Bras Basah Complex – City of Books
Half a Century of Books, Art, and Resilience In the heart of Singapore’s civic district stands a building that doesn’t shout for attention. No flashy glass façade, no luxury brands – just a modest 1980s complex that has quietly become one of the city’s most cherished cultural landmarks. For over four decades, Bras Basah Complex – affectionately known as the “City of Books” – has been a haven for readers, artists, musicians, and dreamers. Its story is also the story of Singapore’s evolving cultural soul. The Birth of a “Book City” Bras Basah Complex was completed in 1980 , built by Singapore’s Housing Development Board (HDB) as a bold experiment: to preserve the old bookshop tradition that had thrived along Bras Basah Road and North Bridge Road, which were being redeveloped. The entire project cost about S$13 million and comprises two...