Downtown Core
The Downtown Core is the historical and downtown centre of the city-state of Singapore and the main commercial area in Singapore excluding reclaimed lands with many integrated resorts such as the Marina Bay Sands, one of the most expensive buildings in the world, with the most expensive standalone casino at Bayfront Avenue. There are many skyscrapers in Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar and Marina Bay CBD with a height limit of 280m. It is one of the eleven planning areas located within the most urbanised Central Area,[4] forming the latter's dense urban core. It is bounded by Rochor to the north, Kallang to the northeast, Marina East and Marina South to the east, Straits View to the southeast, Bukit Merah to the south, as well as Outram, Museum and Singapore River to the west.
Downtown Core | |
|---|---|
| Other transcription(s) | |
| • Chinese | 市中心 |
| • Malay | Pusat Bandar |
| • Tamil | டவுன்டவுன் கோர் |
       From top left to right: Aerial view of the Civic District, Raffles Place, Parliament House, The Helix Bridge with Marina Bay Sands in the background, Old Supreme Court Building, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, The Merlion with the Marina Bay Financial Centre in the background | |
Singapore's Downtown Core | |
.svg.png)  Downtown Core  Downtown Core Downtown Core (Asia) .svg.png) Downtown Core Downtown Core (Earth) | |
| Coordinates: 1°17′12″N 103°51′13″E | |
| Country |  |
| Region | Central Region
|
| CDC | |
| Town council |
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| Constituency | |
| 1st DGP exhibited |
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| 2nd DGP exhibited |
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| PA incorporated |
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| Government | |
| • Mayor | Central Singapore CDC
|
| • Members of Parliament | Jalan Besar GRC
Tanjong Pagar GRC
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| Area | |
| • Total | 4.34 km2 (1.68 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 44th |
| Population | |
| • Total | 2,720 |
| • Rank | 32nd |
| • Density | 630/km2 (1,600/sq mi) |
| • Density rank | 34th |
| Ethnic groups | |
| • Chinese | 2,970 |
| • Malays | 40 |
| • Indians | 320 |
| • Others | 390 |
| Postal district | 1, 6, 7 |
As the financial Heart of Singapore, the Downtown Core houses the headquarters and offices of numerous corporations, as well as the Singapore Exchange. The area is also home to many governmental institutions, notably the seat of Parliament and the Supreme Court of Singapore.
Singapore's modern history began in this area, when Stamford Raffles and representatives of the British East India Company landed along the banks of the Singapore River to set up a free port in Southeast Asia. As the old harbour grew along the mouth of the river bank, the city naturally expanded around it, creating what is now the Central Area.
The name "Downtown Core" remains relatively unheard of and the term Central Business District (CBD) is commonly used in conversation instead. However, the area known as the CBD actually comprises a smaller area within the Downtown Core itself, taking up the south-western and western portions of the planning area. It is made up of eight subzones, Anson, Cecil, Clifford Pier, Maxwell, Phillip, Raffles Place and Tanjong Pagar and Marina Centre.[4] The core of the CBD has since extended well beyond its boundaries and the term is even often at times used to refer to the Central Area as a whole.
History
As a fledgling colony, the area which is now known as the Downtown Core was the financial, administrative and commercial centre of the colony. In 1823, Singapore was reorganised according to the Raffles Plan of Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles, which specified elements like the Commercial Square (now Raffles Place) and the European Town as well as various other commercial and administrative entities located between them. This area later became the Downtown Core.
References
- "Singapore Infopedia – Development guide plan". National Library Board.
- City Population – statistics, maps and charts | Downtown Core
- "Statistics Singapore - Geographic Distribution - 2018 Latest Data". Retrieved February 11, 2019.
- "Downtown Core Planning Report 1995". Urban Redevelopment Authority. Archived from the original on 2007-06-12. Retrieved 2007-07-15.