a degree of sophistication beyond just splashing multi-colours on tall buildings :yes:

Thanks for the pictures babystan...got more?


Just a few more here regarding the various concepts at the exhibition...:yes:

Lighting up the river
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2530/dscf0425yt0.jpg

Lighting up the underground passes
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4598/dscf0426gg1.jpg

Using difference street lights
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2564/dscf0427jr4.jpg

Luminous street furniture
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8867/dscf0428ar5.jpg

Examine the different effect of lighting
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3710/dscf0432wh8.jpg

Thanks...those are great ideas...like the street furniture, and creatively decorating bare underpass walls...look forward to the speedy implementation.

Heard that ALL new buildings for Marina Bay will HAVE to install night lightings too :yes:

Thanks...those are great ideas...like the street furniture, and creatively decorating bare underpass walls...look forward to the speedy implementation.

Heard that ALL new buildings for Marina Bay will HAVE to install night lightings too :yes:

Oh thats great.......that'll prompt building in the CBD to light up too....:D

Yeah i think lighting up the streetscape is a good idea.....makes the streets less boring at night.....esp good for photography.....:lol:

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/435/dsc0582sos5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Parkview is a brilliant example

Yeh..cant wait for the light-up at bras basah and bugis area. I have always been impressed with neon lighting and advertising panels in Tokyo and New York..
So only the light-up for Orchard Rd will start by year's end? What about the rest of the zones??

Yeh..cant wait for the light-up at bras basah and bugis area. I have always been impressed with neon lighting and advertising panels in Tokyo and New York..
So only the light-up for Orchard Rd will start by year's end? What about the rest of the zones??

I hope the riverside public infrastructure will be lighted up soon as well....for the existing skyline and Bugis...I think it mainly depends on the building owner. But I think all the NEW buildings at Marina Bay will have lighting as a design requirement.

RIVER

http://www.ura.gov.sg/lightingplan/images/singapore_12.jpg

ORCHARD

http://www.ura.gov.sg/lightingplan/images/orchard_12.jpg

BRAS BASAH.BUGIS

http://www.ura.gov.sg/lightingplan/images/bugis_12.jpg

what about lighting up hdb flats too? that would really create a jewel of an island.

Only a few clusters have night lighting. TP and Queenstown 40 and Rowell Court?

^^ i thought HDB's are by right already considered lighted with all the corridoor lighting? espically those older flats whereby the corridoor is one whole stretch...

Thing is lighting on HDB's would have to be more carefully done, you don't want it to disturb residents afterall. More crown lighting like on some of the new 40 story flats would be welcome though.

yeah crown lighting would really contribute to the night skyline. corridor lighting is too dim, and you can't see anything from above.

The design of the majority of HDB blocks at present do not feature tops that could have meaningful lighting features, and as Andrew said...some residents may not like it...that, and budget priorities aside, may make it less likely for HDB blocks to light up en masse.

But the new 40-storey blocks do have some form of lighted crown design and that could be positive for future HDB developments :yes:

I think only the very tallest blocks in an HDB estate can really afford to have bright crown lighting. If you had it on all blocks, there'd always be people who live in the taller blocks who're at the roof level of the shorter ones and hence get floodlights through their windows! Plus yes, it'd cost a fortune to light every one. Stairwell and corridor lighting in usually light most HDBs up pretty well anyway. In residential areas the focus should be more on good street lighting so it feels safe with no dark alleys etc.

CBD skyscrapers on the last Friday night of 2006

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/shawnite5.jpg

^^^^^wow!!!!! This is so great !!!

http://i16.tinypic.com/6hfqcqw.jpg

Are the lights a new addition? It looks stunning.

Its always been part of the design of the building I think, but it is lit up like only extremely very rarely. Around August and on National Day.

ei..i nvr seen that building b4....

Singapore never fail to impress me when it comes to lightin it up! everytime i flew past ur city at nite i'll put on my sunnies for the city! :cool: thx for postin those beautiful nite pics of skyscrapers! :cool:

ei..i nvr seen that building b4....

Its located at Novena, just across the road from Novena Square.

Singapore never fail to impress me when it comes to lightin it up! everytime i flew past ur city at nite i'll put on my sunnies for the city! :cool: thx for postin those beautiful nite pics of skyscrapers! :cool:

oooooooooooooooo......too bad every time i fly in its always in the daytime

^^ as pretty to lah durin the day! :cool:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1437/1007453281_701779de69_b.jpg

Wah , banner so bright ?

Got alot of spotlights pointing down, plus at night need slow shutter speed, so...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1180/1069816480_a021d3c69f_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1227/1068983977_b2944e8d9e_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1134/1068885187_f5ef57f5d3_b.jpg

Bank of China is not often lit up, pity it is sandwiched between others but it also has its own lighting scheme:

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/RCSSC/bocnite.jpg

Yeah, it looks damn dominating when you look up from ground level;.

Why are the building owners so stingy about lighting their buildings up? It's not that we hope to see them lighted everyday, but at least maybe like for a week to celebrations such as National Day... Not limit to only National Day itself, which actually turns out quite dissappointing.

It's like we will never get to see all the buildings that have their own unique lighting features lighted up at one go. Today we see this one lighted, tomorrow we see the other lighted.

The new lighting for the refurbished Asia Insurance Building (now called the Ascott Raffles Place)

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

The changing multi-colours of Maybank Tower.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sky1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sky3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sky5.jpg

Wow, when was it installed?

Wowww!! Is it permanent?

emmm that Maybank one seems bit overdone... actually the Maybank tower is one of the nicest building there... but not after the lighting effects IMO.

However the Ascott Raffles Place looks simply BBEEaeeutiful...simple elegance

hi ahlipp, long time no post :lol: Hope you are doing good :)

@redstone/Josin

I think it is a recent thing, I went down to check it out after ddes mentioned it. Maybe it is part of URA's effort to encourage building owners to light up their buildings?

Separately, I am still awaiting plans for the lighting nightshow to be revealed. I heard that it will start with the completion of IR.

Hi Raffie... i'm doing good and i hope the same for you too! :okay:

hi ahlipp, long time no post :lol: Hope you are doing good :)

@redstone/Josin

I think it is a recent thing, I went down to check it out after ddes mentioned it. Maybe it is part of URA's effort to encourage building owners to light up their buildings?

Separately, I am still awaiting plans for the lighting nightshow to be revealed. I heard that it will start with the completion of IR.

Wah great...:okay:

Though the MAybank lights looks a bit disco-ish....:banana::lol:

I do agree though it looks a bit overdone. Maybe its because the surrounding buildings are not lighted up yet...so it stands out a bit too much.

^^

I certainly hope that not all the buildings will follow Maybank's example. There are other ways they can be lighted up and still look attractive. Don't want the skyline to look like a circus every night! But its encouraging to see some changes after all that talk about lighting buildings...

Hi Raffie... i'm doing good and i hope the same for you too! :okay:

:cheers1:

Is Maybank lighted up every night now?

Took these this evening and Maybank Tower lighting looks really bright & fast :dance:

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/341844907_GpHM7-L.jpg

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/341845067_vS2UT-L.jpg

Bank of China is not often lit up, pity it is sandwiched between others but it also has its own lighting scheme:



The lights on 6 Batt are gone?

The lights on 6 Batt are gone?

Didn't notice. They werent great to begin with, and are now redundant with Maybank's new colours.

@lifestyle, thanks for yet more shots! :okay:

No problem RafflesCity. Trying to take pics when ever have opportunities and that is not too often.

City skyline to get new night glow

19 Sep 08

23 buildings in Marina Bay, CBD submit lighting proposals to the Govt

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20080918/ST_IMAGES_LIGHTS.jpg

A NEW city skyline will arise over the next couple of years when 23 buildings turn on the lights at night.
Maybank, The Sail condo and the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort are among the buildings that have sent lighting proposals to the Government. The plans include how they will illuminate their roofs or accentuate their facades.

This light-up is part of Singapore's plan to create a night buzz for a distinctive city, said Mrs Cheong Hoon Kean, chief executive officer of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

Speaking to The Straits Times ahead of the Formula One night race next week, she said: 'We can look forward to a signature night skyline in the next couple of years, when the buildings in Marina Bay and Central Business District (CBD) are completed and external lighting is installed.' Beautiful lighting will create 'a captivating night scene that enhances our city's appeal', she added.

An artist's rendering of the reborn skyline was completed yesterday, piecing together the 23 lighting proposals.

The buildings appear subtly illuminated, not flooded with light.

Good lighting, Mrs Cheong said, is not about being the brightest or flashiest. Asian cities tend to be over-lit, she added, but this is not Singapore's ethos.

The underlying principle is to stay 'elegant and tasteful, and sensitive to a building's architecture', she said. 'Look at Paris, the romantic City of Lights.'

According to URA officials, elegant lighting should bring out the architectural design elements of a building. So, the emphasis includes illumination of the roof or crown of the building, and lighting walkways on the first storey to create spaces ideal for outdoor activities.

Lights can also be programmable. Day-to-day lighting can be 'a little bit more calm', Mrs Cheong said. The look can be 'celebratory' for festive seasons.

Building owners are hiring lighting experts like Mr Bo Steiber to give their properties a glow at night. The founder of Bo Steiber Lighting Design is lighting up the new tower of OUB Centre at 1, Raffles Place.

His earlier work includes illuminating Shanghai's Xintiandi lifestyle and nightlife district, and the Esplanade's Theatres on the Bay.

The Swede, a Singapore permanent resident, said his energy-efficient lighting of OUB Centre will 'accentuate the tower's angular, linear, diamond features'. He lauded the URA's 'good initiative' to beautify the skyline.

The URA's Lighting Masterplan was introduced in 2006. To encourage more buildings in Marina Bay and the CBD to light up, incentives were rolled out. New developments and buildings being revamped can get as much as 2 per cent additional gross floor area if they light up.

Cash incentives from a $10 million fund to offset the capital costs of new lighting are also granted, particularly for existing structures.

The URA also had a night lighting plan in 1995 for the civic district, the cultural and historical heart of the city. Some 90 per cent of the buildings, bridges and public spaces there were lit.

By Lee Siew Hua
Straits Times

Bright lights, garish city?

12 Jul 09

Do the new city malls festooned with bright lights make for a vibrant area, or one that's just too glaring?

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/c4-3.jpg

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/c4-2.jpg

Here is a riddle for you: What flash a kaleidoscope of colours including yellow and blue, yet make some people see red all over?

Answer: The facades of the latest new malls and office buildings that light up the inner-city in a blazing display at night, drenching nearby buildings with their changing colours.

But while the displays dazzle some, they make others dizzy. Residents in nearby apartment buildings, and passers-by, say that the colours are glaring and distracting.

Tripping the light fantastic are the newly opened Orchard Central mall, the Wilkie Edge office, retail and apartment building in Selegie Road, and the Illuma mall at Bugis Junction.

The first two buildings have large panels of light-emitting diodes (LED) with colours that change, while Illuma has a facade made up of diamond-shaped lights.

And when the upcoming Ion Orchard mall's LED lights were turned on for test runs two weeks ago, it resulted in a blinding light-show at Orchard Road's busiest junction.

The bright lights, big city theme comes courtesy of the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Night Lighting Masterplan announced in 2006, which sought to light up the city, targeting the Civic District, Central Business District and Marina Bay areas.

But consultant Matt Conway, 30, whose Sunshine Plaza apartment in Bencoolen Street faces Wilkie Edge, finds its shining lights and display screen a glaring problem. He gripes: 'It shines into my apartment and it's like having a huge plasma screen TV on in your house the whole day.'

Some passers-by, too, are not bedazzled.

Teacher Nur Hayati Ahmad, 29, was concerned about the amount of energy consumed by Illuma's lights: 'I find it a waste of electricity, especially with the recent campaigns encouraging people to take care of the environment.'

Referring to the recently launched Tampines 1 mall which is drawing crowds with boutiques such as popular Japanese apparel brand Uniqlo, she says: 'Maybe we can find better ways to promote malls. Just look at Tampines 1, it draws people from even the western part of Singapore.'

The URA's guidelines dictate a maximum power usage of five watts per sq m for the lights on a building's facade. According to the urban planning agency, that is equivalent to the normal lighting for a home.

But even so, with 975 LED panels on the 129 sq m screen of Wilkie Edge and a total length of 7,300m of LED lights for Orchard Central's facade, a lot of energy is used to power the lights.

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090712/c4-1.jpg

URA's group director for urban planning and design, Ms Fun Siew Leng, says: 'The question to ask is what kind of city we want. One that we can have a good time in after work, or one that's dark? There are things we want to do, but also, we have to think about how to do them with less energy.'

The URA's guidelines on night lighting are segregated into districts. Bright LED panels and display screens are allowed in the Orchard Road and Bugis areas, but the lighting in the Civic District and the Central Business District have to be more restrained.

The authority does not impose further restrictions on light design for buildings within the allowed areas.

Ms Fun adds: 'There will be buzz in the city. If you live there, you'll have to accept it because it's a mixed-use area. It's not like living in a residential area.'

However, those who see the dark side of the bright idea can take heart from the reactions of malls when asked about their lights.

A spokesman for Ion Orchard explained that the programming of the LED lights on its facade will be unveiled at a later stage and what was seen during its recent test is 'certainly not an indication of what to expect when the mall opens'.

And Ms Susan Leng, director for retail management of Far East Organization, which owns Orchard Central, said: 'We are asking for feedback on our shopping experience and will make adjustments where appropriate'.

And there are those, such as Mr Lai Soon Huat, 52, the manager of Sing Ho Hainanese Chicken Rice stall which sits opposite Wilkie Edge, who like it bright.

He says: 'It doesn't affect us. If it has more people going over there, hopefully some of its business will spill over here.'

Over at Illuma, a spokesman says: 'The current flashing text on Illuma's facade is just temporary. The real capacity of the facade shall be demonstrated during its first public demonstration soon.'

http://www.straitstimes.com/Lifestyle/Hot/Story/STIStory_401783.html

the facade shall be demonstrated during its first public demonstration

The spokesman has spoksed ^ ^
Regarding the article, well, I guess nothing can make everyone happy anyway ;-)

That's what I thought too. The general feel I get from here is that we want more coloured lights, but we also don't want too much of it, and we don't want it too tacky LOL. But as has been discussed before, lighting is suitable when concentrated within certain areas of the city, and not just all over.

I think it is fair to say that people who live in the mixed-use area would just have to get used to the bright lights. Afterall, they do have an option to move to a residential area if they really don't like their glaring surrounding.

It's quite unlikely to hear the same complaint in places like Macau or Hong Kong, where bright lights have long been accepted as part of the cityscape. Anyway, I can't wait to see the new dazzling Bugis and Orchard the next time I visit Singapore.

I think Iluma's lighted facade is a great idea, but not in snowflakes. Also, the front portion of the mall is very crammed.

What's in the red block on the lower levels?

A video showing the light show patterns on Iluma's facade:

zgDIhmh45uk

This pic from flickr shows the crown of the new Straits Trading Building lighted in bright green. Probably a taste of whats the come with the MBFC. :)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4176657082_9ee0c57c5a_b.jpg

Taken last night...with the yellow background lightings for the new year countdown.

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/753004721_Ha6NX-L.jpg