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Downtown Core

Coordinates: 1°17′12″N 103°51′13″E / 1.28667°N 103.85361°E / 1.28667; 103.85361
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Downtown Core
Other transcription(s)
 • Chinese市中心
 • MalayPusat Bandar
 • Tamilடவுன்டவுன் கோர்
From top left to right: Aerial view of the Civic District, Raffles Place, Parliament House, The Helix Bridge with Marina Bay Sands in the background, Old Supreme Court Building, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, The Merlion with the Marina Bay Financial Centre in the background
Map
Singapore's Downtown Core
Location in Central Region
Location in Central Region
Downtown Core is located in Singapore
Downtown Core
Downtown Core
   Downtown Core within    Singapore
Downtown Core is located in Asia
Downtown Core
Downtown Core
Downtown Core (Asia)
Downtown Core is located in Earth
Downtown Core
Downtown Core
Downtown Core (Earth)
Coordinates: 1°17′12″N 103°51′13″E / 1.28667°N 103.85361°E / 1.28667; 103.85361
Country Singapore
RegionCentral Region
CDC
Town council
Constituency
1st DGP exhibited
2nd DGP exhibited
PA incorporated
  • 22 January 1999[1]
Government
 • MayorCentral Singapore CDC
 • Members of ParliamentJalan Besar GRC

Tanjong Pagar GRC

Area
 • Total4.34 km2 (1.68 sq mi)
 • Rank44th
Population
 (2019)[2][3]
 • Total2,720
 • Rank32nd
 • Density630/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
  • Rank34th
Ethnic groups
 • Chinese2,970
 • Malays40
 • Indians320
 • Others390
Postal district
1, 6, 7

The Downtown Core is the historical and downtown centre of the city-state of Singapore and the main commercial area in Singapore excluding reclaimed lands with many integrated resorts such as the Marina Bay Sands, one of the most expensive buildings in the world, with a luxurious standalone casino at Bayfront Avenue. There are many skyscrapers in Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar and Marina Bay CBD with a height limit of 280m. It is one of the eleven planning areas located within the most urbanised Central Area,[4] forming the latter's dense urban core. It is bounded by Rochor to the north, Kallang to the northeast, Marina East and Marina South to the east, Straits View to the southeast, Bukit Merah to the south, as well as Outram, Museum and Singapore River to the west.

As the financial Heart of Singapore, the Downtown Core houses the headquarters and offices of numerous corporations, as well as the Singapore Exchange. The area is also home to many governmental institutions, notably the seat of Parliament and the Supreme Court of Singapore.

Singapore's modern history began in this area, when Stamford Raffles and representatives of the British East India Company landed along the banks of the Singapore River to set up a free port in Southeast Asia. As the old harbour grew along the mouth of the river bank, the city naturally expanded around it, creating what is now the Central Area.

The name "Downtown Core" remains relatively unheard of and the term Central Business District (CBD) is commonly used in conversation instead. However, the area known as the CBD actually comprises a smaller area within the Downtown Core itself, taking up the south-western and western portions of the planning area, consisting largely of many skyscrapers. It is made up of eight subzones, Anson, Cecil, Clifford Pier, Maxwell, Phillip, Raffles Place and Tanjong Pagar and Marina Centre.[4] The core of the CBD has since extended well beyond its boundaries and the term is even often at times used to refer to the Central Area as a whole.

History

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Aerial panorama of Singapore's Downtown Core

As a fledgling colony, the area which is now known as the Downtown Core was the financial, administrative and commercial centre of the colony. In 1823, Singapore was reorganised according to the Raffles Plan of Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles, which specified elements like the Commercial Square (now Raffles Place) and the European Town as well as various other commercial and administrative entities located between them. This area later became the Downtown Core.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Singapore Infopedia – Development guide plan". National Library Board.
  2. ^ a b City Population – statistics, maps and charts | Downtown Core
  3. ^ a b "Statistics Singapore - Geographic Distribution - 2018 Latest Data". Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Downtown Core Planning Report 1995". Urban Redevelopment Authority. Archived from the original on 2007-06-12. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
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