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Singapore is a capital where you can meet many of Asia’s cultures, new and old buildings as well as tropical palm beaches and pristine rainforest in a very small area. The official language is English, but many people such as Malays, Indians and Chinese all make their mark on the city, each with their own neighborhoods, shops, restaurants and festivals.
Singapore is very modern city and everywhere there is close to great modern architecture. This is not least the case in Marina Bay, where Gardens by the Bay is an awe-inspiring garden with an unforgettable design. The interesting architectural details are many and memorable.
Old Singapore is a great contrast to the modern parts of the city. Raffles Place and the cozy Raffles Hotel are places to enjoy the atmosphere of the colonial era. Also make a stroll down Boat Quay or in districts like Little India to see some of the many faces of Singepore.
Singapore is located only 60 km/37 mi from the equator, and the island state is a good starting point for day trips to the nearby Indonesian islands or to Malaysia’s second largest city, Johor Bahru, bordering Singapore’s northern border.
The Arts House is a venue in Singapore for various arts such as concerts and exhibitions. However, it has a long and interesting history before its current use. The house was built in 1826-1827 by the Irish architect George Drumgoole Coleman in the neo-Palladian style. The building was originally the residence of the Scottish merchant John Argyle Maxwell.
However, the merchant did not get to use the residence because there was uncertainty about the ownership of the land. Off the Singapore River House, Stamford Raffles first set foot ashore on 29 January 1819, and Raffles had originally allocated the land for government use in his town plan. However, Raffles’ successor John Crawfurd issued a permit allowing Maxwell to build a house on the site.
In 1827, a compromise was reached in which Maxwell was given a 999-year lease, but he had to rent the house to the government for 500 rupees a month in rent. The lease continued until 1842, when the colonial government bought the building at auction. It was first a courthouse, but later it became the seat of the local parliament, which is why The Arts House was formerly known as Old Parliament House.
The building has been extended several times over the years. It was first done between 1873 and 1875 by John Frederick Adolphus McNair, and in 1901 the building was extended towards the Singapore River. The expansions with several new public offices meant that Coleman’s original design was lost. Singapore’s Parliament moved here in 1999, and The Arts House opened as an arts and culture venue in 2004.
St. Andrew’s Cathedral is Singapore’s Anglican cathedral. Its history dates back to Sir Stamford Raffles’ town plan of 1822, where the location was laid out for the construction of a church in the town. However, more than ten years passed before the actual construction of the first church was initiated. It happened in 1835, and the first service was held in June 1837.
Locally, it was not believed that the first St. Andrew’s like a church clearly enough, and therefore a spire was built on it in 1842. They failed to establish lightning protection, and after being struck by lightning in 1845 and 1849, the church was deemed too unsafe for use and closed in 1852. It was demolished the building down in 1855, which made room for the current cathedral.
It was William Butterworth who, as governor, initiated the construction of the replacement for the first church, and the engineer Ronald MacPherson designed the new St. Andrew’s Church. The foundation stone was laid in 1856, and the church was consecrated in 1861 in neo-Gothic style. In the beginning, St. Andrew’s status as a parish church, but in 1870 it was elevated to a cathedral.
Today, the cathedral stands as a beautiful architectural feature in the old part of Singapore. It also has a remarkable church room, where you can see, among other things, some interesting stained glass windows depicting Sir Stamford Raffles, Ronald McPherson and John Crawfurd, who were all significant figures in Singapore’s 19th century history. You can also see The Canterbury Stone, The Coventry Cross and The Coronation Carpet, which are elements from England.
Raffles Hotel is a world-renowned luxury hotel known for its charm and elegance, which has been maintained from Singapore’s colonial era. The ten-room hotel was established in 1887 by Armenian hoteliers and was named after the British statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who was the founder of modern Singapore.
However, the hotel had already been built as a privately owned beach house in the early 1830s. In 1878 it was remodeled as Emerson’s Hotel when Charles Emerson leased the building. Emerson died in 1883, when the hotel closed, and when his lease expired in 1887, the Armenian Sarkies brothers pounced and leased the property to establish a luxury hotel.
Raffles Hotel quickly became popular among the wealthy, and throughout the first decade the hotel was expanded several times with more suites, rooms and services. In 1899, a new main building was completed on the site of the original beach house, and it had, among other things, installed electric ceiling fans and electric lights as the first hotel in the region. The Sarkies brothers ran the hotel until 1931, when the economic downturn forced them into bankruptcy.
However, the hotel was continued to be run by another company and in 1981-1991 an extensive renovation was carried out, bringing the hotel back to its 1915 glory. The famous Long Bar was also renovated and has been a favorite spot for celebrities over the years . The bar is known for the tradition of throwing peanut shells on the floor and as the place where bartender Ngiam Tong Boon named the cocktail Singapore Sling.
Boat Quay is an area along the Singapore River, with its small cozy houses side by side in stark contrast to the skyscrapers behind. The low houses were built as so-called shophouses with both residential and commercial premises, and today they have been arranged as cafes and restaurants with a wonderful atmosphere along the water.
Throughout the 19th century, Boat Quay was a busy part of Singapore’s port, and a large part of the city’s cargo was unloaded and not least loaded here. This applied, for example, to rubber and spices. In the 1860s, approximately three-quarters of Singapore’s shipping passed through Boat Quay, so it was an important and busy area. The remaining part of the ship traffic was moved from here in 1983, and the development to today’s Boat Quay was started in 1993.
Marina Bay is a small bay off central Singapore, and it is also the name of the entire area that has been redeveloped over the decades as a kind of extension of the Central Business District. In order to develop the area, land reclamation had to be carried out, and this took place from 1969 to 1992.
Since then, many large constructions and facilities have been built that have defined Singapore in recent decades. These include, for example, the Marina Bay Sands hotel, ArtScience Museum, Gardens by the Bay, Esplanade – Theaters on the Bay and Helix Bridge. These are all buildings and facilities that are attractions in themselves and which together form the city’s modern landmark.
Gardens by the Bay is a unique park that spreads over more than 100 hectares at Marina Bay in central Singapore. The park is divided into the areas Bay Central Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay South Garden, and the entire facility is characterized by being a very modern garden with the incorporation of architecture and technology, which makes the gardens an unforgettable experience.
You can take some wonderful walks in Gardens by the Bay, and this applies both in the gardens and along the promenades along the water in the northern part of Bay South Gardens. Here you will also find the conservatories Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, which are two colossal greenhouses in an exciting design and interior with waterfalls and more. To the east of this are several small lakes in atmospheric settings.
In the southern part of the Bay South Garden, you can take a walk in probably the most famous part of the gardens. It is the Supertree Grove with 18 tree-like structures with heights ranging from 25 to 50 meters. The supertrees are vertical gardens, and they are accessible because you can almost walk in a forest up between the crowns of the designed giant trees. It is an experience both in daylight and when illuminated in the evening, where there is also a light and music show.
If you cross Marina Bay to the northeast along the Marina Barrage Bridge, you come to the Bay East Garden, which forms a quieter environment than the Bay South Garden. Here you can enjoy some divided gardens with different landscapes and themes, and from here you can enjoy a panoramic view of both Marina Bay and Singapore’s modern skyline.
Bay Central Garden is the northern link between Bay South Garden and Bay Eat Garden. This part of the gardens does not offer large areas, but rather a long promenade where you can walk along the water. But among other things, you will pass the Singapore Flyer, which is a 165 meter high Ferris wheel. The wheel opened as the tallest in the world in 2008.
Singapore Botanical Garden is Singapore’s stunningly beautiful botanical garden, so spectacular that it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The current garden was established in 1859, but it was not the city’s first botanical garden. It had been established by Sir Stamford Raffles in Singapore in the years 1822-1829 at Fort Canning on Government Hill.
The large botanic garden has several entrances, of which Tanglin Gate along Holland Road in the south forms the main entrance. The main attraction in the tropical garden is the National Orchid Garden, where the collection consists of over a thousand species of orchids and even more hybrids. It is an unforgettable experience to walk through this part of the garden.
In the Singapore Botanical Garden you can also experience part of Singapore’s old and wild rainforest. The rainforest area covers approximately six hectares, which is naturally an area that was already here when the botanical garden was established. This makes Singapore one of the very few cities in the world that has a rainforest in the city. You can also see many other plants of different kinds in the garden.
Raffles’s Landing Site is where Singapore’s founder, Sir Stamford Raffles, first set foot on Singapore’s soil on 29 January 1819. The site is marked by a marble statue of Raffles, which was erected in 1972. The statue was made as a copy of the 1887 statue which now stands in front of the Victoria Theater & Concert Hall.
Raffles’ first visit lasted ten days, and he used the time to conclude an agreement with the local rulers, Temenggong Abdul Rahman and Sultan Hussein Shah, which enabled the establishment and development of Singapore. In 2019, the 200th anniversary of the event was marked by the erection of several statues of contemporary leaders. Behind Raffles lies the Singapore River and the view of the modern city.
Victoria Theater & Concert Hall is a cultural complex consisting of two beautiful and historic buildings built together with a corridor and a bell tower. The Victoria Theater was built in the British neoclassical style in 1862 as the city’s Town Hall with the city’s administration and also a theater for, among other things, the performance of various English theater performances. The Town Hall was designed by the town engineer John Bennett in the contemporary popular variant of the Victorian style.
The Town Hall was the first building in Singapore in this style, and the newer Victoria Concert Hall was given the same style. The Victoria Concert Hall was built in the years 1902-1905 as an extension of the complex and in memory of Queen Victoria, who passed away in 1901. The 54 meter high bell tower was built in 1906, and in front of the eastern facade of the building you can see a statue of Sir Stamford Raffles.
The Padang is Singapore’s large central lawn, which since 1830 has hosted many of the city’s sporting events, such as major cricket matches. The Padang is a large open space located in the heart of the city between the Singapore Cricket Club in the south and the Singapore Recreation Club in the north.
You can see several interesting buildings around the lawn, such as Saint Andrew’s Cathedral to the northwest, the Old Supreme Court Building to the west and the city’s old town hall, which today serves as Singapore’s national gallery, in the same direction. To the east you can see the Singapore Cenotaph, which commemorates those who died during the First World War.
The Old Supreme Court Building is one of the most distinctive buildings from the later part of the British colonial era in Singapore. The building is located along Padang’s large lawns, and it was built as the last major classicist construction in the colonial era in the years 1937-1939. The Old Supreme Court Building was in use as a courthouse until 2005, and ten years later the National Gallery opened in the building and the neighboring building that was formerly Singapore’s City Hall.
The Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Shenton Whitelegge Thomas, laid the foundation stone for the Supreme Court building in 1937 and it was opened in 1939. A time capsule containing newspapers and coins was placed under the foundation stone and the capsule is scheduled to be opened in the year 3000. The design of the domed building was represented by Frank Dorrington Ward.
National Gallery is a museum of art and culture in Singapore. At the museum you can see a fine collection from Singapore and the Southeast Asian region, and there is a focus on contemporary art and modern art from the 19th century to the present day. The collections come primarily from Singapore’s National Collection, which was founded with a donation of 93 works in 1976. The 93 works have been continuously supplemented, and today you can see, among other things, the Singapore Gallery and the Southeast Asia Gallery in the large museum.
The museum opened in 2015 in two of Singapore’s historically well-known buildings, which were then newly furnished for the purpose. It concerns the city’s former town hall, Former City Hall, and the court building Former Supreme Court, both of which are located next to Padang’s lawns. The town hall was designed by A. Gordans and F.D. Meadows and constructed as the Municipal Building 1926-1929 with its Corinthian columned facade, and the Supreme Court Building was constructed 1937-1939.
Orchard Road is modern Singapore’s magnificence of shopping, cafes, malls, department stores and restaurants. The atmosphere is wonderful on the approximately 2.5 kilometer long and famous business district, which for many years has been the city-state’s shopping center and a major attraction for tourists.
Orchard Road got its name from the plantations the road historically led to. These were plantations where nutmeg, pepper and various kinds of fruit were grown in the tropical climate. These plantations were quite widespread in the area throughout the 19th century, before the area was quietly developed with houses along the road.
Istana is a mansion that serves as the official residence and office of the President of Singapore. The beautiful mansion also houses the country’s prime minister’s office and the minister’s official residence, which, however, has not been used as an official residence since Singapore’s independence in 1965.
It was the British government that acquired part of a nutmeg plantation to build a residence for Singapore’s British governor. It happened in 1867, and the Istana was then built in the years 1867-1869. The governors lived here until 1959, when Singapore gained self-government and the governor was replaced by a leader with the title of Yang di-Pertuan Negara.
The Istana was built in a neo-Palladian style of architecture that was also used by British military engineers in contemporary India. There is local inspiration in the Istana’s style, just as there is classicism. Meanwhile, there is access to the Istana, where you can see the most important rooms and halls, which include the Reception Hall, the Banquet Hall and the State Room, which is the seat of the President.
Esplanade – Theaters on the Bay is a performing arts center located in the Marina Bay area close to the mouth of the Singapore River. The center consists of a concert hall with space for approximately 1,600 spectators and a theater with a capacity of approximately 2,000 guests for the performances. The story started in 1989, when a report concluded that Singapore lacked major venues for the performing arts, and after six years of construction, the venue was opened in 2002.
The concert hall and theater are located as one of the architecturally known structures in the area around Marina Bay. The design consists of two rounded forms in which the scenes are located, and the frames for them are covered with triangulated glass elements and sun screens, which balance the view from the center with suitable sun shielding. The design is reminiscent of the fruit durian, which is why the center is jokingly called the big durian.
The Helix Bridge, also called The Helix, is a bridge in Singapore’s Marina Bay area. The bridge connects Marina Center with Marina South and it was opened in 2010. The bridge gets its name from the design that imitates a helical line or a similarly twisted line like a spring.
The Helix Bridge is a shortcut over the water, but the bridge is also an experience that is particularly noticeable in the evening, when the helix structures are illuminated around the crossing pedestrians. Several platforms have also been built on the bridge, from which you can enjoy the view of Marina Bay’s modern setting.
ArtScience Museum is an interesting museum located in a prominent location on Marina Bay as part of Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands resort. Opened in 2011, the museum is a place whose exhibitions focus on and unite art, culture, technology and science.
The design of the museum is in itself worth seeing. Created by Israeli architect and urban planner Moshe Safdie, the design is said to be inspired by a lotus flower, and the resemblance is evident in the execution.
The ArtScience Museum has also been called The Welcoming Hand of Singapore with the construction consisting of a face with five large fingers opposite five smaller ones. All these ten fingers are built as galleries with natural light pouring in from above. It gives an exciting impression, and it is also worth seeing the lighting in the evening.
Marina Bay Sands is a resort in the Marina Bay area that also stands as one of Singapore’s architectural landmarks. The resort opened in 2010 as a colossal complex with hotel rooms, casino, conference and exhibition center, museum, shopping center and many other activities.
It was the architects Moshe Safdie who designed the complex, which has many interesting elements when you walk around and look at the individual buildings. The most characteristic feature of the building is the three high-rise towers, which are connected at the top by Sands Skypark.
Sands Skypark is a 340-metre-long superstructure that lies above all three towers, and which also protrudes 66 meters over the edge of the northern tower. Here you will find the Sands Skypark Observation Deck, from which there is an unparalleled view of Marina Bay and large parts of Singapore. Up in the heights there is also a 150 meter long infinity pool.
Sentosa Island is an island located immediately south of Singapore’s main island. The island was previously set up as a British military base and later as a prisoner of war camp. After this story, they named the place Sentosa Island and planned to make the island a popular tourist destination with various activities and use of nature.
Sentosa Island is now home to several different activities. Some of the popular places are the island’s long beaches, which are protected as almost small lagoons in the tropical climate. This is also where you find Universal Studios Singapore with everything the theme park has to offer.
One can also take cable cars to Sentosa Island and on Sentosa Island. They connect several places on the island and provide a good opportunity for an overview of the area. From the stations you can go on some lovely trips to, for example, Sentosa Sensoryscape and Fort Siloso, which is located in the western part of the island as an outdoor military museum.
Johor Bahru is the capital of the state of Johor in Malaysia, and it is the country’s second largest city. Johor Bahru is logistically well located at the southern end of the Malacca Peninsula and as a border town to Singapore. You can easily cross the water between Johor Bahru and Singapore on the more than one-kilometer-long road and rail link that is located here.
Johor Bahru was founded in 1855. It happened when Temenggong Daing Ibrahim, as the ruler of Johor, moved the administrative headquarters to here. Back then, the town was known as the small Malay fishing town of Tanjung Puteri, and it was named Johor Bahru in 1866 by Ibrahim’s son and successor Temenggong Abu Bakar.
Malacca is a Malaysian metropolis located on the Straits of Malacca, one of the most important shipping routes in the world. The strategically good location has over time meant a lot to Malacca’s development, and the city even has a natural harbor protected from storms by several small islands. The Malacca River flows through the city, dividing Malacca in two.
Malacca has a rich history. The city was the capital of the sultanate that Paramesvara founded in the 15th century. It was a time when Malacca had also become an important part of the international spice trade, and that status continued through the centuries. Around 100,000 inhabitants already lived here at the beginning of the 16th century.
Kusu Island is one of Singapore’s small islands. The island is approximately five kilometers south of Singapore’s main island, and it is easy and quick to sail here. The name Kusu Island means turtle island in the Chinese Hokkien dialect, and the name comes, according to tradition, from the story of a turtle who turned himself into an island to save two shipwrecked people.
On the island there is a Chinese temple that was built here in 1923. The temple is quite atmospheric and dedicated to the gods Da Bo Gong and Guan Yin. Kusu Island is also a popular excursion destination for its lagoons, pristine beaches and tranquil surroundings that contrast with bustling Singapore.
Palau Batam or Batam Island is the closest major Indonesian island south of Singapore. It is easily accessible by boat across the Singapore Strait, and when you come from the big city, the island contrasts here with its tranquility and nature and shopping opportunities, which you have every opportunity to enjoy in style.
You can sail to several places on the island. The main city is called Batam, and there are several shopping centers such as Mega Mall here. Large parts of the island are built up, which you can of course see in and around the city of Batam. You can also choose to sail to the area northwest of Batam or to Sambu, where you can get out into nature more quickly.
Palau Bintan or Bintan Island is one of the larger islands opposite Singapore. You can sail here, and most often you get to the island’s main town, where most facilities are located. Palau Bintan is not as built up as the neighboring island of Palau Batam, and therefore there is also a lot of nature to experience here.
On Bintan Island there are, among other things, a number of resorts and beaches. There are a number of these on the northern part of the island, to which you can also sail from Singapore. These resorts are located on beautiful tropical sandy beaches and also have plenty of activities, amusements and recreation.
14 Scotts Road
fareast-plaza.com
1 Jurong West Central
jurongpoint.com.sg
6 Raffles Boulevard
marinasquare.com.sg
80 Marine Parade Road
parkwayparade.com.sg
68 Orchard Road
plazasingapura.com.sg
252 North Bridge Road
rafflescity.com
3 Temasek Boulevard
sunteccity.com.sg
391 Orchard Road
takashimaya-sin.com
260 Orchard Road
heeren.com.sg
Orchard Road, Chinatown, Clarke Quay, Arab Street, North Bridge Road, Holland Village
Escape Theme Park
1 Pasir Ris Close
escapethemepark.com.sg
Sentosa Island
Sentosa Island
sentosa.com.sg
Singapore Zoo & Night Safari
80 Mandai Lake Road
zoo.com.sg
nightsafari.com.sg
Singapore Discovery Center
510 Upper Jurong Road
sdc.com.sg
Singapore is first mentioned in the 200s as the “island of the end”. However, it was not until the 13th century that, according to legend, Prince Srivijaya went ashore on the island and saw an animal he thought was a lion. He then founded the area of Singapura, meaning the Lion City.
A smaller Malaysian settlement developed, and in the mid-1300s both Malaysians and Chinese lived here. It is also believed that pirates lived here, as it was a good starting point for trips to the many ships that crossed the area’s narrow alleys.
Over the following many centuries, Singapore was a trading station with both ups and downs. The dominant trading town in the area was Melaka further to the north, though Singapore gained greater importance under the Sultanate of Johor.
From the 16th to the 19th century, European colonial powers dominated the area. The Portuguese arrived as the first to Malaka in 1509, later came the Dutch and finally the English, which did not, however, become more important.
The English sought to gain a greater influence over the predominantly Dutch territories. In particular, trade between China and India was very rewarding and thus important to control.
Sir Stamford Raffles was in 1818 appointed Governor of the English Bencoolen Province. He wanted to create a new port near the Malacca Strait to challenge the Dutch monopoly-like situation. On January 29, 1819, Raffles went ashore in Singapore, and after an agreement with the rightful sultan of Johor, Hussein, who had lived in exile from his brother who reigned in Johor Bahru, modern Singapore was founded.
Raffles turned Singapore into a free port, and it quickly attracted more of the area’s trade, which previously had to pay high taxes in Dutch ports. Singapore grew rapidly, and as early as 1825, more than 10,000 people lived here.
After three years as governor of Bencoolen, Raffles returned to Singapore in 1822. He entered into a new agreement with the Sultan, which made the whole of the Singapore island an English territory. To keep track of the city’s rapid development for the many peoples who flocked, he established the ethnic neighborhoods that still characterize the city.
Dutch opposition to Singapore’s increasing success ended with an English-Dutch agreement in 1824. The agreement made the current Singapore and Malaysia the English sphere of influence and the current Indonesia Dutch. Singapore, Penang and Melaka were merged into the State Straits Settlements headed by India.
In the following decades, Singapore developed into one of the world’s most important ports, and in 1867 the increasing importance of the Straits Settlements caused England to change the area’s status to English crown colony with direct rule from London. A governor became the leader of Singapore and decisions could now be made faster.
The city’s growth continued, and after the First World War the British established a naval base here. The city had not been directly involved in World War I, but Japan’s rising foreign policy ambitions also revolved around the important area of the Malacca Strait.
The large naval base was completed in 1939, but after the outbreak of World War II, virtually all ships were used for the defense of England and thus not for the English interests in Southeast Asia. The Japanese army arrived in northern Malaysia in late 1941 and to Singapore in early 1942. On February 15, Singapore surrendered to General Tomoyuki Yamashita, and the Japanese renamed the city and island to Syonan-two.
The English returned to Singapore in 1945, but now there was a rising mood of independence. Rising nationalism did not come to an actual revolt, but instead to decades of turbulent politics and polls. In 1959, Singapore achieved self-government.
Singapore became subordinate to Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia in 1963, but after a great deal of dissatisfaction and fighting, Singapore became independent in 1965. Two years later, the Singapore dollar was introduced and investment was heavily invested in economic growth to ensure the prosperity of the small country. and survival. Education, housing, industry and transport became key factors in the success that Singapore quickly gained. Today we see the result, which in turn has made the country and the city the trading center of the region.
Singapore[/caption]
Overview of Singapore
Singapore is a capital where you can meet many of Asia’s cultures, new and old buildings as well as tropical palm beaches and pristine rainforest in a very small area. The official language is English, but many people such as Malays, Indians and Chinese all make their mark on the city, each with their own neighborhoods, shops, restaurants and festivals.
Singapore is very modern city and everywhere there is close to great modern architecture. This is not least the case in Marina Bay, where Gardens by the Bay is an awe-inspiring garden with an unforgettable design. The interesting architectural details are many and memorable.
About the Whitehorse travel guide
Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
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Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English
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Raffles’s Landing Site is where Singapore’s founder, Sir Stamford Raffles, first set foot on Singapore’s soil on 29 January 1819. The site is marked by a marble statue of Raffles, which was erected in 1972. The statue was made as a copy of the 1887 statue which now stands in front of the Victoria Theater & Concert Hall.
Raffles’ first visit lasted ten days, and he used the time to conclude an agreement with the local rulers, Temenggong Abdul Rahman and Sultan Hussein Shah, which enabled the establishment and development of Singapore. In 2019, the 200th anniversary of the event was marked by the erection of several statues of contemporary leaders. Behind Raffles lies the Singapore River and the view of the modern city.
Victoria Theater & Concert Hall is a cultural complex consisting of two beautiful and historic buildings built together with a corridor and a bell tower. The Victoria Theater was built in the British neoclassical style in 1862 as the city’s Town Hall with the city’s administration and also a theater for, among other things, the performance of various English theater performances. The Town Hall was designed by the town engineer John Bennett in the contemporary popular variant of the Victorian style.
The Town Hall was the first building in Singapore in this style, and the newer Victoria Concert Hall was given the same style. The Victoria Concert Hall was built in the years 1902-1905 as an extension of the complex and in memory of Queen Victoria, who passed away in 1901. The 54 meter high bell tower was built in 1906, and in front of the eastern facade of the building you can see a statue of Sir Stamford Raffles.
The Padang is Singapore’s large central lawn, which since 1830 has hosted many of the city’s sporting events, such as major cricket matches. The Padang is a large open space located in the heart of the city between the Singapore Cricket Club in the south and the Singapore Recreation Club in the north.
You can see several interesting buildings around the lawn, such as Saint Andrew’s Cathedral to the northwest, the Old Supreme Court Building to the west and the city’s old town hall, which today serves as Singapore’s national gallery, in the same direction. To the east you can see the Singapore Cenotaph, which commemorates those who died during the First World War.
The Old Supreme Court Building is one of the most distinctive buildings from the later part of the British colonial era in Singapore. The building is located along Padang’s large lawns, and it was built as the last major classicist construction in the colonial era in the years 1937-1939. The Old Supreme Court Building was in use as a courthouse until 2005, and ten years later the National Gallery opened in the building and the neighboring building that was formerly Singapore’s City Hall.
The Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Shenton Whitelegge Thomas, laid the foundation stone for the Supreme Court building in 1937 and it was opened in 1939. A time capsule containing newspapers and coins was placed under the foundation stone and the capsule is scheduled to be opened in the year 3000. The design of the domed building was represented by Frank Dorrington Ward.
National Gallery is a museum of art and culture in Singapore. At the museum you can see a fine collection from Singapore and the Southeast Asian region, and there is a focus on contemporary art and modern art from the 19th century to the present day. The collections come primarily from Singapore’s National Collection, which was founded with a donation of 93 works in 1976. The 93 works have been continuously supplemented, and today you can see, among other things, the Singapore Gallery and the Southeast Asia Gallery in the large museum.
The museum opened in 2015 in two of Singapore’s historically well-known buildings, which were then newly furnished for the purpose. It concerns the city’s former town hall, Former City Hall, and the court building Former Supreme Court, both of which are located next to Padang’s lawns. The town hall was designed by A. Gordans and F.D. Meadows and constructed as the Municipal Building 1926-1929 with its Corinthian columned facade, and the Supreme Court Building was constructed 1937-1939.
Orchard Road is modern Singapore’s magnificence of shopping, cafes, malls, department stores and restaurants. The atmosphere is wonderful on the approximately 2.5 kilometer long and famous business district, which for many years has been the city-state’s shopping center and a major attraction for tourists.
Orchard Road got its name from the plantations the road historically led to. These were plantations where nutmeg, pepper and various kinds of fruit were grown in the tropical climate. These plantations were quite widespread in the area throughout the 19th century, before the area was quietly developed with houses along the road.
Istana is a mansion that serves as the official residence and office of the President of Singapore. The beautiful mansion also houses the country’s prime minister’s office and the minister’s official residence, which, however, has not been used as an official residence since Singapore’s independence in 1965.
It was the British government that acquired part of a nutmeg plantation to build a residence for Singapore’s British governor. It happened in 1867, and the Istana was then built in the years 1867-1869. The governors lived here until 1959, when Singapore gained self-government and the governor was replaced by a leader with the title of Yang di-Pertuan Negara.
The Istana was built in a neo-Palladian style of architecture that was also used by British military engineers in contemporary India. There is local inspiration in the Istana’s style, just as there is classicism. Meanwhile, there is access to the Istana, where you can see the most important rooms and halls, which include the Reception Hall, the Banquet Hall and the State Room, which is the seat of the President.
Esplanade – Theaters on the Bay is a performing arts center located in the Marina Bay area close to the mouth of the Singapore River. The center consists of a concert hall with space for approximately 1,600 spectators and a theater with a capacity of approximately 2,000 guests for the performances. The story started in 1989, when a report concluded that Singapore lacked major venues for the performing arts, and after six years of construction, the venue was opened in 2002.
The concert hall and theater are located as one of the architecturally known structures in the area around Marina Bay. The design consists of two rounded forms in which the scenes are located, and the frames for them are covered with triangulated glass elements and sun screens, which balance the view from the center with suitable sun shielding. The design is reminiscent of the fruit durian, which is why the center is jokingly called the big durian.
The Helix Bridge, also called The Helix, is a bridge in Singapore’s Marina Bay area. The bridge connects Marina Center with Marina South and it was opened in 2010. The bridge gets its name from the design that imitates a helical line or a similarly twisted line like a spring.
The Helix Bridge is a shortcut over the water, but the bridge is also an experience that is particularly noticeable in the evening, when the helix structures are illuminated around the crossing pedestrians. Several platforms have also been built on the bridge, from which you can enjoy the view of Marina Bay’s modern setting.
ArtScience Museum is an interesting museum located in a prominent location on Marina Bay as part of Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands resort. Opened in 2011, the museum is a place whose exhibitions focus on and unite art, culture, technology and science.
The design of the museum is in itself worth seeing. Created by Israeli architect and urban planner Moshe Safdie, the design is said to be inspired by a lotus flower, and the resemblance is evident in the execution.
The ArtScience Museum has also been called The Welcoming Hand of Singapore with the construction consisting of a face with five large fingers opposite five smaller ones. All these ten fingers are built as galleries with natural light pouring in from above. It gives an exciting impression, and it is also worth seeing the lighting in the evening.
Marina Bay Sands is a resort in the Marina Bay area that also stands as one of Singapore’s architectural landmarks. The resort opened in 2010 as a colossal complex with hotel rooms, casino, conference and exhibition center, museum, shopping center and many other activities.
It was the architects Moshe Safdie who designed the complex, which has many interesting elements when you walk around and look at the individual buildings. The most characteristic feature of the building is the three high-rise towers, which are connected at the top by Sands Skypark.
Sands Skypark is a 340-metre-long superstructure that lies above all three towers, and which also protrudes 66 meters over the edge of the northern tower. Here you will find the Sands Skypark Observation Deck, from which there is an unparalleled view of Marina Bay and large parts of Singapore. Up in the heights there is also a 150 meter long infinity pool.
Sentosa Island is an island located immediately south of Singapore’s main island. The island was previously set up as a British military base and later as a prisoner of war camp. After this story, they named the place Sentosa Island and planned to make the island a popular tourist destination with various activities and use of nature.
Sentosa Island is now home to several different activities. Some of the popular places are the island’s long beaches, which are protected as almost small lagoons in the tropical climate. This is also where you find Universal Studios Singapore with everything the theme park has to offer.
One can also take cable cars to Sentosa Island and on Sentosa Island. They connect several places on the island and provide a good opportunity for an overview of the area. From the stations you can go on some lovely trips to, for example, Sentosa Sensoryscape and Fort Siloso, which is located in the western part of the island as an outdoor military museum.
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