Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort on the southern waterfront of Marina Bay in Singapore, opened in 2010 and developed by Las Vegas Sands. Designed by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie, it comprises three 55-storey hotel towers crowned by a 340-metre-long sky park containing a cantilevered infinity pool, hotel suites, restaurants, and gardens. The building has become the defining landmark of 21st-century Singapore.
At a glance
- Type
- Integrated resort: hotel, casino, convention centre, retail, theatres, museum
- Period
- Construction 2007–2010; opened April–June 2010
- Style
- Contemporary / parametric design
- Location
- 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956
- Coordinates
- 1.2841° N, 103.8609° E
- Architect
- Moshe Safdie and Associates
- Height
- Tower A/B/C: approx. 194 m (55 floors each); SkyPark extends 340 m
Overview
Marina Bay Sands cost approximately S$8 billion to build and is one of the most expensive standalone casino properties ever constructed. The three towers lean slightly outward and are connected at the top by the SkyPark, a 1-hectare platform that overhangs the north tower by 67 metres — the largest cantilevered public structure in the world. The ArtScience Museum, shaped like a lotus flower, sits adjacent to the complex at the waterfront. Together with the Gardens by the Bay nearby, Marina Bay Sands forms the centrepiece of Singapore’s Marina Bay precinct.
History
Singapore legalised casino gambling in 2005 after decades of prohibition, recognising that the ban was costing the country significant tourism revenue to Macau, Genting Highlands, and elsewhere. Two integrated resort licences were awarded: one to Marina Bay Sands on the reclaimed Marina Bay waterfront, and one to Resorts World Sentosa on Sentosa Island. Las Vegas Sands won the Marina Bay licence and commissioned Moshe Safdie, who beat competing designs with his bold concept of three towers linked by a sky park. Construction began in 2007 and the complex opened in phases between April and June 2010.
What you see
The three towers are identical in footprint but are not vertical: each leans slightly inward or outward, creating subtle visual movement in the profile. The SkyPark at the top is a continuous deck spanning all three towers, containing a 150-metre infinity pool, restaurants, bars, and garden walks. From the bay, the silhouette of the SkyPark reads as a single horizontal stroke above the three vertical shafts — a shape that has been compared to a surfboard, a ship’s prow, and a leaf. At ground level, the resort opens onto the Marina Bay promenade and Event Plaza, a public waterfront terrace used for laser and water shows.
Cultural significance
Marina Bay Sands has transformed Singapore’s skyline and tourism economy since opening: the number of international visitors rose by more than 20 percent in the years immediately following its launch. The SkyPark infinity pool is one of the most-photographed architectural features in Asia and a global symbol of aspirational luxury tourism. The ArtScience Museum has become one of Singapore’s leading venues for blockbuster travelling exhibitions, reinforcing the country’s ambition to be a regional cultural hub.
Practical information
The SkyPark observation deck is open to non-hotel guests for a ticketed admission; the infinity pool is for hotel guests only. The hotel, casino, Sands SkyPark, retail mall (The Shoppes), ArtScience Museum, and convention centre each have separate access arrangements. The ArtScience Museum charges admission per exhibition. For current prices, hours, and booking, check the official Marina Bay Sands website.
Getting there
Bayfront MRT station (Circle Line and Downtown Line) opens directly into the basement of the complex, making it the most convenient arrival point. Promenade MRT station (Circle Line and Downtown Line) is a short walk along the waterfront. City Hall MRT (EW and NS lines) is approximately 15 minutes on foot via the Jubilee Bridge across Marina Bay. Taxi and ride-hailing (Grab) drop-offs are at the Bayfront Avenue entrance.