The Arts House - old Parliamentbuilding |
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In 1827 the first version of the oldest government building in Singapore was completed as the private residence of the Scottish merchant John Argyle Maxwell. The private use of the building was contrary to Raffles' orders. Thus Maxwell leased his residence to the British colonial administration, which finally bought the estate in 1841. In 1875 the colonial Supreme Court moved into the building.
The original architectural concept by George Dromgold Coleman, the city architect of Singapore, did barely survive the repeated modifications and enlargements during the 19th and 20th centuries. On the 9th of August 1965 Singapore gained its independence and the building became the house of the new Parliament, which it stayed until 1999.
Since March 2004 it gained new meaning as The Arts House, a multidisciplinary arts centre.
1 Old Parliament Lane
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© Photo: Haupt & Binder
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