# Space Efficiency of Tall Buildings in Singapore
## 4 Results  
### Key Architectural Design Considerations  
Figure 3 reveals that nearly half of the surveyed buildings--approximately 50%, or 31 towers--are predominantly residential. Furthermore, 35% of the structures, which accounts for 22 towers, are utilized as office spaces. In contrast, hotel use is the least common, with only 6% of the buildings, or 4 towers, serving this function.  
The dominance of residential use is resulting from several socio-economic factors that align with the city-state's unique urban landscape and demograph  
Figure 3: Tall buildings by function.  
limited land availability and high population density necessitate efficient vertical expansion to accommodate its growing population. From a design perspective, tall residential buildings can be optimized for natural ventilation, daylight, and views, enhancing the living quality for residents while reducing reliance on artificial lighting and air conditioning, thereby contributing to energy efficiency and sustainability. Furthermore, Singapore's robust infrastructure, including advanced vertical transportation systems, ensures that residential towers remain accessible and functional, even at great heights.  
Figure 4 shows that a central core design was used in nearly 80% of the cases due to their significant advantages in structural stability, space efficiency, and functional versatility [93]. Central core acts as the primary spine of a building, providing a rigid, robust structure that can effectively resist lateral forces such as wind and seismic loads. This is particularly important in Singapore's urban environment, where buildings must be designed to withstand tropical storms and occasional earthquakes. The central core's placement optimizes load distribution, reducing bending moments and shear forces across the structure, which enhances overall stability and safety. Additionally, by housing essential services such as elevators and mechanical systems, this configuration maximizes the use of peripheral spaces for functional purposes, thereby improving the spatial efficiency. The central core also allows for greater design flexibility on the building's exterior, enabling architects to create diverse and aesthetically appealing facades without compromising the structural integrity. On the other hand, peripheral core designs are rarely used, primarily because they offer less favorable attributes, such as extended fire escape routes and less effective traffic flow management [94; 95].  
Figure 5 shows that over 70% of the analyzed cases feature prismatic designs due to their structural efficiency, simplicity in design, and adaptability to various architectural and functional requirements [96; 97; 98]. Prismatic shapes ensure even load distribution, enhancing the stability of tall buildings, which is crucial in Singapore's dense urban environment with high wind loads and occasional seismic activity. These forms reduce twisting and deformation under dynamic loads, while their simple geometry simplifies construction, enabling modular techniques that save time and costs. The regularity of prismatic designs maximizes floor space and allows flexible interior layouts, making them ideal for high-rise buildings in land-constrained areas. This combination of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and structural performance makes prismatic forms a practical choice for Singapore's high-rises.  
Table 1 presents a comparative analysis of function, core type, and form, drawing parallels between the cases studied in Singapore and those from Turkey [83], Asia [84], the Middle East [85], and North America [86].  
Figure 4: Tall buildings by core planning.