The most beautiful Art Deco buildings in Singapore

Perhaps one of our most iconic examples of Art Deco architecture, the former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. The elegant 1932 building with a striking design by Serbian architect D. S. Petrovitch boasts both art deco and neoclassical flourishes. All the makings of an Art Deco-style building are there, with generous use of stylised flowers and geometrical shapes for decoration, as well as portrayals of heroic human figures.

The front facade is graced by four large sculptures by Italian sculptor Angiolo Vannetti to represent the four main sectors of the Malayan economy: agriculture, commerce, transport and industry. Above the figures are the initials F, M, S and R, which stands for the Federated Malayan States Railways.

The railway station closed its doors on December 26, 2016 and is currently undergoing refurbishments. Once completed in 2025, the heritage building will be linked to Cantonment MRT station.

On August 31, 1931, Governer Sir Cecil Clementi announced the decision to build a new civil aerodrome in the Kallang Basin area, and proclaimed: "Looking into the future, I expect to see Singapore become one of the largest and most important airports of the world".

While that did become reality eventually with the Changi Airport, the former Kallang Airport marked the start of it – and is now one of Singapore's finest examples of Art Deco architecture. The design of the airport was led by Frank Dorrington Ward, Public Works Department's chief architect at the time.

Its interiors, including railings and columns, were detailed with Art Deco ornamentation, reflecting early modernist British architecture. The airport ceased operations following the opening of Paya Lebar Airport in 1955, but the building has been gazetted for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in 2008. 

The pre-war flats in Tiong Bahru need no introduction. But do you know how they came to be? Between 1936 and 1941, architect Alfred G. Church was entrusted with the design of Tiong Bahru. His designs were a modified form of a style called Streamline Moderne, a late development of the Art Deco movement. The buildings were mainly inspired by technology and the speed of modern travel – with buildings designed to look like automobiles, trains, ocean liners and aeroplanes. The next time you're in the area, look out for the sweeping, streamlined and aerodynamic lines often seen in these forms of transport. 

The Cathay is now a hangout spot for moviegoers and art school students alike. But its iconic facade, with a large vertical signage that spells 'Cathay', is a remnant of what used to be Malaya's tallest building. 

Called the Former Cathay Building, it was designed by Frank W. Brewer in the Art Deco style and was the first skyscraper and air-conditioned cinema in Singapore. The 16-storey apartment building, financed by the founders of Cathay Organisation Mrs Loke Yew and her son Loke Wa Tho, was completed in 1941 and became British Malaya's first skyscraper. Now, only the frontal facade of the building remains, with the rest replaced by a modern glass-clad structure. 

Another building designed by Frank Dorrington Ward is the Clifford Pier, now home to a restaurant of the same name as part of the Fullerton Bay Hotel. Built in 1933, the Clifford Pier Building served as a landing point for immigrants and other passengers who arrived in Singapore by sea. It was affectionately known in Chinese as 'Red Lamp Pier', a nod to the red oil lamps that hang from the pier to guide seafarers.

Its Art Deco design was described as "neat and simple", flanked by a unique roof structure that featured concrete arched trusses in a ribbon-like form and the Straits Settlements of Singapore emblem sculpted into the top of the entrance. Another notable element is the stained glass fanlight at the main entrance in varying shades of blue. Most of these elements have been preserved and brought back to life by the restoration project team. 

A modern interpretation of the Art Deco-style, this imposing office building towers over North Bridge Road. It's affectionately referred to as 'Gotham Square' or the 'Batman Building' because of its striking resemblance to Gotham City. While the building incorporates Art Deco and Baroque elements, you might be surprised to know that it was only completed in 2002. The building was a joint project by US design firm James Adam Design and Singaporean firm DP Architects, taking inspiration from the Chanin Building (1929) in New York City – hence, the Great Gatsby-esque architecture. 

Wedged at the corner of Finlayson Green and Raffles Quay is the former Asia Insurance Building, designed by pioneer architect Ng Keng Siang. The building – which stands at 18 floors – was the tallest in Southeast Asia upon its completion in 1954. 

You'll see influences derived from various architectural styles, mostly that of the Modern Movement. The building retains many of its original design features, including its general structure and facade. At the top of the L-shaped building stands a three-tiered scalloped stainless steel crown that was created to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. 

The building is now home to Ascott Raffles Place. 

The building that houses chic boutique hotel The Great Madras was once home to the Madras Hotel in the 1990s. The architecture, similar to the SIT flats of Tiong Bahru, was originally constructed in the 1940s by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT). Now, the building's original exterior fittings remain. A testament to this is the brickwork of the balconies on every floor and the Shanghai-plaster column bases, which have been largely preserved. The hotel's iconic rear spiral staircase is also an original.

On 36 and 38 Armenian street, you'll find two clusters of beautifully refurbished 1930s and 1950s Art Deco four-storey shophouses. It was once a dilapidated building home to the Mayfair City Hotel – but has since added a new six-storey rear extension. 

The refurbished facade now has carefully restored ornamentations and aims to add vibrancy to the arts and heritage precinct.