Macdonald House
The MacDonald House, located a short distance from the Istana, is the last remaining office building in facing brick in the central area. The building was built in 1949, and designed by Reginal Eyre of the architectural firm Palmer and Turner. It was built in a neo-Georgian style, with a reinforced concrete framed structure clad in red brickwork. It was named after Governor General Malcolm MacDonald. The building housed the bank's Orchard Road branch, as well as the offices of British, US and Australian organisations. It was also the location of the EMI studios, where the Quests, a popular local pop band, recorded their first album in 1966. Before the building was vacated in the early 2000s, the building housed HSBC on the first few floors of the building.
In an incident known as the MacDonald House bombing, two Indonesian saboteurs placed a bomb on the mezzanine floor on 10 March 1965, killing two and wounding 33. This was one of a number of terrorist attacks in Singapore during the Indonesian Confrontation in support of President Sukarno's opposition to the merger of Singapore, Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia. At the time of the bombing, the building had also housed the Australian High Commission and the Japanese Consulate.
After years of remaining vacant, the building was put up for sale by tender on 5 April 2002, with a net lettable area of about 78,600 square feet (7,300 m2) over ten stories. While the sale was on-going, the building was gazetted as a national monument on 10 February 2003, with the exterior façade coming under protection. The successful bidder, Tinifia Investment, paid S$36 million for the freehold building in 2003, and closed the building for extensive interior renovations costing another S$12 million, including the upgrading of the ceilings, floors, lobby and lifts, and the introduction of carparking facilities with the addition of a mechanical parking system for 30 cars.
The building re-opened in April 2005 with full occupancy. Mccann World group occupies the fifth to eighth floors while a beauty/spa operator, Expressions International, takes up the top two floors. The flagship Orchard Road Branch of Citibank Singapore opened on 23 June 2005, occupying 37,000 square feet (3,400 m2) of space spread over the building's lower four floors which house the largest wealth management centre in Asia.
The Istana
The Istana was built in 1867-1869 on the instructions of Sir Harry Saint George Ord, Singapore's first colonial governor. It was formerly known as Government House. Located within the same compound is Sri Temasek, one of several senior colonial officers' residences in the Istana previously assigned to the Colonial Secretary.
Sir Harry's desire for a stately Governor's residence arose from his dissatisfaction with the leased housing on Grange Hill and Leonie Hill that Governors had to make do with. An earlier governor's residence on Bukit Larangan (now Fort Canning), a flimsy timber structure, had been torn down to make way for the fort and was never replaced.
Ord's views were met with much resistance amongst his colleagues. To build a residence of palatial proportions and cost was deemed too extravagant. Ord stood his ground, however, and eventually acquired 106 acres (0.43 km2) of land from C.R. Prinsep's nutmeg estate in 1867. Construction began later in the year after the design was finalised on March 1867.
Sir Harry's desire for a stately Governor's residence arose from his dissatisfaction with the leased housing on Grange Hill and Leonie Hill that Governors had to make do with. An earlier governor's residence on Bukit Larangan (now Fort Canning), a flimsy timber structure, had been torn down to make way for the fort and was never replaced.
Ord's views were met with much resistance amongst his colleagues. To build a residence of palatial proportions and cost was deemed too extravagant. Ord stood his ground, however, and eventually acquired 106 acres (0.43 km2) of land from C.R. Prinsep's nutmeg estate in 1867. Construction began later in the year after the design was finalised on March 1867.
During the Japanese invasion of 1942, deliberate shelling destroyed the small ceremonial guns on the steps of Government House and left the building and its grounds in a state of ruin. Then Governor Sir Shenton Thomas and Lady Daisy Thomas loyally remained in Government House with their servants until the very last moments. When they finally evacuated, they took with them the Union Flag that had been flying in front of Government House and carefully kept it hidden throughout the Japanese Occupation. During the occupation, the house was occupied by Field Marshal Count Terauchi, commander of the Japanese Southern Army, and Major General Kawamura, commander of the Singapore Defense Forces.
When Singapore attained self-rule in 1959, the building was handed over to the Singapore Government. It was then renamed the Istana. Yusof Ishak was appointed the first local head of state, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, and took up office at the Istana.
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 and his staff are also located within the building.
The Cathay
Cathay building stood on the site of an old bakery and Victorian building managed by Teo Ho Lye and Louis Moulteni from Poland. Moulteni came to Singapore in the 1880s and started his confectionery.
The Victoria building was demolished in 1934 and the land sold to the Loke family.
Cathay building designed by Frank Brewer was completed in 1939. It became Singapore's first skyscraper and second multi-storey building; the first was the High Street Police Station. The building housed the Cathay Cinema which exists today but the hotel was converted into an office complex.
In early 1941 Colonel Alan Ferguson Warren of the Royal Marines came to Singapore to train guerillas to infiltrate into Malaya. He made Cathay building the headquarters of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) Orient Mission and a base for his operations.
In February 1942 before the British surrendered to the Japanese, Cathay was one of the buildings where hundreds of British army deserters sought refuge from constant Japanese aerial and artillery bombardment. The Field Survey Company also used the roof of Cathay building to spot enemy guns. On 9th February 1942 crowds gathered at Cathay for the official evacuation from Singapore.
The local staff employed in Cathay building remained loyal and brave and continued working each day despite the bombing of their homes and families members being killed. It was just before the British surrender that they were paid off and sent home.
Lt General Percival on his way to meet Lt General Yamashita, flew a large Union Jack atop Cathay building to indicate that he (Percival) had agreed to a ceasefire. The unconditional British surrender took place at Ford Motor Works in Bukit Timah on 15 February 1942.
Cathay announced its plans in the late 1990s to redevelop the whole complex. The front facade of the building was gazetted as a national monument on 10 February 2003. Thus the new building incorporates conservation of the original art-deco façade of the 1930s combined together with a modern-day avant garde design by Paul Tange of Tange Associates Japan and RDC Architects Pte Ltd Singapore. The Cathay as it is now known, opened on 24 March 2006. The building houses retail, food & beverage outlets and an 8-screen Cathay Cineplex which includes The Picturehouse.
Shaw house
In the late 1980s, owner Shaw Organisation decided to tear down the old Lido Cinema, and build a 21-storey building with a basement. This project, which was the Shaw Organisation's largest in Singapore to date, was completed in 1993 after three years of construction.
Shaw House is a shopping mall and the home of Lido Cinema (now Lido 8 Cineplex). Lido Cinema was constructed in 1958 as a 10-storey office block, and was officially opened by Lim Yew Hock on 22 November 1958
Shaw House houses the main store of Isetan in Singapore, and occupies five floors. It has a Japanese supermarket in the basement, and has offices on the upper floors of the building.
The building also houses the Lido Cineplex with 8 screens on Levels 5 and 6. At its opening in 1993, the cineplex started with only 5 halls, but was expanded with another 3 halls in 1997 to keep up with the demands of the cinema market. The main hall, Lido 1, has a capacity of over 900, which was renovated in 2004. It was the first hall in the country to be THX certified with SDDS, DTS, Dolby Digital and Dolby SR. The projection booth has the ability to "interlock" one print in more than one hall, to allow a blockbuster to be seen in several halls at one time. Although Lido 1 is no longer THX certified, it has equipped itself with Dolby Digital Surround.EX sound system, and is also a 2K DIGITAL hall. Lido 2 is also now a 2K DIGITAL hall capable of screening digital movies. Lido 3 is an E-cinema.
In mid 2010, plans were made to add in 2 more 3D theatres and 1 IMAX theatre.The Cineplex closed in late 2010 for renovations to add the new theatres.It reopened on the 5 May 2011.The latter officially opened on the 19 May 2011 to screen it`s first movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
On the 4th floor, Shaw House has three restaurants, one of which is Crystal Jade, and one cafe. Outside Lido cineplex, there is a food court and a McDonald's express kiosk. In the basement, there is a McCafe outlet, and MOS Burger and Pepper Lunch restaurants.
National Museum of Singapore
The museum was part of an establishment of a public repository of knowledge of Malayan in a school, museum and library. This objective can be traced to a 1823 meeting called by Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore, to discuss a revival of the region's cultural heritage. The museum occupied a section of the library of the Singapore Institution, later became the Raffles Institution. In 1874, the museum moved to the Town Hall (now known as the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall). However, due to the growing collection in the museum, it moved back to the Singapore Institution in 1876 situated at the new wing of the institution.
The Raffles Library and Museum later moved to Stamford Road in a new building that was commissioned by the colonial government in 1882. The museum was officially opened on 12 October 1887 which also marked the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The library was referred to by the locals in Malay as Rumah Kitab (house of books) or Tempat Kitab (place of books). The museum was designed by Sir Henry McCallum but a scaled down version was used as the Colonial Office rejected the initial proposal, Major J.F. McNair co-designed the later version.
The Raffles Library and Museum later moved to Stamford Road in a new building that was commissioned by the colonial government in 1882. The museum was officially opened on 12 October 1887 which also marked the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The library was referred to by the locals in Malay as Rumah Kitab (house of books) or Tempat Kitab (place of books). The museum was designed by Sir Henry McCallum but a scaled down version was used as the Colonial Office rejected the initial proposal, Major J.F. McNair co-designed the later version.
Transformation
The museum was established in 1849 by the then Singapore Institution Committee. It was called the Raffles Library and Museum and it exhibited items of historical and archeological value in Singapore and Asia. The museum was part of an establishment of a public repository of knowledge of Malayan in a school, museum and library. In 1874, the museum moved to the Town Hall (now known as the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall). However, due to the growing collection in the museum, it moved back to the Singapore Institution in 1876 situated at the new wing of the institution.
The Raffles Library and Museum later moved to Stamford Road in a new building that was commissioned by the colonial government in 1882. The museum was officially opened on 12 October 1887 which also marked the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The library was referred to by the locals in Malay as Rumah Kitab (house of books) or Tempat Kitab (place of books). The museum was designed by Sir Henry McCallum but a scaled down version was used as the Colonial Office rejected the initial proposal, Major J.F. McNair co-designed the later version.
In its early years, the museum was well known for its zoological and ethnographic collections of Southeast Asia especially Malaya and British Borneo before the World War II. The museum was a centre of research and knowledge, directors and curators were by and specialists of good research accomplishments including zoologists Richard Hanitsch, John Moulton, Cecil Boden Kloss, Frederick Chasen and anthropologists HD Collings and Gibson-Hill who were also interested in ornithology, Malay history, ethnography and photography. The museum was the seat of the editorial office of the Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, it was visited by scholars who were en-route to their trips to Malaya and Indonesia. The collections included a selection of northern Nias objects from the field trips of Elio Modigliani, as well as the basketwork gifted by Dr William Abbott, who collected them during the 1900s for the United States National Museum, later the Smithsonian Institution.
Extensions were carried out in 1906, 1916, 1926 and 1934 due to the inadequate space for the growing number of artefacts and books. During the Japanese Occupation, the place was left intact by the Japanese occupying army due to its reputation of its Raffles collection and research integrity. The museum split with the library with the latter forming theNational Library adjacent to the museum building in 1960 which was demolished and relocated to Victoria Street in 2005, the former was housed in the Stamford Road building.
After Singapore's independence in 1965, the museum focused its collection to nation-building and the history of Singapore and was renamed the National Museum. Its zoological collections was moved to the biology department of the National University of Singapore and to some museums such as in Kolkata in India and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. This all happened in 1969. Its most iconic artifact was the skeleton of a blue whale found in Port Dickson in 1893 and was displayed from 1903 to 1969. The museum then featured exhibits on history, ethnology and arts of Singapore and the region.
Hawpar Group donated a jade collection in January 1980. Restoration works of the building were carried out in 1985 which included a repainting of the building and restoring some of the distinctive features. After restoration, the museum was gazetted as a national monument on 14 February 1992. The museum came under the management of the National Heritage Board in 1993 and was renamed the Singapore History Museum becoming the flagship of the four national museums in Singapore. The building was closed in April 2003 for extension and restoration works and the museum was temporarily relocated to Riverside Point where an exhibition known as Rivertales was displayed.
Tangs
Tangs, founded in 1932 by Tang Choon Keng, is one of Singapore's oldest surviving departmental stores. It is also one of the earliest retail occupants in Orchard Road, Singapore's premier shopping district. Its flagship store with its distinctive green-tiled Chinese roof is a familiar landmark to shoppers and tourists.
Tangs' founder, Tang Choon Keng, came to Singapore from Swatow, China in 1923. He started out as an itinerant hawker, peddling embroidered linens to Western expatriates living in Tanglin, Holland Road, Bukit Timah and Katong. Tang built his trade on the philosophy of honesty, integrity and value for money. On these principles, his business began to grow. With the increased sales, Tang could no longer go from house to house to sell his goods. So he rented a shop space at 231 River Valley Road and set up his first shop called the House of Tang. His range of merchandise expanded to include Chinese arts and crafts, ornaments and souvenirs. The shop prospered and soon extended to the ground and second levels, as well as the two shop fronts beside it.
Tangs' founder, Tang Choon Keng, came to Singapore from Swatow, China in 1923. He started out as an itinerant hawker, peddling embroidered linens to Western expatriates living in Tanglin, Holland Road, Bukit Timah and Katong. Tang built his trade on the philosophy of honesty, integrity and value for money. On these principles, his business began to grow. With the increased sales, Tang could no longer go from house to house to sell his goods. So he rented a shop space at 231 River Valley Road and set up his first shop called the House of Tang. His range of merchandise expanded to include Chinese arts and crafts, ornaments and souvenirs. The shop prospered and soon extended to the ground and second levels, as well as the two shop fronts beside it.
In 1940, the store moved across the street to a three-storey building that Tang had built on land acquired from six adjacent shops. Located at 241 River Valley Road, the building was named the C. K. Tang Building. It was later renamed the Gainurn Building after Tang's father, Tang Gan Urn. During the Occupation years, the Japanese soldiers had wanted to use the store as their dormitory. The idea was later abandoned when they found quarters elsewhere. Hence the shop came out of the episode relatively unscathed.
After the war, Tang saw that the time was ripe for expansion. The chance came when the Manasseh family decided to sell their land at No. 2 and 4 Scotts Road. During that time, many Jewish families were returning to the newly formed Israeli state and were disposing their properties at low prices. So in 1958, Tang bought a 1,351 square metres piece of land at a cost of $3.45 per square foot, at 310 Orchard Road which he built the third House of Tang at a cost of $200,000. When Tang first acquired the land, many decried the inauspicious location because the site faced the Tai San Ting cemetery. Orchard Road was also an isolated and quiet neighbourhood then. However Tang recognised the potential of the location. Residents living in Tanglin and Holland Road, and Malaysians from Johor Baru, had to drive pass his store in order to get to the city centre. The new House of Tang had a distinctive architecture. Its green-tiled roof with upturned corners and red columnades were modeled after the Chinese pavilions and palaces which Tang saw during his visit to Beijing.
After the war, Tang saw that the time was ripe for expansion. The chance came when the Manasseh family decided to sell their land at No. 2 and 4 Scotts Road. During that time, many Jewish families were returning to the newly formed Israeli state and were disposing their properties at low prices. So in 1958, Tang bought a 1,351 square metres piece of land at a cost of $3.45 per square foot, at 310 Orchard Road which he built the third House of Tang at a cost of $200,000. When Tang first acquired the land, many decried the inauspicious location because the site faced the Tai San Ting cemetery. Orchard Road was also an isolated and quiet neighbourhood then. However Tang recognised the potential of the location. Residents living in Tanglin and Holland Road, and Malaysians from Johor Baru, had to drive pass his store in order to get to the city centre. The new House of Tang had a distinctive architecture. Its green-tiled roof with upturned corners and red columnades were modeled after the Chinese pavilions and palaces which Tang saw during his visit to Beijing.
In 1960-61, the House of Tang closed briefly due to a disagreement with the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers' Union. The dismissal of an employee had triggered a series of events which led to the staging of two strikes. The matter finally came to a close when the House of Tang went into voluntary liquidation. The store reopened the next year as C.K. Tang.
In 1975, Tang decided to pull down the old building and to construct a 33-storey hotel and a shopping complex in its place. The new building retained the store's signature green-tiled Chinese roof. The Dynasty Hotel (later sold to Marriott and renamed to Marriott Hotel in 1995) and the new shopping complex opened in June 1982. The new store, with its name now shortened to Tangs, was well-received by shoppers.
Besides being a shopping haven, Tangs was also known, at that time, for its policy of not opening on Sundays. Tang was a staunch Christian and had implemented the policy so his family and Christian employees could go to church. This practice ceased in July 1994.
In 1987, Tang retired and handed over the reins of the company to his son, Tang Wee Sung. Under the leadership of the younger Tang, the store transformed itself into a trendy and fashion-forward clothing and lifestyle retailer. A number of niche labels and concept spaces such as Tangs Studio, the Island Shop, and the Tangs Beauty Hall were launched. Tangs currently operates its flagship store at Tangs Plaza on Orchard Road, and outlets at Vivocity and the Pavilion shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Besides being a shopping haven, Tangs was also known, at that time, for its policy of not opening on Sundays. Tang was a staunch Christian and had implemented the policy so his family and Christian employees could go to church. This practice ceased in July 1994.
In 1987, Tang retired and handed over the reins of the company to his son, Tang Wee Sung. Under the leadership of the younger Tang, the store transformed itself into a trendy and fashion-forward clothing and lifestyle retailer. A number of niche labels and concept spaces such as Tangs Studio, the Island Shop, and the Tangs Beauty Hall were launched. Tangs currently operates its flagship store at Tangs Plaza on Orchard Road, and outlets at Vivocity and the Pavilion shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Good Wood Park Hotel
In 1918, three Jewish brothers by the family name of Manasseh bought over the property and renamed it Goodwood Hall after the residence of the Duke of Richmond and Gordon in England. Goodwood Hall was registered in 1922 as a restaurant-café-entertainment establishment. One of its highlights that year was a glittering performance by one of the world’s greatest ballerina, Anna Pavlova.
In 1929, the Manassehs turned Goodwood Hall into the Goodwood Park Hotel, catering to travelling businessmen from Malaya. The hotel became one of the best-known hotels at the end of the 1930s and among the noted guests from that period was the Duke of Windsor, then the Prince of Wales of England.
In 1929, the Manassehs turned Goodwood Hall into the Goodwood Park Hotel, catering to travelling businessmen from Malaya. The hotel became one of the best-known hotels at the end of the 1930s and among the noted guests from that period was the Duke of Windsor, then the Prince of Wales of England.
World War II, which reached Singapore shores in 1941, converted Goodwood Park Hotel into a residence for high-ranking Japanese soldiers during the three-year occupation of Singapore. After the war ended, the Hotel served as a British War Crimes Court before it was returned to Mr Vivian Bath, a Manasseh descendant, in 1947. The hotel also made local history then by being the first hotel in Singapore to offer a swimming pool in its premises, a visionary idea by Mr Vivian Bath.
The 1960s saw a rapid expansion of the Goodwood Park and the introduction of several innovative changes such as air-conditioned Goodwood taxis, the longest bar in Southeast Asia and an air-conditioned wine cellar. In 1963, Goodwood Park Hotel was bought over by Malayan Banking Group and in 1968, it changed hands again to become the property of the late Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat, a former Managing Director of the bank. The hotel underwent massive renovations and expansion when Mrs Mavis Oei, the hotel’s current Chairman and daughter of Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat, took over.
Goodwood Park Hotel has been improved and upgraded continuously to put it among the world’s best, and has since played host to many well-known dignitaries and personalities from all over the world. In March 1989, the historic tower of Goodwood Park Hotel was gazetted a national monument by the Singapore Preservation of Monuments Board, which has since merged with the Singapore National Heritage Board.
The 1960s saw a rapid expansion of the Goodwood Park and the introduction of several innovative changes such as air-conditioned Goodwood taxis, the longest bar in Southeast Asia and an air-conditioned wine cellar. In 1963, Goodwood Park Hotel was bought over by Malayan Banking Group and in 1968, it changed hands again to become the property of the late Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat, a former Managing Director of the bank. The hotel underwent massive renovations and expansion when Mrs Mavis Oei, the hotel’s current Chairman and daughter of Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat, took over.
Goodwood Park Hotel has been improved and upgraded continuously to put it among the world’s best, and has since played host to many well-known dignitaries and personalities from all over the world. In March 1989, the historic tower of Goodwood Park Hotel was gazetted a national monument by the Singapore Preservation of Monuments Board, which has since merged with the Singapore National Heritage Board.
On 21 September 2010, the hotel celebrated its 110th Anniversary.
Ngee Ann City
The land belonging to Ngee Ann Kongsi was a much sought-after piece of real estate in Singapore. Ng Teng Fong of Far East Organisation was unsuccessful in his bid to buy the land, even after upping his offer to S$175 million from S$140 million. The land was also sought by the owners of Hilton International Hotel.
There were also a series of disputes between Ngee Ann Kongsi and the Metro Group which had subsequently acquired the redevelopment rights. These were only resolved in 1981, resulting in the setting up of a joint venture in which Ngee Ann had a 73% stake, and Metro the balance 27%. The partners paid heavily for the dispute, as the Singapore Government acquired half the site in 1983. This left them only 28,322 square metres for development.
Work on Ngee Ann City began 22 years after the project was first proposed. The construction of the S$520 million complex took four years. Ngee Ann City was officially opened by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on September 21, 1993.
In the 1950s, the land that Ngee Ann City sits on was a burial ground, owned and managed by Ngee Ann Kongsi. It was part of a parcel of land known as Tai Shan Ting, which was bounded by Orchard Road, Paterson Road and Grange Road. A ten-storey Ngee Ann Building was then built on the site, and was demolished to make way for Ngee Ann City.There were also a series of disputes between Ngee Ann Kongsi and the Metro Group which had subsequently acquired the redevelopment rights. These were only resolved in 1981, resulting in the setting up of a joint venture in which Ngee Ann had a 73% stake, and Metro the balance 27%. The partners paid heavily for the dispute, as the Singapore Government acquired half the site in 1983. This left them only 28,322 square metres for development.
Work on Ngee Ann City began 22 years after the project was first proposed. The construction of the S$520 million complex took four years. Ngee Ann City was officially opened by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on September 21, 1993.
Redevelopment of the site was first considered as early as 1967. Ngee Ann City was planned by Ngee Ann Development and the Orchard Square Development Corporation in the late 1980s. Raymond Woo, the architect who designed the complex, drew inspiration from the Great Wall of China. The intent was to reflect the dignity, solidity and strength of the Ngee Ann Kongsi. Wong spent five years designing and overseeing the project. Ngee Ann City was officially opened by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on September 21, 1993.
Research
Macdonald House
The MacDonald House, located a short distance from the Istana, is the last remaining office building in facing brick in the central area. The building was built in 1949, and designed by Reginal Eyre of the architectural firm Palmer and Turner. It was built in a neo-Georgian style, with a reinforced concrete framed structure clad in red brickwork. It was named after Governor General Malcolm MacDonald. The building housed the bank's Orchard Road branch, as well as the offices of British, US and Australian organisations. It was also the location of the EMI studios, where the Quests, a popular local pop band, recorded their first album in 1966. Before the building was vacated in the early 2000s, the building housed HSBC on the first few floors of the building.
In an incident known as the MacDonald House bombing, two Indonesian saboteurs placed a bomb on the mezzanine floor on 10 March 1965, killing two and wounding 33. This was one of a number of terrorist attacks in Singapore during the Indonesian Confrontation in support of President Sukarno's opposition to the merger of Singapore, Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia. At the time of the bombing, the building had also housed the Australian High Commission and the Japanese Consulate.
After years of remaining vacant, the building was put up for sale by tender on 5 April 2002, with a net lettable area of about 78,600 square feet (7,300 m2) over ten stories. While the sale was on-going, the building was gazetted as a national monument on 10 February 2003, with the exterior façade coming under protection. The successful bidder, Tinifia Investment, paid S$36 million for the freehold building in 2003, and closed the building for extensive interior renovations costing another S$12 million, including the upgrading of the ceilings, floors, lobby and lifts, and the introduction of carparking facilities with the addition of a mechanical parking system for 30 cars.
The building re-opened in April 2005 with full occupancy. Mccann World group occupies the fifth to eighth floors while a beauty/spa operator, Expressions International, takes up the top two floors. The flagship Orchard Road Branch of Citibank Singapore opened on 23 June 2005, occupying 37,000 square feet (3,400 m2) of space spread over the building's lower four floors which house the largest wealth management centre in Asia.
The Istana
The Istana was built in 1867-1869 on the instructions of Sir Harry Saint George Ord, Singapore's first colonial governor. It was formerly known as Government House. Located within the same compound is Sri Temasek, one of several senior colonial officers' residences in the Istana previously assigned to the Colonial Secretary.
Sir Harry's desire for a stately Governor's residence arose from his dissatisfaction with the leased housing on Grange Hill and Leonie Hill that Governors had to make do with. An earlier governor's residence on Bukit Larangan (now Fort Canning), a flimsy timber structure, had been torn down to make way for the fort and was never replaced.
Ord's views were met with much resistance amongst his colleagues. To build a residence of palatial proportions and cost was deemed too extravagant. Ord stood his ground, however, and eventually acquired 106 acres (0.43 km2) of land from C.R. Prinsep's nutmeg estate in 1867. Construction began later in the year after the design was finalised on March 1867.
Sir Harry's desire for a stately Governor's residence arose from his dissatisfaction with the leased housing on Grange Hill and Leonie Hill that Governors had to make do with. An earlier governor's residence on Bukit Larangan (now Fort Canning), a flimsy timber structure, had been torn down to make way for the fort and was never replaced.
Ord's views were met with much resistance amongst his colleagues. To build a residence of palatial proportions and cost was deemed too extravagant. Ord stood his ground, however, and eventually acquired 106 acres (0.43 km2) of land from C.R. Prinsep's nutmeg estate in 1867. Construction began later in the year after the design was finalised on March 1867.
During the Japanese invasion of 1942, deliberate shelling destroyed the small ceremonial guns on the steps of Government House and left the building and its grounds in a state of ruin. Then Governor Sir Shenton Thomas and Lady Daisy Thomas loyally remained in Government House with their servants until the very last moments. When they finally evacuated, they took with them the Union Flag that had been flying in front of Government House and carefully kept it hidden throughout the Japanese Occupation. During the occupation, the house was occupied by Field Marshal Count Terauchi, commander of the Japanese Southern Army, and Major General Kawamura, commander of the Singapore Defense Forces.
When Singapore attained self-rule in 1959, the building was handed over to the Singapore Government. It was then renamed the Istana. Yusof Ishak was appointed the first local head of state, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, and took up office at the Istana.
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 and his staff are also located within the building.
The Cathay
Cathay building stood on the site of an old bakery and Victorian building managed by Teo Ho Lye and Louis Moulteni from Poland. Moulteni came to Singapore in the 1880s and started his confectionery.
The Victoria building was demolished in 1934 and the land sold to the Loke family.
Cathay building designed by Frank Brewer was completed in 1939. It became Singapore's first skyscraper and second multi-storey building; the first was the High Street Police Station. The building housed the Cathay Cinema which exists today but the hotel was converted into an office complex.
In early 1941 Colonel Alan Ferguson Warren of the Royal Marines came to Singapore to train guerillas to infiltrate into Malaya. He made Cathay building the headquarters of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) Orient Mission and a base for his operations.
In February 1942 before the British surrendered to the Japanese, Cathay was one of the buildings where hundreds of British army deserters sought refuge from constant Japanese aerial and artillery bombardment. The Field Survey Company also used the roof of Cathay building to spot enemy guns. On 9th February 1942 crowds gathered at Cathay for the official evacuation from Singapore.
The local staff employed in Cathay building remained loyal and brave and continued working each day despite the bombing of their homes and families members being killed. It was just before the British surrender that they were paid off and sent home.
Lt General Percival on his way to meet Lt General Yamashita, flew a large Union Jack atop Cathay building to indicate that he (Percival) had agreed to a ceasefire. The unconditional British surrender took place at Ford Motor Works in Bukit Timah on 15 February 1942.
Cathay announced its plans in the late 1990s to redevelop the whole complex. The front facade of the building was gazetted as a national monument on 10 February 2003. Thus the new building incorporates conservation of the original art-deco façade of the 1930s combined together with a modern-day avant garde design by Paul Tange of Tange Associates Japan and RDC Architects Pte Ltd Singapore. The Cathay as it is now known, opened on 24 March 2006. The building houses retail, food & beverage outlets and an 8-screen Cathay Cineplex which includes The Picturehouse.
Shaw house
In the late 1980s, owner Shaw Organisation decided to tear down the old Lido Cinema, and build a 21-storey building with a basement. This project, which was the Shaw Organisation's largest in Singapore to date, was completed in 1993 after three years of construction.
Shaw House is a shopping mall and the home of Lido Cinema (now Lido 8 Cineplex). Lido Cinema was constructed in 1958 as a 10-storey office block, and was officially opened by Lim Yew Hock on 22 November 1958
Shaw House houses the main store of Isetan in Singapore, and occupies five floors. It has a Japanese supermarket in the basement, and has offices on the upper floors of the building.
The building also houses the Lido Cineplex with 8 screens on Levels 5 and 6. At its opening in 1993, the cineplex started with only 5 halls, but was expanded with another 3 halls in 1997 to keep up with the demands of the cinema market. The main hall, Lido 1, has a capacity of over 900, which was renovated in 2004. It was the first hall in the country to be THX certified with SDDS, DTS, Dolby Digital and Dolby SR. The projection booth has the ability to "interlock" one print in more than one hall, to allow a blockbuster to be seen in several halls at one time. Although Lido 1 is no longer THX certified, it has equipped itself with Dolby Digital Surround.EX sound system, and is also a 2K DIGITAL hall. Lido 2 is also now a 2K DIGITAL hall capable of screening digital movies. Lido 3 is an E-cinema.
In mid 2010, plans were made to add in 2 more 3D theatres and 1 IMAX theatre.The Cineplex closed in late 2010 for renovations to add the new theatres.It reopened on the 5 May 2011.The latter officially opened on the 19 May 2011 to screen it`s first movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
On the 4th floor, Shaw House has three restaurants, one of which is Crystal Jade, and one cafe. Outside Lido cineplex, there is a food court and a McDonald's express kiosk. In the basement, there is a McCafe outlet, and MOS Burger and Pepper Lunch restaurants.
National Museum of Singapore
The museum was part of an establishment of a public repository of knowledge of Malayan in a school, museum and library. This objective can be traced to a 1823 meeting called by Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore, to discuss a revival of the region's cultural heritage. The museum occupied a section of the library of the Singapore Institution, later became the Raffles Institution. In 1874, the museum moved to the Town Hall (now known as the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall). However, due to the growing collection in the museum, it moved back to the Singapore Institution in 1876 situated at the new wing of the institution.
The Raffles Library and Museum later moved to Stamford Road in a new building that was commissioned by the colonial government in 1882. The museum was officially opened on 12 October 1887 which also marked the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The library was referred to by the locals in Malay as Rumah Kitab (house of books) or Tempat Kitab (place of books). The museum was designed by Sir Henry McCallum but a scaled down version was used as the Colonial Office rejected the initial proposal, Major J.F. McNair co-designed the later version.
The Raffles Library and Museum later moved to Stamford Road in a new building that was commissioned by the colonial government in 1882. The museum was officially opened on 12 October 1887 which also marked the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The library was referred to by the locals in Malay as Rumah Kitab (house of books) or Tempat Kitab (place of books). The museum was designed by Sir Henry McCallum but a scaled down version was used as the Colonial Office rejected the initial proposal, Major J.F. McNair co-designed the later version.
Transformation
The museum was established in 1849 by the then Singapore Institution Committee. It was called the Raffles Library and Museum and it exhibited items of historical and archeological value in Singapore and Asia. The museum was part of an establishment of a public repository of knowledge of Malayan in a school, museum and library. In 1874, the museum moved to the Town Hall (now known as the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall). However, due to the growing collection in the museum, it moved back to the Singapore Institution in 1876 situated at the new wing of the institution.
The Raffles Library and Museum later moved to Stamford Road in a new building that was commissioned by the colonial government in 1882. The museum was officially opened on 12 October 1887 which also marked the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The library was referred to by the locals in Malay as Rumah Kitab (house of books) or Tempat Kitab (place of books). The museum was designed by Sir Henry McCallum but a scaled down version was used as the Colonial Office rejected the initial proposal, Major J.F. McNair co-designed the later version.
In its early years, the museum was well known for its zoological and ethnographic collections of Southeast Asia especially Malaya and British Borneo before the World War II. The museum was a centre of research and knowledge, directors and curators were by and specialists of good research accomplishments including zoologists Richard Hanitsch, John Moulton, Cecil Boden Kloss, Frederick Chasen and anthropologists HD Collings and Gibson-Hill who were also interested in ornithology, Malay history, ethnography and photography. The museum was the seat of the editorial office of the Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, it was visited by scholars who were en-route to their trips to Malaya and Indonesia. The collections included a selection of northern Nias objects from the field trips of Elio Modigliani, as well as the basketwork gifted by Dr William Abbott, who collected them during the 1900s for the United States National Museum, later the Smithsonian Institution.
Extensions were carried out in 1906, 1916, 1926 and 1934 due to the inadequate space for the growing number of artefacts and books. During the Japanese Occupation, the place was left intact by the Japanese occupying army due to its reputation of its Raffles collection and research integrity. The museum split with the library with the latter forming theNational Library adjacent to the museum building in 1960 which was demolished and relocated to Victoria Street in 2005, the former was housed in the Stamford Road building.
After Singapore's independence in 1965, the museum focused its collection to nation-building and the history of Singapore and was renamed the National Museum. Its zoological collections was moved to the biology department of the National University of Singapore and to some museums such as in Kolkata in India and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. This all happened in 1969. Its most iconic artifact was the skeleton of a blue whale found in Port Dickson in 1893 and was displayed from 1903 to 1969. The museum then featured exhibits on history, ethnology and arts of Singapore and the region.
Hawpar Group donated a jade collection in January 1980. Restoration works of the building were carried out in 1985 which included a repainting of the building and restoring some of the distinctive features. After restoration, the museum was gazetted as a national monument on 14 February 1992. The museum came under the management of the National Heritage Board in 1993 and was renamed the Singapore History Museum becoming the flagship of the four national museums in Singapore. The building was closed in April 2003 for extension and restoration works and the museum was temporarily relocated to Riverside Point where an exhibition known as Rivertales was displayed.
Tangs
Tangs, founded in 1932 by Tang Choon Keng, is one of Singapore's oldest surviving departmental stores. It is also one of the earliest retail occupants in Orchard Road, Singapore's premier shopping district. Its flagship store with its distinctive green-tiled Chinese roof is a familiar landmark to shoppers and tourists.
Tangs' founder, Tang Choon Keng, came to Singapore from Swatow, China in 1923. He started out as an itinerant hawker, peddling embroidered linens to Western expatriates living in Tanglin, Holland Road, Bukit Timah and Katong. Tang built his trade on the philosophy of honesty, integrity and value for money. On these principles, his business began to grow. With the increased sales, Tang could no longer go from house to house to sell his goods. So he rented a shop space at 231 River Valley Road and set up his first shop called the House of Tang. His range of merchandise expanded to include Chinese arts and crafts, ornaments and souvenirs. The shop prospered and soon extended to the ground and second levels, as well as the two shop fronts beside it.
Tangs' founder, Tang Choon Keng, came to Singapore from Swatow, China in 1923. He started out as an itinerant hawker, peddling embroidered linens to Western expatriates living in Tanglin, Holland Road, Bukit Timah and Katong. Tang built his trade on the philosophy of honesty, integrity and value for money. On these principles, his business began to grow. With the increased sales, Tang could no longer go from house to house to sell his goods. So he rented a shop space at 231 River Valley Road and set up his first shop called the House of Tang. His range of merchandise expanded to include Chinese arts and crafts, ornaments and souvenirs. The shop prospered and soon extended to the ground and second levels, as well as the two shop fronts beside it.
In 1940, the store moved across the street to a three-storey building that Tang had built on land acquired from six adjacent shops. Located at 241 River Valley Road, the building was named the C. K. Tang Building. It was later renamed the Gainurn Building after Tang's father, Tang Gan Urn. During the Occupation years, the Japanese soldiers had wanted to use the store as their dormitory. The idea was later abandoned when they found quarters elsewhere. Hence the shop came out of the episode relatively unscathed.
After the war, Tang saw that the time was ripe for expansion. The chance came when the Manasseh family decided to sell their land at No. 2 and 4 Scotts Road. During that time, many Jewish families were returning to the newly formed Israeli state and were disposing their properties at low prices. So in 1958, Tang bought a 1,351 square metres piece of land at a cost of $3.45 per square foot, at 310 Orchard Road which he built the third House of Tang at a cost of $200,000. When Tang first acquired the land, many decried the inauspicious location because the site faced the Tai San Ting cemetery. Orchard Road was also an isolated and quiet neighbourhood then. However Tang recognised the potential of the location. Residents living in Tanglin and Holland Road, and Malaysians from Johor Baru, had to drive pass his store in order to get to the city centre. The new House of Tang had a distinctive architecture. Its green-tiled roof with upturned corners and red columnades were modeled after the Chinese pavilions and palaces which Tang saw during his visit to Beijing.
After the war, Tang saw that the time was ripe for expansion. The chance came when the Manasseh family decided to sell their land at No. 2 and 4 Scotts Road. During that time, many Jewish families were returning to the newly formed Israeli state and were disposing their properties at low prices. So in 1958, Tang bought a 1,351 square metres piece of land at a cost of $3.45 per square foot, at 310 Orchard Road which he built the third House of Tang at a cost of $200,000. When Tang first acquired the land, many decried the inauspicious location because the site faced the Tai San Ting cemetery. Orchard Road was also an isolated and quiet neighbourhood then. However Tang recognised the potential of the location. Residents living in Tanglin and Holland Road, and Malaysians from Johor Baru, had to drive pass his store in order to get to the city centre. The new House of Tang had a distinctive architecture. Its green-tiled roof with upturned corners and red columnades were modeled after the Chinese pavilions and palaces which Tang saw during his visit to Beijing.
In 1960-61, the House of Tang closed briefly due to a disagreement with the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers' Union. The dismissal of an employee had triggered a series of events which led to the staging of two strikes. The matter finally came to a close when the House of Tang went into voluntary liquidation. The store reopened the next year as C.K. Tang.
In 1975, Tang decided to pull down the old building and to construct a 33-storey hotel and a shopping complex in its place. The new building retained the store's signature green-tiled Chinese roof. The Dynasty Hotel (later sold to Marriott and renamed to Marriott Hotel in 1995) and the new shopping complex opened in June 1982. The new store, with its name now shortened to Tangs, was well-received by shoppers.
Besides being a shopping haven, Tangs was also known, at that time, for its policy of not opening on Sundays. Tang was a staunch Christian and had implemented the policy so his family and Christian employees could go to church. This practice ceased in July 1994.
In 1987, Tang retired and handed over the reins of the company to his son, Tang Wee Sung. Under the leadership of the younger Tang, the store transformed itself into a trendy and fashion-forward clothing and lifestyle retailer. A number of niche labels and concept spaces such as Tangs Studio, the Island Shop, and the Tangs Beauty Hall were launched. Tangs currently operates its flagship store at Tangs Plaza on Orchard Road, and outlets at Vivocity and the Pavilion shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Besides being a shopping haven, Tangs was also known, at that time, for its policy of not opening on Sundays. Tang was a staunch Christian and had implemented the policy so his family and Christian employees could go to church. This practice ceased in July 1994.
In 1987, Tang retired and handed over the reins of the company to his son, Tang Wee Sung. Under the leadership of the younger Tang, the store transformed itself into a trendy and fashion-forward clothing and lifestyle retailer. A number of niche labels and concept spaces such as Tangs Studio, the Island Shop, and the Tangs Beauty Hall were launched. Tangs currently operates its flagship store at Tangs Plaza on Orchard Road, and outlets at Vivocity and the Pavilion shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Good Wood Park Hotel
In 1918, three Jewish brothers by the family name of Manasseh bought over the property and renamed it Goodwood Hall after the residence of the Duke of Richmond and Gordon in England. Goodwood Hall was registered in 1922 as a restaurant-café-entertainment establishment. One of its highlights that year was a glittering performance by one of the world’s greatest ballerina, Anna Pavlova.
In 1929, the Manassehs turned Goodwood Hall into the Goodwood Park Hotel, catering to travelling businessmen from Malaya. The hotel became one of the best-known hotels at the end of the 1930s and among the noted guests from that period was the Duke of Windsor, then the Prince of Wales of England.
In 1929, the Manassehs turned Goodwood Hall into the Goodwood Park Hotel, catering to travelling businessmen from Malaya. The hotel became one of the best-known hotels at the end of the 1930s and among the noted guests from that period was the Duke of Windsor, then the Prince of Wales of England.
World War II, which reached Singapore shores in 1941, converted Goodwood Park Hotel into a residence for high-ranking Japanese soldiers during the three-year occupation of Singapore. After the war ended, the Hotel served as a British War Crimes Court before it was returned to Mr Vivian Bath, a Manasseh descendant, in 1947. The hotel also made local history then by being the first hotel in Singapore to offer a swimming pool in its premises, a visionary idea by Mr Vivian Bath.
The 1960s saw a rapid expansion of the Goodwood Park and the introduction of several innovative changes such as air-conditioned Goodwood taxis, the longest bar in Southeast Asia and an air-conditioned wine cellar. In 1963, Goodwood Park Hotel was bought over by Malayan Banking Group and in 1968, it changed hands again to become the property of the late Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat, a former Managing Director of the bank. The hotel underwent massive renovations and expansion when Mrs Mavis Oei, the hotel’s current Chairman and daughter of Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat, took over.
Goodwood Park Hotel has been improved and upgraded continuously to put it among the world’s best, and has since played host to many well-known dignitaries and personalities from all over the world. In March 1989, the historic tower of Goodwood Park Hotel was gazetted a national monument by the Singapore Preservation of Monuments Board, which has since merged with the Singapore National Heritage Board.
The 1960s saw a rapid expansion of the Goodwood Park and the introduction of several innovative changes such as air-conditioned Goodwood taxis, the longest bar in Southeast Asia and an air-conditioned wine cellar. In 1963, Goodwood Park Hotel was bought over by Malayan Banking Group and in 1968, it changed hands again to become the property of the late Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat, a former Managing Director of the bank. The hotel underwent massive renovations and expansion when Mrs Mavis Oei, the hotel’s current Chairman and daughter of Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat, took over.
Goodwood Park Hotel has been improved and upgraded continuously to put it among the world’s best, and has since played host to many well-known dignitaries and personalities from all over the world. In March 1989, the historic tower of Goodwood Park Hotel was gazetted a national monument by the Singapore Preservation of Monuments Board, which has since merged with the Singapore National Heritage Board.
On 21 September 2010, the hotel celebrated its 110th Anniversary.
Ngee Ann City
The land belonging to Ngee Ann Kongsi was a much sought-after piece of real estate in Singapore. Ng Teng Fong of Far East Organisation was unsuccessful in his bid to buy the land, even after upping his offer to S$175 million from S$140 million. The land was also sought by the owners of Hilton International Hotel.
There were also a series of disputes between Ngee Ann Kongsi and the Metro Group which had subsequently acquired the redevelopment rights. These were only resolved in 1981, resulting in the setting up of a joint venture in which Ngee Ann had a 73% stake, and Metro the balance 27%. The partners paid heavily for the dispute, as the Singapore Government acquired half the site in 1983. This left them only 28,322 square metres for development.
Work on Ngee Ann City began 22 years after the project was first proposed. The construction of the S$520 million complex took four years. Ngee Ann City was officially opened by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on September 21, 1993.
In the 1950s, the land that Ngee Ann City sits on was a burial ground, owned and managed by Ngee Ann Kongsi. It was part of a parcel of land known as Tai Shan Ting, which was bounded by Orchard Road, Paterson Road and Grange Road. A ten-storey Ngee Ann Building was then built on the site, and was demolished to make way for Ngee Ann City.There were also a series of disputes between Ngee Ann Kongsi and the Metro Group which had subsequently acquired the redevelopment rights. These were only resolved in 1981, resulting in the setting up of a joint venture in which Ngee Ann had a 73% stake, and Metro the balance 27%. The partners paid heavily for the dispute, as the Singapore Government acquired half the site in 1983. This left them only 28,322 square metres for development.
Work on Ngee Ann City began 22 years after the project was first proposed. The construction of the S$520 million complex took four years. Ngee Ann City was officially opened by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on September 21, 1993.
Redevelopment of the site was first considered as early as 1967. Ngee Ann City was planned by Ngee Ann Development and the Orchard Square Development Corporation in the late 1980s. Raymond Woo, the architect who designed the complex, drew inspiration from the Great Wall of China. The intent was to reflect the dignity, solidity and strength of the Ngee Ann Kongsi. Wong spent five years designing and overseeing the project. Ngee Ann City was officially opened by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on September 21, 1993.
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