This is the world's first museum dedicated to the arts and sciences in equal measure and is yet another Singapore building designed by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie. Without a doubt one of the main attractions of the museum is its design. According to the architect the inspiration was provided by the spirit of Singapore. The lotus flower. That said, since conclusion of the construction the structure has also come to be known as "The Welcoming Hand of Singapore."

Whatever the name, this lotus blossom, or hand, with its 10 petals or fingers of varying sizes anchored around a circular base is already one of the symbol s of the city.

The highest stands at no less than 60 m. As a curiosity, for the first time in Singapore materials such as fibre-reinforced polymer, usually used in racing yachts, has been used for the construction.

This spectacular architectural work opened its doors in 2011 and features a retractable cover which, during the daytime, allows collected rainwater to cascade into a small, lotus-blossom-covered central pond, forming a 35-metre-high waterfall. At nightfall the roof opens and the museum is filled with colour provided by a laser light show.

The interior occupies more than 6000 square metres and features 21 galleries distributed throughout the 10 arms of the structure, which in turn are divided into 3 floors.

The museum houses the permanent exhibition, which occupies 3 galleries, in addition to temporary exhibitions that are on loan from the world's most distinguished museums. These temporary exhibitions are in the main unparalleled in terms of appeal and variety, ranging from the Titanic to Andy Warhol, from dinosaurs to Harry Potter, from Dali to the depths of the ocean. 

The permanent exhibition is dedicated to expression, curiosity and inspiration and aims to demonstrate how art and science come together in a union in which creativity plays a leading role. These galleries also house objects of historical importance to both the arts and the sciences, such as Leonardo da Vinci's flying machine. 

A wide range of additional activities includes workshops and conferences and once a month the museum is transformed at night-time to host performances of the most avant-garde nature.