Transforming the CBD: Why are mixed-use developments all the rage in Singapore?

Gone are the days of all work and no play.

The resurgence of mixed-used developments is transforming the once-bland face of Singapore’s central business district. Singapore is now seeing more residential and retail spaces in an area where towering buildings solely dedicated to office space had once ruled exclusively.

According to JLL, the increased popularity of mixed-use developments in the CBD can be attributed to the government’s push to encourage city living and ensure that the CBD remains lively during both the evenings and the weekends.

“A new push on city living started in the mid-2000s with residential developments such as The Sail @ Marina Bay, which is located in the heart of the CBD in Marina Bay. The CBD today is punctuated by various non-office use developments. Residential apartments have sprouted up all over the CBD, from Tanjong Pagar to Beach Road, and a number of new hotels managed by international chains have emerged in the city, either in the form of new buildings or revamped and reused existing buildings,” stated JLL.

Here’s more from JLL:
The transformation efforts were initiated by the Singapore authorities with the goal to turn the growing CBD into a vibrant district round the clock by encouraging a mix of uses – commercial, residential, hotel and entertainment.

This vision of a more vibrant CBD was in reaction to a global trend of extending the activity in the CBD beyond the standard office hours, and to recoup the large investment in infrastructure that has gone into developing the area.

If you've been wondering whether SBR could work for your company — yes, probably.

A lot of the companies we partner with started as readers. They'd been following our coverage for a while, saw their own customers and competitors in it, and eventually asked the obvious question: could we do something with you? The answer is usually yes. The shape of it depends on what you're trying to do.

The options are broader than most people assume — thought leadership articles, sponsored content, industry summits across Southeast Asia, regional awards programmes, podcasts, and media placements in print and digital. Some partners use one channel; most use a mix. We figure out the right combination by starting with your brief, not with our rate card.

So if the question has been on your mind, here's the easy way to ask it.

We'll tell you honestly whether we can help, and how. It's a better use of everyone's time.

Book a meeting

| Or download the media kit (PDF)

240,000 senior readers quarterly in print Top 1,700 Singapore companies reached

7 markets across Southeast Asia