CapitaLand building mega sky bridge in Chongqing, China

AT 400 metres above sea level, an accordion-shaped "horizontal skyscraper" named The Conservatory will be highest sky bridge linking the most number of towers (four) in the world, according to CapitaLand on Monday.

The completed structure - part of the property developer's Raffles City Chongqing development - will also include a range of lifestyle developments such as a viewing deck, sky gardens, swimming pools, restaurants and drinking establishments.

The sky bridge will link four 250-metre towers together and may span up to 300 metres in length, 30 metres in width and 22.5 metres in height, CapitaLand said.

With the process of erecting the 300-metre platform underway, it is expected to be completed by the middle of 2018.

The 24 billion yuan (S$5 billion) development by CapitaLand and Ascendas-Singbridge will open in phases next year. It will comprise of eight towers located on Chongqing's Chaotianmen riverfront with a total construction floor area of 1.12 million square metres and contain a shopping mall, residences, offices and a hotel.

Said Lim Ming Yan, president and group chief executive officer of CapitaLand Limited: "The hoisting of The Conservatory is not only a significant moment for Raffles City Chongqing, it marks a global milestone in the field of architecture and engineering. Some of the world's most advanced construction and engineering techniques have been deployed to install this megastructure on Chaotianmen, known as the crown jewel of Chongqing."

Raffles City Chongqing was designed by architect Moshe Safdie, who also designed Singapore's Marina Bay Sands.