Set within Raffles Place and beautifying the Singapore skyline are several extraordinary skyscrapers that reside within the Central Buzz District.
Innovatively and sustainably fashioned for the present-day working community, Raffles Place’s vibrant workplaces add a contemporary touch to the precinct, the likes of which include CapitaGreen, Ocean Financial Centre, One Raffles Place, Republic Plaza, Royal Group Building and Singapore Land Tower.
CapitaGreen
Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, CapitaGreen’s viridescent, nature-inspired facade embellishes the city’s skyline with a red petaled crown at its peak. Bearing likeness to a tropical flower, the building’s topper funnels in cool, clean air as a way to keep the building’s internal temperatures lower.
Ito’s goal with this project was to “create architecture that breathes like a living organism.” In this architectural marvel, CapitaGreen can be likened to a living, breathing tree, rising like a plant towards the sky and standing 245 metres tall amid the Central Buzz District of Singapore.
Ocean Financial Centre
Built in collaboration with Argentine architect César Pelli, Ocean Financial Centre is a celebration of Singapore’s maritime heritage, its elegant design composed of two interlocking shapes made to resemble a ship’s sail.
Not only does it house the largest assembly of photovoltaic cell systems on the roof of any high-rise commercial building in Raffles Place, it features a record-breaking vertical green wall along its frontage that depicts the outline of Southeast Asia, the world’s largest vertical garden in 2013, according to the Guinness World Records.
One Raffles Place
There was a time when One Raffles Place Tower 1 was the tallest building in Asia, standing at 60 floors. Designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, the building was erected in 1986.
Tange Associates President Yasuhiro Ishino spoke about Kenzo Tange’s vision for One Raffles Place, stating that Tange wanted to “create a building that attracted people and made the city buzz with activity” while “connect[ing] the historically important Raffles Place with the Singapore River”.
Republic Plaza
Did you know that Dr Kisho Kurokawa, one of Japan’s leading architects of the 20th century, was the man behind Republic Plaza’s unique rocket-shaped design? Inspired by the timeless beauty of a quartz crystal, the 66-storey Republic Plaza is a symbol of dynamism, boldness and aspiration towards phenomenal heights.
Within Republic Plaza’s lobby is a striking 1,800 square feet digital LED wall displaying moving art, which was the largest in any Singapore office building when installed in 2019!
Royal Group Building
Royal Group Building serves as the headquarters for Royal Group, managed primarily by the Hiranandani family, Asok Kumar Hiranandani as chairman and his son Bobby Hiranandani as co-chairman.
Completed in 1997, the 19 storey structure along Phillip Street is one of the many iconic buildings built by the group to grace Singapore’s skyline.
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore Land Tower was built on the site of the former John Little building at Raffles Place, Singapore’s oldest department store. Originally completed in 1982, the historic landmark underwent an extensive asset enhancement initiative in 2021.The late Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate Fumihiko Maki, Founder of Maki and Associates, was the architect behind the building’s latest transformation.
Completed in 2025, the 43-year-old Singapore Land Tower has embraced a fresh new look with sustainable, human-centric design features, addressing the growing emphasis on wellbeing and flexibility at the workplace.
The building’s facade has been sheathed with a pristine curtain wall and adorned with a new roof crown that lights up at night. The asset enhancement initiative has also introduced more green features, lush landscaped public spaces, energy-efficient lifts and lightings, as well as parking for electric hybrid cars.
