Capitol Theater

The Capitol Theater Complex is located in the heart of the Singapore, directly opposite St. Andrew’s Cathedral and near Raffles City, Singapore Management University, National Museum Singapore, and Chijmes. It is strategically located along the commercial and mixed-use corridor at North Bridge Road that extends through the heart of Singapore’s Civil District. The proposed design aims to create a vibrant and active cultural complex that showcases the historic Capitol Theater, the Capitol Building, and Stamford House, in addition to a new hotel and retail building and an outdoor plaza. The design intention is to create a dramatic north facing façade of steel and glass that contains and shelters the piazza. The overhang is transparent with dappled shadows filtering through the glass frit and photovoltaic cells to create the effect of being under a tree. The “wave” façade geometry opens up the historic Art Deco corner of the Capitol Theater. Architecturally, it is intended as a counterpoint to the ornamental, masonry facades of the old structures. Reflections create an ever-changing array of textures, colors, materiality, and de-materiality. The new building façade does not try to mimic the old; rather it strives to complement the historic buildings, particularly the theater and the theater’s Art Deco corner. The “wave” façade, depending on the time of day and lighting conditions, will allow for both transparency and reflection. The canopy level, the glass enclosed retail levels, the hotel levels, and the overhanging levels all read as distinct layers during both day and night. As such they evoke a classical tripartite layering, with the transition between retail and hotel aligning with the cornice of the existing historic building. In addition to the retail area and the hotel in the new building, the design creates a new indoor galleria spanning between the historic Capitol Theater, Capitol Building, and Stamford House.