Downtown Core

Downtown Core
Planning Area
Other transcription(s)
 • Chinese 市中心
 • Pinyin Shì zhōngxīn
 • Hokkien Chhī-tiong-sim
 • Malay Pusat Bandar
 • Tamil டவுன்டவுன் கோர்
 • Tamil romanisation Ṭavuṉṭavuṉ kōr
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
Downtown Core
Location of the Downtown Core within Singapore
Coordinates: 1°17′12″N 103°51′13″E / 1.28667°N 103.85361°E / 1.28667; 103.85361
Country  Singapore
Region

Central Region

CDC
Town council
Constituency
1st DGP exhibited
2nd DGP exhibited
PA incorporated
  • 22 January 1999[1]
Government
 • Mayor

Central Singapore CDC

 • Members of Parliament

Jalan Besar GRC

Tanjong Pagar GRC

Area[2]
 • Total 4.34 km2 (1.68 sq mi)
Area rank 44th
Population (2015)[2][3]
 • Total 3,720
 • Rank 32nd
 • Density 857.1/km2 (2,220/sq mi)
 • Density rank 34th
Ethnic groups[3]
 • Chinese 2,970
 • Malays 40
 • Indians 320
 • Others 390
Postal district 1, 6, 7

The Downtown Core (Chinese: 市中心, Malay: Pusat Bandar, Tamil: டவுன்டவுன் கோர்) is the historical and downtown center of the city-state of Singapore and the main commercial area in Singapore 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.

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 a large number of 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 Bay.[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

  1. 1 2 3 "Singapore Infopedia – Development guide plan". National Library Board.
  2. 1 2 City Population – statistics, maps and charts | Downtown Core
  3. 1 2 "Singapore Residents by Planning Area/Subzone, 2015" (XLS). Singapore Department of Statistics.
  4. 1 2 "Downtown Core Planning Report 1995". Urban Redevelopment Authority. Archived from the original on 2007-06-12. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
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