What's above? The design of the new integrated development at Clarke Quay

View of future Clarke Quay development along Eu Tong Sen Street.

The Clarke Quay site occupies a very strategic and highly prominent location in the city. Located strategically at the river bend, the site offers commanding views of the Civic District and the Central Business District.

The site comprises a large and a smaller land parcel separated by Tew Chew Street. On the larger parcel, the developer is proposing a three-storey podium structure on which sit two towers, one 25 storeys and the other 12 storeys. The 25-storey tower houses offices while the 12-storey tower is for home-offices. On the smaller parcel sits another 8-storey block containing more home-offices. Linking the two parcels is a three-level aerial linkway over Tew Chew Street.

It is also one of the 33 landmark sites identified under URA's Landmark and Gateway Master Plan, where developers are encouraged to put up distinctive buildings. For developments on these sites, URA is prepared to allow waivers from its design guidelines and standard development control requirements. The Design Guidelines Waiver Committee (DGWC), an independent body comprising local architects has been set up by URA to evaluate the waivers and make recommendations on whether the waivers can be granted. The Clarke Quay site is the first site to benefit from this new arrangement.

One of the design requirements that was waived the provision of an eight metre high building edge along Eu Tong Sen Street. The objective of this requirement is to create a strong urban street edge. Instead, the developer proposed an open and inviting public covered entrance plaza from Eu Tong Sen Street to the MRT station entrance, which the DGWC accepted. The plaza would help make the street level more vibrant as people can meet and gather there.

The development will also complete the last piece of the promenade that has been planned by URA along both banks of the river. When completed, visitors can stroll uninterrupted along the tree-lined promenade by the waterfront from one quay to another.