The flipside of Singapore: When the sun goes away, the lights come out to play

The distinctive Singapore skyline is majestic by day and dazzling by night. Some of the island’s most iconic spots don't just look beautiful when the sun is out, they transform into a jaw-dropping, brightly-lit canvas after hours. Here are some places to visit, where the sheer beauty of their architecture and design look spectacular regardless of the time.

The Pinnacle@Duxton: Stand atop the summit and gaze upon the illuminated cityscape

In the day

Connected by two of the world’s longest sky gardens, the seven 50-storey towers at Pinnacle@Duxton — an award-winning residential development — is best viewed under the bright lighting conditions of day. The sheer scale of the towers, combined with their strong outline, breaks the monotony of the sky by forming a powerful, imposing silhouette during the day.

At night

Each tower is designed to look like a computer chip, with the roof imitating a chip’s copper connectors while each residential unit simulates an LED light. As families turn their lights off at night, the building lights up in an irregular manner, an intentional design choice inspired by the movie “The Matrix”.

Fun fact: The site used to house the first two 10-storey public housing blocks in Tanjong Pagar. Learn more about its cultural significance at an outdoor gallery found within its premises.

Things to do

In the day, check out the indoor food court on the first floor — open from 10:30am to 11:00pm daily — which serves affordable restaurant-quality meals, ranging from Mediterranean to gourmet burgers! At night, visit the Skybridge on the 50^th floor for a breath-taking view of Singapore’s night sky line. Enjoy views of six different areas — Mount Faber, Chinatown, Marina Bay, West Coast, Harbourfront and the Central Business District — depending on the direction you’re facing. There is an entry fee of $6 per person, and the site is open daily from 9:00am to 9:00pm.

Address: 1G Cantonment Road, Singapore 085301

National Gallery: Appreciate the exterior that sparkles at night

In the day

The National Gallery is a classic colonial-style building with modern design elements. Under sunlight, the defining feature of the building — a curved canopy, located in the middle of the structure — shimmers brightly due to its golden filigree and glass composition. Its roof was designed to let natural light filter into the building, creating artistic shadows within the exhibitions too.

At night

When night falls, the gallery’s exterior becomes a shining beacon of light. The gallery comprises two national monuments: the former Supreme Court and City Hall. This two-building structure is heavily accentuated by the contrast between its strong lighting and the darkness of night. It also appears unblemished and pure due to the white lighting used — a reference to its juridical roots.

Things to do

Check out the many exhibitions within the National Gallery when you’re in town during the day, such as ‘Law of the Land’, an archive of Singapore’s constitutional developments from the 1800s, and ‘Between Declarations and Dreams’, an intriguing collection of Southeast Asian art. The gallery’s operating hours are from 10:00am to 7:00pm. At night, pay ode to Odette, a fine dining, two-Michelin star restaurant that serves modern French cuisine, and treat yourself to award-winning dishes with a beautiful ambience.

Address: 1 St Andrew's Rd, Singapore 178957

 

The Helix Bridge: Be mesmerised by a structure that reflects our DNA

In the day

Marvel at the intricacy of the bridge’s double-helix inspired structure in the day, which builds a sense of movement and journey. While the contrast between this lightweight pedestrian bridge and massive vehicular bridge may be hard to appreciate when the dimness of night breaks the clarity of both structures’ profiles, there’s a whole other dimension of beauty waiting to be appreciated by night.

At night

The DNA-inspired design comes alive at night when a series of dynamic computer-controlled lights turn on. Pairs of coloured letters — “c”, “g”, “a” and “t” — that represent the four bases of DNA, cytosine, guanine, adenine and thymine, light up at night in red and green. While the outward-facing lights emphasise the sweeping structural curves, the inward-facing bulbs illuminate the internal canopy of glass and steel mesh, creating a beautiful multi-coloured display.

Things to do

As the bridge serves as an outdoor gallery, take a stroll on the bridge during the day to enjoy drawings and paintings by Singaporean children. At night, catch Spectra, a free-to-public outdoor light and water show, located a stone’s throw away. The 15-minute show tells a captivating love story and runs twice every night — one at 8:00pm and the other at 9:00pm.

Address: Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039805 (nearest landmark)

Fullerton Hotel: Gape at the majestic radiance of the modern-day castle

In the day

The Fullerton Hotel has grand, neoclassical architecture features such as a lofty Portico (porch at the building entrance with a roof structure supported by giant columns), aimed towards conveying a sense of power and splendour. With a glass top, the courtyard also allows ample of natural light to enter, setting a soothing ambience in the area.

At night

The Fullerton Hotel uses warm, orange-tinted lighting at night, creating an illusion that the building is made of gold. This illusion extends to the Singapore River, where the calming waters reflect the bright lights, mimicking a river of gold.

Things to do

While the sun is out, enjoy a full view of the hotel on a boat cruise down Singapore River. When night falls, check out Lighthouse Restaurant and Rooftop Bar, a rooftop dining spot atop the Fullerton Building (that used to be a lighthouse!) which offers stunning night views of the Marina Bay waterfront. The restaurant is open from 5:30pm to 10:30pm.

Address: 1 Fullerton Square, Singapore 049178

ION Orchard: Watch the sublime glass garden bloom at night

In the day

Orchard Road used to be filled with nutmeg plantations and fruit orchards, hence its name. ION Orchard uses this as an inspiration, reflecting the growth from seeds to trees in its design. While the outer layer of the mall acts as a physical “retail canopy”, wrapping the whole podium in mild curves which resembles a fruit peel, the entrance to the MRT uses double curved, fully transparent glass to imitate a droplet which waters the plants.

At night

This retail canopy lights up in a grand display at night. The fluid, electric and magnetic façade, made of flexible LED panels, functions as a multi-sensory canvas that mall retailers sometimes use to project vibrant and creative advertisements and art projections.

Things to do

In the day, shop and dine at over 300 retail and F&B establishments in ION Orchard! At night, view the city from a bird’s eye perspective at ION Sky, Singapore’s first and only observation deck 218m above ground level, boasting a special animated feature where the country’s history comes to life. Each admission is redeemable with every $20 spent and the last entry is at 7:45pm.

Address: 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801

The Singapore you see in the day doesn’t look quite the same at night. Be mesmerised by the intricate beauty of these buildings under natural light during the day, and enjoy its stunning display of vibrant lights at night. On your next visit to Singapore, do explore the city and take a closer look at your surroundings to be in awe!