The grant of written permission dated 7 July for the proposal by China tech giant Alibaba and a consortium of companies led by real estate firm Perennial Holdings to redevelop the AXA Tower at 8 Shenton Way into a 63-storey mixed-use skyscraper measuring up to 148,450 square metres (1.6 million square feet) in total space.
About 60 percent of the building’s permitted gross floor area may be dedicated to commercial use, with around 33 percent allocated for 215 “residential flats with sky terraces”, while the remaining percentage of space usage will be allocated for hotel component and set aside for balconies, indoor recreational space and the rooftop.
According to URA, the allowable building heights are subject to technical requirements as well as evaluation based on respective site context. Developments would have to be built in accordance to the approved plans and guidelines.
Currently the tallest building in Singapore is Guoco Tower at Tanjong Pagar Centre which is a mixed-use development skyscraper in Tanjong Pagar of the Downtown Core district of Singapore. With a height of 283.7 m, it broke the record held jointly by UOB Plaza, One Raffles Place and Republic Plaza for more than 20 years. The residential component of Guoco Tower is Wallich Residence.
Wallich Residence situated in Singapore’s CBD contains 181 prestigious homes which offer stunning city views. Wallich Residence is designed by world-renowned Skidmore, Ownings & Merrill, they are the same architects who designed One World Trade Centre in New York (2014), Trump Tower (2009), Burj Khalifa (2010), and Willis Tower (1973).
However, this still pales in comparison to Malaysia who will set another world record when its megatall structure, The Merdeka 118 Tower, touted as the world's second tallest building, is due for completion by mid-2023, according to the developer at nearly 700 metres above sea level.
Merdeka 118's current architectural height is about 644 metres, measured from the ground all the way to the top. The true height of the 118-floor megatall structure in Kuala Lumpur is expected to be revealed next year, when it is fully completed.