Archival material, Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) headquarters building (1969–1975), Singapore 新加坡星展銀行總部大樓（1969至1975年）檔案資料

In 1969, one year after it was established, the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) commissioned Architects Team 3 to design its headquarters in Singapore’s central business district. DBS’s early presence among the businesses along Shenton Way in central Singapore represents first steps in the optimistic economic expansion that followed the country’s independence. The architects proposed three superstructures of varying heights on what was originally three lots, in order to reduce the impact on the skyline. They relied on study models for structural testing and to refine the building’s relationship with neighbouring skyscrapers in the rapidly densifying area, which sits on reclaimed land.

The square tower’s reinforced-concrete structure is supported by four L-shaped elements, which define each corner. (Its four caissons also inspired the bank’s logo.) The building’s facade is clad in semi-glazed ceramic tiles and glass. At several points along its elevation, the sides of the tower chamfer inward, visually accentuating its height and establishing a contrast with the weight of its podium. This thin strip underneath ranges from three to seven storeys and incorporates a street-level pedestrian plaza and other mixed uses suggested by the architects, including shops, an auditorium and exhibition centre, and a rooftop restaurant.

This series consists of photographs of an architectural model of the building; photographs of a rendering; images of the building superimposed on the skyline along Shenton Way; slides, photographs, and a photographic album showing the construction process, the topping-off ceremony, and the interior and exterior of the completed building; and a design guide, a section, and floor plans that provide details of office space and rentable areas.