The owner of Parkview Square in Singapore wanted his skyscraper to stand out from the usual glass towers. For this reason, the architects drew inspiration from the iconic Art Deco style associated with New York’s skyscrapers. The skyscraper is intended to pay tribute to great figures from around the world, and the building also features a Polish touch. The most beautiful decorations, however, are to be found in the Atlas bar, which is brimming with the Art Deco spirit of the 1920s. The question remains, however, whether this is a genuine revival of the iconic Art Deco style, or merely postmodern kitsch?
An import from Manhattan
Taiwanese billionaire and owner of the Chyau Fwu Group, Hwang Chou-Shiuan, wanted Singapore to have a new icon. For this reason, a 144-metre-tall skyscraper was erected in the Bugis commercial district; it is not intended to compete with others in terms of height, but its strength lies in its unique style. American architect James Adams, together with local architects from DP Architects, created a building reminiscent of New York’s Chanin Building from 1929. The skyscraper in NYC is a classic example of the grand and luxurious Art Deco style.
Although Parkview Square’s façade is considerably flatter than that of the Chanin Building, it certainly possesses Art Deco flair. The grey granite base is distinguished by golden latticework reminiscent of Chinese design. Of course, there are also the geometric Art Deco lamps and details. Higher up, the tower rises with its yellowish, glossy granite, which is crowned by an ornate finial. At the very top, one can admire openwork decorations and Art Deco-style sculptures holding luminous globes. Such figures were once intended to demonstrate the power of the owner and his enterprise.
Despite the Art Deco opulence, it is hard not to notice the postmodernist accents that shine through. Curved glass, glossy materials and reflective-coated panes are typical elements of a style now associated with kitsch and tackiness. This does not mean, however, that postmodernism was a lost era in architecture; rather, this light-hearted play with form and materials has created many timeless icons. For Singapore, Parkview Square is precisely such an icon, although Singaporeans also see it as excessive and kitsch. The building’s somewhat mocking nickname is the ‘Gotham Building’, which naturally brings to mind Batman and the aesthetics associated with him.
The Gin Tower
Inside the skyscraper, guests are greeted by golden splendour. Apart from the dark granite, the walls and ceilings are clad in bronze and brass, into which artists have hand-carved spectacular patterns. Surprisingly, it is difficult to find any references to Chinese culture in the decorations; the whole design is intended to emulate New York Art Deco. The only traces of the Middle Kingdom are the dragon-scale-shaped decorations and painted cloud motifs. There are also, of course, bronze reliefs depicting male figures embodying strength and steadfastness.
The building houses the embassies of Austria, Oman, Mongolia and the United Arab Emirates. In the past, visitors could also explore an art museum on the lower floors, but the owner has moved the collection to Beijing. The most notable room is the Atlas Bar, distinguished by its 12-metre-high ‘gin tower’. The lavishly decorated bar offers over 1,300 spirits, including bottles of Heidsieck & Co Monopole champagne. Interestingly, the champagne was salvaged from the Baltic Sea, from a Swedish ship sunk by the German fleet during the First World War.
In the past, barmaids would dress up as fairies and swing on ropes to serve customers gin from the top shelves. This venue was intended to be the showpiece of the Chyau Fwu family business, and that aim has certainly been achieved. However, beyond the abundance of ornamentation, golden hues and granite, the skyscraper also has a more personal, symbolic character.
Nostalgia
In 1999, Hwang Chou-Shiuan most likely knew that this project would be his last. The businessman wanted to create a life’s work that would reflect a part of his personal history. The yellow crane standing in front of the entrance faces the historic Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan. Meanwhile, the poem engraved beneath the sculpture expresses a longing for home. Hwang Chou-Shiuan was forced to flee communist mainland China in 1949 to Taiwan, and later ran businesses in Hong Kong and Singapore. The crane thus embodies Hwang’s longing for his lost homeland.
Apart from the crane, the building conceals many other symbolic elements. In front of the entrance lies a square modelled on St Mark’s Square in Venice, whilst the surrounding sculptures depict prominent figures from around the world. Among those honoured are Abraham Lincoln, Plato, the founder of the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) – Sun Yat-sen – and even Frédéric Chopin.
It is also worth mentioning the symbolism of the decorations and colours, which is important to the Chinese. The colour yellow is associated not only with the crane, but also with the owner’s surname, which means ‘yellow’. Some also believe that, according to feng shui, the figures holding glowing globes on the façade are intended to counteract the negative energy generated by the nearby skyscrapers.
Regardless of whether we consider the architecture of Parkview Square to be beautiful or kitsch, one thing is certain: the building has become an icon of Singapore. The skyscraper was completed in 2002, and two years later its owner died and bequeathed his fortune to his children, who continue to manage his empire to this day.
Source: The Skyscraper Centre
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