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The Istana is sited on top of a hill. Owing to the undulating nature of the land, the top of the hill was levelled in order to obtain a suitable plateau for the erection of the Building. The building stands today at 140 m above sea level. Before the high skyscrapers of the Central Business District blocked the view, it was possible to see the Indonesian Islands to the South and the hills of Johore to the North on a clear day. The Istana is similar in architecture 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 verandahs, louvred windows and panelled doors, to promote cross ventilation, and an airy and cool interior.
The central 3-storey 28m high tower block dominates the building . This 'one-stage' tower is crowned with a slated mansard roof. It has dormer windows and is embellished with Corinthian pilaster and beautiful cornices. The 2-storey side wings are ornamented with Ionic colonnades at the second storey and Doric colonnades at the first storey. A pediment and portico terminate the colonnades at both ends.
Sri Temasek is a typical 19th century bungalow. Built in 1869, it was the Colonial Secretary's residence. The uniqueness of this building lies in its intricate timber arcade which shows a mixture of eastern and western decorative motifs.
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| Click on the above photos for enlarged view. |
Of particular interest is the Chinese Moon Gateway situated on the first floor of Sri Temasek. The white Gateway is made of chengal, teak and meranti. There are no records of how the Gateway come to be part of the Sri Temasek, except that it first made its appearance over 40 years ago. However, it is only known that the Moon Gateway was designed and built by William Swaffield who was a pre-war Comptroller of Government House as well as a professional furniture designer.
The Villa, built in 1908 as the official residence of Aide-De-Camp, was later made the Private Secretary's bungalow in 1916. It then became the Attorney- General's House in 1958.
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| Click on the above photo for enlarged view. |
The Villa is in the "black and white" bungalow style typical of that period. It is used now mainly for functions. But in the past many foreign dignitaries had stayed in the premises while guests of the state. Among them were Mr Deng Xiaopeng, Mr George Bush, President Suharto, Dr Mahathir and many others.
The Military Guard Room, a smallish building sited along the inward road after the Centre Gate, was built in the early 1900s. Its facade consists of an arcade of five arches characteristic of the "hexastyle" architecture.
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| Click on the above photo for enlarged view. |
The Military Guard Room is used by the ceremonial guards when not performing sentry duties. |
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