Located off Gambas Avenue, Sembawang Hot Spring Park features new cascading pools and a water collection point, enhanced accessibility for wheelchair users, and educational panels where visitors can learn about Singapore’s only hot spring park’s history and geology. The park's rustic environment, reminiscent of old kampungs, also holds many collective memories for the community.
Visitors can enjoy the new Floral Walk and see fruit trees and edible plants commonly found in kampungs, and flowers commonly seen in the 1960s and 1990s. The rustic environment is further enhanced by unpaved paths and naturalised streams flowing from the hot spring, which mimics the freshwater swamp forest landscape. There are seating areas sheltered by planted trellises featuring flowering creepers such as the Elephant Climber (Argyreia nervosa). The public can also learn more about the history of the site and geothermal processes behind the formation of a hot spring through interpretative signs at locations of interest.
The newly-opened Singapore Botanic Gardens Seed Bank is an important step in safeguarding plant biodiversity in Southeast Asia through conservation, research and education. Collecting seeds for storage helps to build a valuable resource for habitat restoration and species conservation. But different seeds need to be stored in specific conditions, hence the Seed Bank will advance extensive research in this area. Go learn about seeds and the science of seed storage at a new interpretive gallery and outdoor garden!
Opening in 2021, the new theatre will fill the gap between Esplanade’s large venues and smaller studio spaces, and enable the national arts centre to further support future generations of artists and arts groups to create new works that tell Singapore and Asian stories and widen its engagement with various communities.
Esplanade is also launching a series of new fundraising initiatives, which are designed for a spectrum of supporters, from the general public, to philanthropists and foundations.
In celebration of the development of the new theatre, Esplanade and its Mall tenant Makansutra Gluttons Bay have jointly organised The Food Stage, a special street food experience that features exclusive off-menu items such as 4 Cheese Murtabak, Carrot Cake“Fries” with BBQ Wings, Laksa Seafood Stew, Soft Shell Crab Mui Fan and many more. Makansutra has also pledged a donation of $100,000 to Esplanade which will go towards Singtel Waterfront Theatre.
Please click here for details on the fundraising initiatives and more information about this project.
Located at 155 Waterloo Street, Stamford Arts Centre (SAC) is within the Waterloo Street arts belt, a vibrant precinct known for the diverse offerings of arts and cultural programmes and events. Following redevelopment works from 2017 to 2018 that transformed SAC into a modernised Centre with enhanced features, SAC is envisioned to be a vibrant and energetic arts centre focussed on bringing the traditional arts closer to the community, supporting content creation and artistic collaborations.
SAC provides shared facilities for hire on a short-term basis for arts activities and projects. These include five project studios, an acoustically-treated music studio, and a black box.
The SAC black box is designed to be a multi-purpose space that provides an intimate setting for rehearsals, performances or events. With a total floor area of 355 sqm, the fully air-conditioned black box provides performance capabilities with theatre grid and lighting, as well a fully integrated sound system. Retractable seats with a capacity of up to 162 persons are available for small scale performances. A modular sprung floor system is also available when required.
Located at Alexandra Terrace, Brass Lion Distillery is Singapore’s first standalone micro-distillery specialising in producing high-quality small-batch craft spirits. In addition to being a distillery, it is also home to a tasting room, retail store and herb garden.
The brand debuts with the Brass Lion Gin — a tropical and distinctly Singaporean gin that evokes the island’s sense of place. This New World-style gin draws inspiration from the region’s centuries-old spice trade, which brought a plethora of Asian herbs and spices – together with indigenous varieties – to the island.
Founder Jamie's first foray into the world of spirits started with the opening of the legendary Chupitos Shots Bar in Clarke Quay, followed by The Beast Southern Kitchen & Bourbon Bar. A love of gin and experimentation, combined with the lack of local Singaporean spirits, led her on a journey to master the art and science of distillation under Master Distillers all over the world.
Embark on a tour of Brass Lion Distillery's entire space where you'll learn about the distilling process, how Brass Lion came about and the inception of the Singapore Dry Gin. Please visit this link to sign up for the tour.
Singapore’s award-winning wildlife attraction, Singapore Zoo, celebrates its 45th year since it first opened in 1973 with their latest attraction, Rainforest Lumina.
A first in South East Asia, Rainforest Lumina at Singapore Zoo is a new, illuminated multimedia night walk on the wild side promises a sensory feast for visitors. Call of the Wild wows with an astounding visual narrative of how the Creature Crew bands together in times of adversity to overcome all challenges and protect the jungle.
The one-kilometer stretch within the zoo’s tropical rainforest will awaken the senses as visitors walk through 11 different zones and meet the Creature Crew, a group of unlikely heroes who will take visitors on a whimsical adventure along the paths of their enchanted world.
Created by award-winning multimedia entertainment studio Moment Factory and set up with careful consideration to minimise disturbance to the park’s animal collection and native wildlife, Rainforest Lumina will take visitors on an immersive journey as they encounter interactive and mesmerising installations and uncover a side of the zoo that has never been seen before.
With the overarching theme “We are one”, Rainforest Lumina seeks to drive home the message that humans, animals and nature are inter-connected, with each having a vital role to play to sustain life on earth. The transformation of the Singapore Zoo into a magical landscape of lights and sound, coupled with the interaction with the Creature Crew, will take guests on the spellbinding journey that will spark inspiration at every turn and nurture empathy for nature and wildlife.
Opening as one of the world’s first “open-concept” zoos, the Singapore Zoo started with a modest collection of about 300 animals. Today, the Singapore Zoo welcomes 1.9 million visitors each year and is home to over 2,400 animals representing more than 300 species, of which 34 percent are threatened in the wild. The Zoo has also been successful in breeding critically endangered species and has established itself as one of the best zoos in the world, gaining worldwide recognition.
Adding to an already well-rounded experience, the Singapore Zoo will make use of immersive technology to provide visitors with a fresh experience. It will include Rainforest Lumina’s innovative use of light, multimedia and interactive elements, as well as an engaging narrative to heighten the night walk experience.
One of the few landmarks on Waterloo Street, the 148-year old Sri Krishnan Temple reopens after four years of restoration works costing nearly $4 million.
The shrines, ceilings, temple dome and pillars were all upgraded in the renovation. Intricate decorative works on the pillars required two sculptors working on them on-site over 3 years.
One of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, Sri Krishnan Temple's recent consecration ceremony called Maha Samprokshanam (done every 12 to 15 years) was attended by some 10,000 devotees.
Supported by National Heritage Board, Singapore, the museum was conceptualised in 2016 and completed in 2018.
Did you know that more than two-thirds of the current Bishan town was once occupied by a cemetery and a village? Since the 19th century, Bishan was a Chinese burial ground called Peck San Theng. The Cantonese community was in charge of Peck San Theng, with more than 50,000 graves spread across the region. Kampong San Theng was the main Chinese village then.
The new $700,000 heritage gallery tells the story of Kampong San Teng.
The 560 sqm gallery held its official opening on 3rd June.
Admission to the gallery is free. It is open from 9.30am to 4pm every day except on public holidays.
The regional art scene is set to become more vibrant with the major revamp of the Singapore Art Museum (SAM).
SAM’s museum programming will continue throughout the revamp which is likely to cost around $90 million. Internationally renowned SCDA Architects have been appointed to manage the redevelopment of the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) buildings.
SAM opened to much fanfare in 1996 in a converted museum space that once housed the former Saint Joseph’s Institution and has not upgraded its premises since. The upcoming building works will address the growing needs of contemporary art in Singapore and focus on improving the visitor experience at SAM. The project is targeted for completion in 2021.
SAM currently occupies two separate buildings – the former St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) along Bras Basah Road - a gazetted National Monument, and the former Catholic High School, located along Queen Street. The redevelopment plans include the creation of a fully contiguous museum, more spaces to accommodate museum-based learning opportunities, as well as the infrastructure to display large-scale or technologically- demanding artworks.
SAM’s museum programming continues to take place at SAM at 8Q till end of January 2019. Thereafter, members of the public can look forward to pop-up contemporary art projects at partner venues, as well as co-curated and touring exhibitions by SAM.
Prior to the commencement of the building works, a series of archaeological activities will take place at the former SJI building during Singapore Heritage Festival 2018, as part of the National Monument’s bid to deepen the public’s understanding of its history, which dates back to 1855.
The renovated temple has a new facade, a multi-purpose hall and other upgraded facilities.
AVGMT is an amalgamation of three Hindu temples - the Arulmigu Velmurugan Temple, the Sri Krishna Bhagwan Durga Parameswari Devasthanam and the Sri Mariamman Muneeswarar Temple.
The Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, a 164-year-old national monument and one of the oldest temples in Singapore, was recently re-sanctified in a consecration ceremony called the “Maha Samprokshanam” which is done once every 12 years.
Major redevelopment works at the temple, costing S$4.5 million, were recently completed.
The temple had to invite foreign experts to help in the restoration as certain specific skills were not available here. A team of 20 highly-skilled artisans, known as sthapathis, were flown in from India for the job.
In 1978, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple was declared a National Monument by the Preservation of Monuments Board. The temple also underwent major facelifts in year 1987, 1992 and 2005.
The history of Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple dates back to the late 1800s. Read more about its rich history here.
The Singapore Botanic Gardens’Seed Bank is Singapore’s first seed bank and will conserve the seeds of threatened plant species from Southeast Asia. Works for the seed bank are expected to be completed by mid-2019.
The seed bank will play a key role in conserving plant diversity in the region and ensure the growth of the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ plant collection. The seed bank will have the capacity to store seeds from up to 25,000 species of plants. This is around half the total number of seed plant species in Southeast Asia, and nearly triple the 9,000 species of plants that the Gardens currently has in its living collection. When established, the seed bank targets to achieve 100 seed collections per year.
The facility will be established in House 4, the largest of five colonial-style houses within the Raffles College. Originally named Mansfield Lodge, it served as the college president’s residence when it was built in the 1920s. This house was designated as a Conserved Building in October 2006. Read more about this project here.
A new arts centre dedicated to the promotion of cross cultural exchanges will open in Singapore this May.
Called Temenggong House 18 • 20 and located at two historical black and white bungalows on the slopes of Mount Faber at Temenggong Road, the new centre will serve as a conducive environment for the confluence of shared experiences between communities around the region to promote Singapore as an arts and cultural hub in an increasingly globalised world.
Temenggong House will officially open on 25 May 2018. Visitors can look forward to a suite of signature events which will be unveiled closer to the date.
The venue will comprise facilities such as function rooms, dining and verandah areas which can cater to a wide range of events and programmes.
One of Singapore oldest mosques, Angullia Mosque, closes for redevelopment which will see it transform into a four-storey building that can accommodate 2,500 congregants.
Angullia Mosque has been an iconic landmark in the area of Serangoon Road and Little India for more than 120 years.
The Mosque was built on Wakaff land bequeathed by MSE Angullia. Still standing at its present site, the first blueprints of the Mosque was dated in 1890.
Since its initial construction somewhere in the late 1890s, several upgrading works have been undertaken to maintain its functionality and relevance to its immediate community.
Angullia Mosque serves a large community of Muslims within the Serangoon Road district and many of their congregants include both the local and foreign workforce within the Serangoon Road business district.
Over the years, the capacity and infrastructure of the mosque are not able to keep up with the numbers and demands of their daily congregants.
Get ready for an exciting voyage on the turbulent high seas and sail off on an explorer adventure at the newly-unveiled Maritime Experiential Museum on Sentosa Island.
After nine months of extensive overhaul, the Maritime Experiential Museum is the only one of its kind in Singapore reconceptualisation, this is the newest attraction on Sentosa Island and dedicated to the exploration of the iconic Maritime Silk Route.
Housing a total of 15 unique galleries including five brand new zones featuring never-before-seen content and installations, the revamped attraction will engage the senses of guests through a combination of state-of-the-art visual projections, multimedia shows, interactive hands-on exhibits, olfactory experiences and plenty of stunning Instagram-worthy displays.
Greeted by the four world-famous seafarers with holographic effect in the Briefing Room, guests will embark on the maritime adventure through the eyes of Marco Polo, the merchant from Venice; Sang Nila Utama, Palembang prince and founder of Singapura; Ibn Battuta, Moroccan scholar and explorer; and Zheng He, Chinese admiral and fleet commander.
After a glimpse into how maritime trade and cross-cultural exchanges contribute to the progress of civilisation and shape the world today, guests enter the immersive Learning To Navigate chamber – an all-new interactive gallery designed like a lower deck of a ship. Guests can try their hand at reading nautical charts, navigate a mariner’s compass or learn more about the ancient art of celestial navigation. Replicas and projections of early trading vessels that ply the Maritime Silk Route, such as the Chinese Junk, Javanese Jong and Borobudur Ship, offer awe-inspiring 360-degree views and fascinating details on the construction of these sturdy ships.
Next, a vibrant marketplace at The Flavours of Maritime Silk Route depicts how precious merchandise such as silk, spices and gemstones were so highly sought after that traders were willing to risk their lives for them.
Guests can continue their journey and marvel at the Jewel of Muscat – designed like a 9th century Arabian Dhow – which made a tumultuous 138-day voyage from Oman to Singapore in 2010 using ancient navigational methods with a crew of 15. The immersive Typhoon Theater, a must-see anchor attraction, simulates a sinking ship in a treacherous storm, letting guests face the wrath of the sea before descending into the depths of the ocean.
The main building of the former National Aerated Water Factory at 1177 Serangoon Road will be gazetted for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).
Recognising the building’s heritage value, its role as a landmark in the area and the social memories it holds for the community, the building owner, Selangor Dredging Berhad (SDB) is supportive of the conservation efforts and is working closely with URA to keep the building as part of our national history.
Completed in 1954, this Art Deco Style building is a well-known local landmark along Serangoon Road. It was the bottling factory that produced popular soft drinks such as Sinalco, Kickapoo Joy Juice and Royal Crown Cola. It is also one of the last few remaining structures along the stretch of Kallang River that reflect the area’s rich industrial past, and contribute to the heritage of the Kallang River.
The two-storey L-shaped main building facing Serangoon Road will be conserved. This includes the signage tower, a representative feature that many will be familiar with. Read more about this conservation effort.
Marina Bay Sands's new permanent attraction, Digital Light Canvas, will take immersive experiences to new heights through a multi-sensory combination of technology and digital art. It will be unveiled on 22 December in time for the festive holidays.
Located at the North Promenade of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands1, this permanent attraction is commissioned to multi-award winning Japanese art collective teamLab, who also created the landmark Future World: Where Art Meets Science exhibition at ArtScience Museum.
The new attraction, which took about two years from conception to completion, will feature teamLab’s proprietary 4D vision display technology in the form of a magnificent 14-metre tall light sculpture suspended from the ceiling. More than 401,000 full-coloured LEDs are strung within 608 tubes hanging within the cylindrical sculpture. This interactive technology allows users to project pre-programmed 3D objects onto the installation via their smartphones. Read more about this fascinating new attraction here.
The new building of Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre located on Guillemard Road is now officially open; the new edifice infuses traditional Tibetan style with modernity – her distinct and brightly coloured façade stands out from the surrounding buildings.
They are planning to make good use of the building to benefit everyone and for people to learn the spiritual path. Various programmes and courses will be provided and they will also be involved in social services wherever needed, just as they have done actively for over thirty years.
This new building shall be a beacon to flourish the Buddhadharma both in Singapore and the region.
Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre was established in 1981 by His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa to realise the precious teachings of Buddha in Singapore. Since then, through various programmes such like classes, meditation, teachings, practices and many more, the Centre has benefited many people.
Have you been to ION Sky yet? Travel Back in Time and Discover Orchard Road’s history at ION Sky
At Level 56 and 218m above, be surrounded by panoramic views of Singapore as you discover history in a specially commissioned multimedia show by award-winning Singaporean Singer/ Songwriter Dick Lee. Get a glimpse of what Singapore and Orchard Road used to look like when they were fruit orchards and nutmeg plantations and how they have transformed.
The multimedia animation, approximately eleven minutes long, unfolds across four chapters starting from the 1800s when the spice trade began to flourish and settlements were established, to the evolution of Orchard Road, before concluding with Singapore’s transformation into the modern metropolis that it is today. The music accompanying the animation is inspired by the some of the best film scores with a whimsical touch that transports the audience through time and space as the story develops.
Each admission to the multimedia show is for 45 minutes and the showtimes are: 2:00 - 2:45 pm, 2:45 - 3:30 pm, 3:30 - 4:15 pm, 4:15 - 5:00 pm, 5:00 - 5:45 pm, 7:00 – 7:45 pm and lastly 7:45 – 8:30 pm. Please read here for more information pertaining to the redemption of admission tickets to visit ION Sky.
Sembawang Hot Spring, the only hot spring on mainland Singapore, will be developed into a community park 10 times its current size.
The Sembawang Hot Spring was discovered in 1908 on the grounds owned by a Chinese merchant, Seah Eng Keong. Since then, the land has changed hands a few times. It was once a thermal bathhouse for Japanese soldiers, after their occupation of Singapore during World War II.
Sembawang Hot Spring holds many memories for the community that has used it over the years. The design of the new Sembawang Hot Spring Park is shaped by the 'kampung-like' environment and will be kept rustic with various spaces where visitors can gather & enjoy the activities in this unique park. The design will be further refined with ideas and suggestions received from the public.
Work on the park will begin in early 2018 and are expected to be completed by 2019.
Expect an extended design experience at the Red Dot Design Museum, with the exhibition galleries, museum shop and the design cafe & bar opening late till 2am daily!
As the only museum in Singapore that opens past midnight, the Red Dot Design Museum is an alternative night-time desitination to visit after-hours.
In 1955, the “Ständige Schau formschöner Industrieerzeugnisse” (Permanent Show of Elegant Industrial Products) was established in Villa Hügel in Essen, Germany. It evolved over the years to become the Red Dot Design Museum.
Today, the Red Dot Design Museum in Germany and Singapore presents the world’s largest exhibition of contemporary design.
Red Dot Design Museum Singapore now sits on a glass building located along the Marina Bay Waterfront. The building used to be the Marina Bay City Gallery that showcase the story of Singapore’s urban transformation and the development of Marina Bay.
With the museum as the new tenant, the iconic building has been given a new lease of life with clever space transformations to include several galleries, retail, cafe and outdoor seating space to host year round design exhibitions.
After being closed for nearly three years, Novena Church which is also known as Church of St Alphonsus, one of Singapore's most popular Catholic churches, will finally reopen soon.
The revamp of the 67-year-old church costs $54 million and the first mass will be held on 29 September. Seating capacity has now almost doubled, from 800 to 1,500.
The church will be home to 18 impressive stained-glass windows. Additions also include a 200-seat auditorium, a multi-purpose hall and also an underground carpark too.
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