Singapore City Gallery in Singapore

Located between historic Chinatown and the Central Business District, Singapore City Gallery is a three storey visitor centre which houses an enormous model replica, giving visitors a complete view of the Central Area of Singapore. It also shows the city’s physical transformation past, present and future.

Formerly known as the URA Gallery,it was established in January 1999,and is currently still managed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development, whose role is to plan and facilitate Singapore’s long term land use and physical development.The Gallery aims to showcase Singapore’s physical transformation in the last 50 years to become “one of the most liveable cities in Asia. It also aims to explain how “forward-looking, long-term and integrated land use planning and partnership between private and public sectors is achieved” in Singapore. The Gallery also presents “creative solutions to balancing different competing needs, the many live, work, play opportunities planned for, extensive conservation efforts and urban design strategies to create a more distinctive Singapore.”

Singapore City Gallery, the only permanent exhibit that tells the story of the nation’s physical planning efforts, has 10 thematic areas and more than 50 audiovisual and interactive exhibits occupying the first three floors of the Urban Redevelopment Authority building on Maxwell Road in the Central Area. The first floor is reserved for temporary displays on topics such as urban planning, architecture, and other areas relevant to the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s remit. The second floor houses a scale replica of central Singapore, called the Central Area Model. The third floor comprises permanent exhibits on topics such as preservation of historically significant buildings, sustainable development, and urban design. The Gallery as a whole occupies a total area of 2400 square metres. The gallery is open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday, and is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Singapore City Gallery is where one should actually start his/her tour of Singapore. The gallery tells the story of development of Singapore, with a particular emphasis on its remarkable physical transformation. The Singapore City Gallery gives its visitors relevant information about its most famous architectural attractions through detailed and delicate miniature models. Learn about how Singapore became what it is today through a captivating 270-degree panoramic sights and sounds show. You also the opportunity to design your own skyline at the Singapore City Gallery!