Every picture tells a story and this stamp exhibit on the Singapore skyline is best told through pictures. To fully understand the meaning of the roofline displays let us take a trip to earlier times. The time when Raffles first stepped onto the island, he transformed the obscure fishing village to a bustling metropolis.

The success of entrepot trade provided capital for the building of some monumental buildings lining the waterfront, the establishments of numerous bank buildings, merchant houses and commercial buildings along the Singapore River and Commercial Square (Raffles Place).

Besides free trade, the other major factor that spurred the development of Singapore was Raffles's Town Plan -- a systematic division of the town into different uses. For example, around the core river mouth area the commercial sector was located south of the river and Government administration and offices, and cultural activities to the north. The living areas for the melting pot of nationalities were located further away from the river. This gave rise to the settlement pattern of the country and today this demarcation is still evident.

The grand colonial buildings during that time reflected the popularity of the architectural style in Europe, be it Palladian, Venetian High Renaissance or Classical. These European architectural styles served as a vivid contrast against the quaint shophouses.

Increasing trading fortunes attracted increasing number of immigrants from around the region. Over time with a population that was growing exponentially, the shophouses being the main form of accommodation suffered from overuse and no maintenance.

The government acutely aware of the urgency to provide more housing for the burgeoning population as well as the need to resettle those from the slums started the first massive housing project. Pilot satellite towns like Queenstown and Toa Payoh had simple rectangular blocks of mass housing. Today, in Sengkang and Bishan estates, interesting roofscapes provide a relief to the predictable skyline.

The concentration of skyscrapers in Raffles Place is indicative of the success of the financial district. But skyscrapers are not the only structures that define the skyline. The Merlion on its strategic perch at the River mouth and The Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay deviate from the conventional, emphasising their difference from the towering skyscrapers.

And what can we expect for the future? The URA is proposing some interesting living ideas -- like the urban living concept called Downtown @ Marina Bay and the Duxton Plain public housing with 48-storey towers that will accommodate some 1800 households.

Singapore's skyline reflects changing taste and needs, better technology and economic expansion, and it will always be evolving. As sure as time moves forward the demand on our buildings will constantly change and this will ensure our skyline will never remain static.