Resembling a structure plucked from the Batman series, this magnificent bronze tower (parkviewsquare.com) with brooding gargoyles is known locally as the Gotham City Building. Its art deco exterior is inspired by the Chanin Building in New York City, and its open-air plaza has an array of statues and sculptures – most notably a majestic golden crane poised to take flight, pointed towards its home temple in China, in tribute to the poem displayed below. Stroll about the compound and see if you can spot luminaries like Sun Yat-Sen, Isaac Newton, Shakespeare and Mozart, or instantly recognizable pieces by Dalí and Fernando Botero. They belong to the family landlords at Chyau Fwu Group, a signal of their love for sharing art.
The building has a museum (adult/child S$25/15) – managed by Groundseesaw – on the 3rd floor. Focusing on immersive visual art, the projections have drawn from the captivating works of Klimt, Van Gogh and Monet. You're encouraged to soak up the visual feast for up to 80 minutes.
The visual indulgence doesn't stop there. The jaw-dropping interior of Parkview Square's 15m-high lobby is as grand as they come. Adorned with marble floors, gilded brass and intricate frescoes, it sets the stage for the centerpiece – the upscale Atlas (atlasbar.sg) bar with a jaw-dropping 12m-high gin wall and opulent setting. Be prepared to make reservations way in advance. The skyscraper's success also has some whispered geomancy lore. Allegedly, the site was chosen to receive the "wealth" energies funneled into the island by neighboring structure, the Gateway – designed by world-famous IM Pei.
