The three most iconic structures in Singapore are the Marina Bay Sands, the Gardens by the Bay and the classic colonial Raffles Hotel, representing modern ambition, green vision and rich heritage.  The next three are   The Merlion ,   Esplanade--Theaters on the Bay   and   Helix Bridge . The Marina Bay Sands opened in June of 2010 but had an official grand opening early in 2011.   I stayed there a month later. The integrated resort cost $8 billion ( $10.3 billion S ) 2561 rooms. Major convention center. Built by the Las Vegas Sands. Designed by  Moshe Safdie . Now 87 year old, born in Haifa, Palestine of Syrian Jews. At the age of ten was gending goats and kept bees in a kibbutz. Family left for Canada when he was 15, and while a student at McGill University, created Habitat 67, the central feature for the 1967 Montreal World Expo. Taught at Harvard and Yale, His architectural firm gained world class status, and he went on to build the Marina Bay ...