Former Supreme Court, Singapore
The Former Supreme Court Building (Malay: Bangunan Mahkamah Agung Lama, Chinese: 最高法院大厦) is the former courthouse of the Supreme Court of Singapore, before it moved out of the building and commenced operations in the new building on 20 June 2005. The building was the last structure in the style of classical architecture to be built in the former British colony. The building, together with the City Hall, has been converted into National Gallery Singapore which was opened in 2015.[1]
| Former Supreme Court | |
|---|---|
 | |
.svg.png.webp)  Location of Former Supreme Court in Singapore | |
| Former names | Supreme Court |
| Alternative names | Old Supreme Court |
| General information | |
| Status | Occupied |
| Type | Court |
| Architectural style | Baroque Revival, Neoclassical |
| Classification | B |
| Location | Singapore |
| Address | 1 St Andrew's Road, Singapore 178958 |
| Town or city | Singapore |
| Country | Singapore |
| Coordinates | 1°17′23″N 103°51′04.5″E |
| Current tenants | National Gallery Singapore |
| Groundbreaking | 1 April 1937 |
| Construction started | April 1937 |
| Completed | 1939 |
| Opened | 3 August 1939 |
| Closed | 2011 |
| Affiliation | National Heritage Board |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 5,110 m2 (55,000 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Frank Dorrington Ward |
| Architecture firm | Public Works Department |
| Other designers | Rudolfo Nolli Augusto Martelli |
| Main contractor | United Engineers |
| Designated | 14 February 1992 |
| Reference no. | 28 |
History
On 1 April 1937, the original foundation stone of the Supreme Court Building, (then the biggest foundation stone in the whole of Malaya) was laid by the Governor of the Straits Settlements,[2] Sir Shenton Whitelegge Thomas. Buried beneath the stone, is a time capsule containing six Singaporean newspapers dated 31 March 1937, and a handful of coins of the Straits Settlements. The capsule is not due to be retrieved until the year 3000.[2]
The Supreme Court building was declared open on 3 August 1939 by Sir Shenton Thomas and handed over to the Chief Justice, Sir Percy McElwaine, on the same day.[2]
The building was the site of war crime trials of members of the Imperial Japanese Army in 1946 after the World War II.[3]
The Former Supreme Court Building, together with the adjacent Former City Hall, was converted into the National Gallery Singapore opened in 2015.[1]
Architecture and design
The Former Singapore Supreme Court building was designed by Frank Dorrington Ward and built by United Engineers. It was built in front of the Padang grounds between 1937 and 1939.
See also
Notes
- Ho, Weng Hin (2008), The Former Supreme Court of Singapore & its Artificial Stone: Documentation, Analysis & Conservation Guidelines for a National Monument, Genoa: unpublished thesis, School of Specialization in Restoration of Monuments, University of Genoa, OCLC 233929838.
- History of Supreme Court
References
- Whiteman, Hilary (26 November 2015). "National Gallery Singapore finds first home for unseen art". CNN.
- "AsiaExplorers - Visit, Discover & Enjoy Asia!". www.asiaexplorers.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
- Singapore, National Library Board. "Former Supreme Court building - Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
