The Istana
| The Istana | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 1°18′28″N 103°50′35″E / 1.30778°N 103.84306°E |
| Current tenants | |
| Construction started | 1867 |
| Completed | 1869 |
| Owner | Government of Singapore |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Floor area | 106 acres (0.43 km2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | John Frederick Adolphus McNair |
| Designated | 14 February 1992 |
| Reference no. | 24 |
The Istana (from the Malay word for "palace") is the official residence and office of the president of Singapore. The palace is open to the public during scheduled public holidays and is where the president receives and entertains state guests.
The Istana is also the office of the
The 106 acres (0.43 km2) estate was once part of the extensive nutmeg plantation of Mount Sophia. In 1867, the British colonial government acquired the land and built a mansion to be the official home of the British governor. This continued until 1959 when Singapore was granted self-governance, and the governor was replaced by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, who was in turn replaced by the President of Singapore.
History
Post World War II
The building continued to be used by
The building was extensively renovated between 1996 and 1998 to add more space and modern-day conveniences. The building today has six function rooms used for ceremonial and entertainment purposes. The offices of the President of Singapore and his staff are in the building.
Present
Since its first occupancy in 1869, the Istana has seen 21 terms of governorship (1869–1959), two terms of occupation by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara (1959–1965) and nine terms of presidential occupation (since 1965), not to mention the Japanese occupancy between 1942 and 1945.
The Istana is the official residence of the President of Singapore. However, no presidents nor cabinet ministers have lived there after the tenure of Devan Nair, the third President of Singapore.
On the first Sunday of the month, there is a
Architecture
The Istana is similar to many 18th-century neo-Palladian style buildings designed by British military engineers in India. It has a tropical layout like a Malay house, surrounded by statuesque columns, deep verandahs, louvred windows and panelled doors to promote cross-ventilation. The central three-storey 28-metre-high tower block dominates the building. The reasonably well-proportioned two-storey side wings feature Ionic, Doric and Corinthian orders with Ionic colonnades at the second storey and Doric colonnades at the first storey. The building sits in its elevated position overlooking its stately grounds, the Domain, reminiscent of the great gardens of England.
Buildings and structures in the grounds
- Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements, has been the official residence of the Prime Minister of Singaporesince independence.
- The Annexe.
- The Istana Villa (1938).
- The Lodge (1974).
- The Japanese field-artillery gun (a Louis Mountbatten, following the official Japanese surrender to the British in 1945 at the end of WWII.
- Marsh Garden (1970).
- Victoria Pond.
- A nine-hole golf course.
- A burial place of BencoolenMuslims who came to Singapore between 1825 and 1828 is located on the southern slopes of the grounds close to the Orchard Road entrance.
Rooms in the main building
 |
First floor
- The Reception Hall is where the president receive visiting dignitaries and foreign heads of state. As its name states, tea receptions are held here after a state dinner.
- In the Banquet Hall, guests dine with the president and are entertained. At the end of the hall is a trompe-l'œil painted with a backdrop of orchids. The room, formerly part of the kitchen and some workshops, is also used to display state gifts.
- The State Room is the seat and office of the president. The hall is used for events such as the swearing-in of a newly-elected Cabinet members or President, or for presentations of awards. When it was the sitting room of Sir Shenton Thomas, he had a statue of Queen Victoria at one end of the room. The statue was later removed to make way for what is now the Presidential Chair and two flags: the State Flag and the Presidential Standard. The statue of Queen Victoria now stands at the end of the Victoria Pond located south of the Istana Grounds.
Second floor
- The Reception Room is a small parlour on the second floor leading to the East and West Sitting Rooms. It is where the president holds discussions with foreign dignitaries.
- The East Sitting Room features a collection of state gifts, including a set of chinaware made in France and presented to President Benjamin Sheareswhich is displayed in a bulletproof glass case.
- The West Sitting Room is a parlour that has been the setting for many interviews with heads of state and Members of Parliament. The room is laid with original timber flooring from the 1930s. Displayed on the walls of the room are priceless replicas of Arab tapestry presented by the Sultan of Oman to President Ong Teng Cheong in the 1990s.
- The Sheares Room is a private dining hall named after President Benjamin Sheares, the second president of Singapore. It is used by the president and their family or, in some cases, the Cabinet members. Name cards indicating the sitting positions of each person are printed and gold-plated by Risis. Besides the unique boat-shaped dining table in the room, seven painted panels depicting the seven presidents and their respective Cabinet members hang on the right of the room.
- The Yusof Room is named for the first president of Singapore, Yusof Ishak; his bust sits at the end of this parlour. The room features a large Chinese-style panel painted with phoenixes and peonies.
Mezzanine floor
The U-shaped Grand Staircase leads to the second and third floors of the Istana. On the first landing stands the Guardian of the House on a raised display cabinet. The 35-centimetre (14 in) statue is made of wood from India, ivory and mother of pearl. The Guardian was made by Indian labourers who constructed the Istana and was presented to
Third floor
- Despite the name of the President's Lounge, it also serves as the main balcony of the Istana which overlooks the ceremonial square and lawn on the ground floor. The room is styled like the White House's Blue Room, which also overlooks the White House lawn. Facing this lounge is the office of the president.
- The Office of the President of Singapore, which is out of bounds to the public, has four main pieces of furniture: a maroon sofa for guests to rest on, the main office desk made out of wood, a cowhide office chair, and a wooden side desk.
See also
- The Prime Minister's Office, based in the Istana.
- Istana Kampong Glam, former palace of the Sultan of Singapore.
- History of Singapore
- Government Houses of the British Empire and Commonwealth
- Similar British Malayan colonial residences:
- Governor's residence in Malacca.
- Suffolk House and The Residency in Penang.
- Carcosa in Kuala Lumpur.
References
- ^ "URA Maps". Urban Redevelopment Authority.
- ^ "The Istana | Buildings". www.istana.gov.sg. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ Our Istana: Through The Years. Singapore: President's Office. 2015. p. 27.
- The Istana Singapore: Its Grounds and Landscape, Singapore: ISBN 978-9971-88-447-5.
- Norman Edwards; Peter Keys (1996), Singapore – A Guide to Buildings, Streets, Places, Singapore: Times Books International, ISBN 978-9971-65-231-9.
Further reading
- Gan, James Wan Meng; Lau, Aileen [T.] (2005), Birds Seen at the Istana, Singapore: Singapore Environment Council, ISBN 978-981-05-2730-3.
- Mysteries of the Istana [videorecording; Hey Singapore, Series 1; first broadcast 25 December 1995], Singapore: Television Corporation of Singapore, 1995.
- Ong, Lay Hong, producer (1996), The Istana: The Jewel of Temasek [videorecording; first broadcast 18 February 1996], Singapore: Television Corporation of Singapore, ).
- Pantin, Gail (2009), A Day at the Istana, Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, ISBN 978-981-426-024-4.
- ISBN 978-981-232-116-9).
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - Tan, Wee Kiat [et al.] (2003), Gardens of the Istana, Singapore: ISBN 978-981-04-9167-3.
- Wong, Tuan Wah [et al.] (2011), Lau, Aileen T. (ed.), Trees of the Istana: Treasures in the Domain, Singapore: Suntree Media Pte. Ltd. in association with National Parks Board, ISBN 978-981-08-7481-0.
External links
