Marina Bay Sands | Safdie Architects
Courtesy of Safdie Architects
Open since 2010, the Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort located in Singapore. This massive design is by the firm Safdie Architects, with the project director being Moshe Safdie, whose prime inspiration for this building was card decks. The project area measures to about 845,000 sqm and was built on a budget of $5.7 billion US dollars, supposedly making it one of the world’s most expensive standalone casino properties.
Courtesy of Safdie Architects
The casino portion of the design has an “atrium style’ and consists of four levels of gaming and entertainment in one space totaling 15,000 sqm. In the center of this space is featured a 7 ton chandelier with 132,000 Swarovski crystals and 66,000 LEDs. Besides the casino there is also 74,322 sqm of retail and restaurant space, a flexible expo and convention center that includes one of the largest ballrooms in Asia that can host 11,000 people, two theaters with a combined total of 4,000 seats, crystal pavilions that hose shops and nightclubs, and an event plaza capable of hosting 10,000 people for a diverse range of local and international live performances. Other notable attractions include the museum of art and science that contains gallery space as well as a 3,000 sqm lily pond at grade level and has a palm measuring 80 meters in diameter and reaches 62 meters above grade.
Courtesy of Safdie Architects
The three hotel towers contain 2,560 luxury rooms and suites leading up to the Sands SkyPark. The SkyPark represents a tropical oasis spanning 340 meters long from the northern tip to the south end. This area of the resort brings together a public observatory, jogging paths, gardens, restaurants, lounges and a 1,396 sqm infinity swimming pool.
Courtesy of Safdie Architects
The entire park can host up to 3,900 people and within its lush gardens there are 250 trees and 650 plants. To finish off the resort, Marina Bay Sands integrates seven site-specific works by artists handpicked by Moshe Safdie to enhance the visitor experience. The art path features large-scale public works by artists including, James Carpenter, Anthony Gormley, Ned Kahn, Sol LeWitt, and Chongbin Zheng.
Courtesy of Safdie Architects
Project info :
Area: 154938 m²
Year: 2010
Photographs: Courtesy of Safdie Architects
Manufacturers: Elval Colour, Fontana Showers, KEIM, KRYTON, Kaldewei, Kuraray, BFM, Benson Industries, Edelman Leather, Fabricut, Falcon Lifts, Fischer, Gandia Blasco, Gordon International, Kam Pin Industrial (H.K.) Ltd., Lasvit, Majilite, Maya Romanoff, Moore & Giles, Nice, +1
Landscape Construction: Peridian International Inc
Landscape Design: Peter Walker & Partners
Structural Engineering: Arup
Executive Architects: Aedas
Budget: US $5.7 billion
Kristin Hoover is an editor at Arch2O and a proud graduate of Virginia Tech. Since joining in July 2014, she has authored over 200 insightful articles covering everything from adaptive reuse and cultural centers to eco-buildings and urban infrastructure . With a passion for architectural storytelling, Kristin skillfully curates and crafts compelling narratives that bring design innovation to life. Her editorial work reflects a broad yet finely honed interest in how architecture intersects with society, technology, and the environment—making her a key voice shaping Arch2O’s explorations of contemporary built form.