The Skywaters: Injecting greater buzz in our Downtown

The Skywaters, Singapore’s upcoming tallest skyscraper is set to redefine the city skyline and add greater vibrancy in our Downtown. 

8 Shenton Way (where the former AXA Tower was) was one of the sites to first tap on the Central Business District Incentive (CBDI) Scheme. The site would be redeveloped into a mixed-use development called The Skywaters, a 305-metre tall, 63 storey tower with offices, F&B/retail, residential units, hotel rooms as well as public spaces. The scheme was introduced in 2019 to help rejuvenate the Downtown by injecting more live-in population, introduce greater diversity of uses and amenities to support city living as well as encourage greater enhancements to the public realm. We catch up with Pua Seck Guan, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Perennial Holdings Private Limited on how The Skywaters, can contribute to the revitalisation of our Downtown and what more he hopes to see in the Downtown in future.

To enhance Singapore’s Downtown’s attractiveness as a centre for business and finance, the Downtown is being enhanced with quality public spaces and integrated amenities.

Why did you decide to redevelop the former AXA tower into a more mixed-use development?

Seck Guan: The site is in a very strategic location, at the intersection of our CBD, Marina Bay, Tanjong Pagar and the future mixed use Greater Southern Waterfront. Given its prime location, we see the redevelopment of the former office building as a timely opportunity to contribute towards the revitalisation of the Downtown. When completed, The Skywaters will become Singapore’s tallest skyscraper, the first supertall building (defined as a structure above 300 metres), and among Asia’s most sustainable skyscrapers.  

Artist impression of the future Skywaters. Image: SOM Bezier.

People are increasingly looking for more convenient and integrated amenities and facilities in one place. We hope The Skywaters would be the one-stop live, work and play destination in the city, a new focal point where office workers, residents, tourists and the public gather, thereby enhancing the vibrancy of our Downtown when completed in 2028. 

In planning the integrated mixed-use development, we tried to provide as much convenience as possible. The development is connected to the Tanjong Pagar MRT station via the underground pedestrian network. Within the development, there would be restaurants and eateries. You can hold your meetings here. We have a clubhouse with a range of facilities for residents of Skywaters Residences. We hope that the injection of more eateries, public spaces and the hotel will support a livelier and more vibrant Downtown.  

The building design is inspired by nature. Could you share more about its sustainable design?  

Seck Guan: The design was inspired by bamboo forests, reflecting the verticality and biophilic elements found in nature. The building facade incorporated curved edges that created bay windows on nearly every floor, offering great views of the city and beyond. We are also seeking to minimise both embodied and operational carbon and would be utilising part of the existing basement foundation structures for the new tower. 

A key aspect of the building is focused on creating 10,000 square metres of greenery and communal spaces, more than the footprint of the entire site. What are some key public spaces that people can look forward to? 

Seck Guan: At the ground level, we have designed an extensive public space that could hold public performances and events, with shops, seating, and bike racks that will help to activate and enliven the immediate streets and area. 

Providing more public spaces like the Raffles Place Park will become more important in the Downtown, offering more diverse spaces for workers and residents to gather and relax. Image: Raffles Place Alliance.

Landscaping will extend from the street into the building, creating a seamless green corridor for pedestrians. On the second floor, open-air green terraces next to restaurants featured planting palette curated to attract birds and butterflies. 

What more do you hope to see in the future Downtown?

Seck Guan: I envision more vibrant and engaging streetscapes in our Downtown, enhanced with lush landscaping to foster a stronger sense of community and liveability. There could be softer streetscapes and inviting green spaces, offering more places for people to relax and connect with their surroundings. 

Ongoing and upcoming rejuvenation plans for the Downtown will help make it an even more attractive place to live, work and play (

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There is also potential to introduce more night activities for the Downtown to come alive at night and to add a variety of lifestyle and entertainment attractions. As we encourage a larger residential population in the Downtown, it is equally important to ensure access to more convenient amenities, including essential services such as medical facilities, to support a vibrant and liveable community. 

About the CBDI Scheme
CBDI was introduced in 2019 to transform selected areas of the CBD into lively urban neighbourhoods by encouraging the conversion of older office developments in these areas into mixed-use developments. The CBDI Scheme hopes to inject more live-in population supported by a wide diversity of uses and amenities. It also aims to enhance pedestrian connectivity and create a more people-friendly environment with walkable streets and public spaces.