Singapore City Gallery

"Opened on 27 January 1999, the Singapore City Gallery was established with an initial investment of 4.2 million Singapore dollars by Lim Hng Kiang, who was then the National Development Minister. The gallery aimed to attract 36,000 visitors annually, primarily students and local community groups. In 2004, it underwent significant renovations, with 80% of its exhibits refreshed, leading to its relaunch on 3 December that year. It was during this reopening that the gallery was renamed the Singapore City Gallery, with its central exhibit, the Central Area Model, being expanded to include previously unrepresented areas such as Orchard Road, Kampong Glam, Little India, Bras Basah, and Bugis, as well as updated plans for Marina Bay. By 2008, the gallery celebrated its millionth visitor. The gallery received another redesign in 2011, which included new interactive exhibits like a 270-degree panorama of life in Singapore and an engaging 8-player multimedia game focused on urban planning. This redesign garnered accolades at the Singapore Design Award 2012 in both the Events/Exhibitions and Multidisciplinary Design categories. Today, the gallery attracts approximately 150,000 visitors each year. The Singapore City Gallery is the only permanent exhibit that narrates the story of the nation’s physical planning efforts, encompassing 10 thematic areas and more than 50 audiovisual and interactive exhibits spread over the first three floors of the Urban Redevelopment Authority building on Maxwell Road. The first floor is dedicated to temporary displays on urban planning and architecture, while the second floor features the Central Area Model—a detailed 11 by 10 meter scale model of central Singapore, constructed at a 1:400 scale from balsa wood and acrylic. This model serves as a dynamic tool for Urban Redevelopment Authority architects, showcasing existing structures alongside future plans. Additionally, the gallery houses the Central Area Discoverer, an interactive library featuring over 100 video stories and 1,000 images documenting the area's past, present, and future. This interactive feature is a key component of "Rediscover Singapore," an online cultural resource recognized as a finalist for the Stockholm Challenge Award in 2008 under the Culture Category, celebrating innovative solutions to urban challenges while balancing heritage and modernity. The gallery operates from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Saturday, remaining closed on Sundays and public holidays."

"9AM-5PM - Closed Sundays "