Singapore's Vertical Garden: CapitaSpring Wins World's Best High-Rise
Singapore’s latest architectural marvel, the CapitaSpring tower, has captured the prestigious International High-Rise Award 2024/25, setting a new benchmark for urban innovation. This 260-meter masterpiece, born from the creative collaboration between BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group and Carlo Ratti Associati, redefines what a modern skyscraper can be.
Rising gracefully from a previously neglected site, CapitaSpring isn’t just another addition to Singapore’s stunning skyline – it’s a vertical ecosystem that seamlessly blends nature with urban life. The tower’s most striking feature is its innovative approach to integrating green spaces throughout its height, transforming the traditional concept of a high-rise into a living, breathing vertical garden.
“We wanted to explore the high-rise as a vertical extension of Singapore’s unique tropical urbanism,” explains Bjarke Ingels. The building’s distinctive facade, with its artfully separated vertical lines, creates an engaging dialogue between interior and exterior spaces, moving beyond the conventional curtainwall design to something more inviting and accessible.
What sets CapitaSpring apart is its commitment to public spaces. The tower houses a vibrant hawker center and numerous green zones that are open to all, effectively bridging the gap between private development and public interest. This harmonious balance led the jury to acclaim it as “the best high-rise building in the world at the moment.”
In a post-pandemic world grappling with urbanization challenges, CapitaSpring emerges as a blueprint for future urban development. It demonstrates how high-rises can contribute to city life by prioritizing sustainability, social value, and innovative design solutions that address local needs while remaining future-proof.
The award, presented in Frankfurt’s historic Paulskirche, not only celebrates architectural excellence but also signals a pivotal shift in skyscraper design. As cities worldwide seek solutions for sustainable urban growth, CapitaSpring stands as a testament to how vertical architecture can create meaningful public spaces while pushing the boundaries of conventional design.
Through its thoughtful integration of nature, community spaces, and innovative design, CapitaSpring isn’t just reaching for the sky – it’s elevating the very essence of urban living.