Once upon a time, condos in Singapore weren’t all shimmering glass towers. In fact, some of the earliest ones looked so similar to HDB blocks that if you squinted a little, you might mistake one for the other, except maybe for the slightly fancier gate or that rare sight of a swimming pool downstairs.
So how did we get from boxy, beige blocks to futuristic glass giants? Let’s take a stroll through the decades and see how far our condos have come.
Back in the day: The practical condos in the 1970s to 1980s
Pandan Valley Condominium
Image credit: Darren Soh
Condo living as we know it today really began in 1974, when the concept first entered Singapore’s property scene. Before that, private housing was mostly made up of landed homes or walk-up apartments, so the idea was completely new.
Early developments like Pandan Valley, Pearl Bank Apartments, Mimosa Court, and Bedok Court marked a turning point in residential housing. Developers and planners were experimenting with a fresh concept: private apartments with communal spaces, a middle ground between public housing and landed property.
At the time, Pandan Valley was groundbreaking, one of Singapore’s first large-scale condominiums. Built on a sprawling 865,000 sqft freehold site with 623 units, it offered something unheard of then: lush greenery, wide lawns, and amenities like swimming pools, tennis courts, and even shops within the compound.
Units were spacious too, from about 1,100 sqft to nearly 7,000 sqft. Ironically, when it launched, some residents complained that the units felt “cramped.” Which is funny because in today’s context, we’d probably be thanking the stars for having such a spacious home.
Image credit: Darren Soh
Architecturally, these early condos favoured function over flair. Practical, concrete-heavy designs that focused on airflow, daylight, and family living. Yet their layouts were ambitious: units were designed to mimic the spaciousness of landed homes, with distinct dining, living, and sleeping areas, just stacked vertically in the sky.
Beneath those boxy façades was a bold new idea: that luxury could come not just from space, but from shared convenience and community.
The lifestyle boom: 1990s to 2000s
The Bayshore
Image credit: Far East Organization
By the 1990s, Singapore’s ambitions were climbing. Condos became the next step up for many homeowners, not just for space, but for lifestyle.
Many developments from this era offered generous 3- and 4-bedroom layouts, often with clear separation between living, dining, and kitchen zones.
At the same time, architects and developers started getting more experimental with designs, introducing resort-style ideas that made condos feel like country clubs. It usually came complete with landscaped pools, BBQ pits, and tennis courts nestled among palm trees.
But as land supply tightened, developers began to make rectangular floor plans to optimise land use. Unit sizes started to shrink, but layouts became smarter, focusing on value, efficiency, and comfort.
Costa Del Sol
Image credit: 99.co
On the outside, things began to open up: balconies, bay windows, and larger bedroom proportions helped bring in daylight and views. Condos like The Bayshore and The Caribbean at Keppel Bay reflected this shift: resort-style living and amenities that blurred the line between home and holiday.
Valley Park Condo floor plans: 1001sqft (left), 3,767 sqft (right)
Image credit: 99.co
Of course, some of these 1990s layouts now show their age. Compartmentalised rooms and dated fixtures don’t always match today’s preference for open-concept and work-from-home flexibility.
Still, they came with unique architectural quirks that many modern buyers now find charming. Take Valley Park Condo, for instance, some apartments had an almost semi-circle floor plan. Similarly, The Bayshore featured small circular balconies that maximised the views and daylight.
These curves, once considered unconventional, are now design elements bound to win over today’s curve-frenzied homeowners.
Design revolution: 2010s–2020s
Sky Habitat
Image credit: Safdie Architects
Moving into the 2010s, developers and architects began treating them like art pieces, each project trying to outdo the last in style, height, and ambition. Square footage alone no longer sold; the experience did. Brand identity, interior styling, and exclusivity became part of the package.
Early 2010s developments leaned heavily on the “glass-and-steel” aesthetic: sleek, modern, and minimal. But as the decade progressed, design began embracing green integration, multiple exposures, and sky gardens. Towers gained richer visual layers, with façades that felt more organic than industrial.
1 Canberra dual-key apartment
Image credit: buyingpropertysingapore.com
Inside, layouts shifted toward open-concept living and flexible spaces that suited dual-income couples and single professionals. Dual-key layouts became popular, reflecting a new demand for live and work versatility. Developers also began consolidating design and lifestyle value, focusing less on sheer land size and more on smart, high-PSF architecture.
Facilities kept pace with the shift. Gone were the simple “pool + tennis court” combos of the past. In came sky gyms, co-working lounges, multiple pools, and even rooftop bars. Amenities that turned condos into lifestyle ecosystems.
Image credit: CapitalLand
Take The Interlace, for instance, a literal stack of blocks that looks like someone played a stylish game of Jenga. Or Reflections at Keppel Bay, with its gleaming, sail-like towers catching the light at sunset. Even euHabitat proved that a development didn’t need to be massive to be memorable, just well-designed.
Smarter, greener, sleeker: present-day condos
Reflections at Keppel Bay
Image credit: Stankn
Fast forward to today, and condos have gone full futuristic: smarter, greener, and sleeker than ever. It’s no longer enough for a development to look good; it has to think smart too.
Modern condos now come wired with tech straight out of a sci-fi manual: app-controlled lighting and air-conditioning, facial recognition gates, EV chargers, solar panels, and rainwater systems.
Kassia Condominium
Image credit: City Developments Limited
Design-wise, biophilic living has taken root. Take Kassia Condo for example, with lush vertical gardens, sky terraces, and green façades that soften the skyline and make city life feel closer to nature.
DUO Residences
Image credit: Rockwool
Many developments have also evolved into self-contained mini-towns. Integrated projects like Midtown Modern and DUO Residences combine homes, offices, and commercial shops—some even with underground connectivity to public transport for ultimate convenience.
Image credit: Oblivion Lab
And then came the era of “compact luxury.” Smaller units, smarter layouts, and shared spaces designed for comfort and community. Flexible furniture, hidden storage, rooftop gardens, and co-living lounges make every square metre count.
Condo evolution: from HDB-looking blocks to futuristic skyscrapers
New Futura Condominium
Image credit: City Developments Limited
So what’s next for Singapore’s ever-evolving condo scene? If the past few decades are anything to go by, things are only going to get taller, smarter, and greener. While striking designs like The Interlace were groundbreaking, they took up a lot of land, which is something Singapore doesn’t have much of to spare.
Green Heart park in Marina One Residence
Image credit: Westworld Season 3 Trailer
Architects are already experimenting with modular units, and vertical greenery that could make future developments feel more like living ecosystems than buildings. And if that wasn’t enough, even the award-winning TV show Westworld featured Marina One Residences as the headquarters of the futuristic company, Incite Inc.
And let’s be honest, Singapore’s condo market isn’t slowing down anytime soon. With strong local demand and overseas buyers like superstar Jackie Chan, and billionaire James Dyson coming into the fray, developers have every reason to keep innovating.
If condos, architecture, and city life excite you, read more articles here:
- 7 most beautiful old condos in Singapore
- 2025 Singapore condo launch guide
- 9 things to know about condo living in Singapore
Cover image adapted from: Darren Soh, Stankn
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