A MOMENT IN
TIME
PART THREE FORMER
SUPREME COURT
FORMER SUPREME COURT
CONTENTS what about monuments?
5–6
what’s the history behind it?
7–8 what are the architectural details?
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ABOUT The former Supreme Court building located at St Andrew’s Road was the seat of Singapore’s highest court from 1939 till 2005. It 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.Designed by Frank Dorrington Ward, it was the last classical building constructed in Singapore which was built in the former British colony. The building was gazetted as a national monument in 1992. Currently undergoing restoration and construction works together with the adjacent City Hall building, it will re-open in 2014 as the National Art Gallery, Singapore.
A MOMENT IN TIME
HISTORY Former supreme court was the site of war crime trials of members of the Japanese military in 1946. The building sits on the site of the former house of James Clarke of Guthrie and Company Ltd and later that of Edward Boustead, founder of Boustead and Company. Boustead's house, built in 1823, was then remodelled to serve as the London Hotel. Subsequently, it was renamed the Hotel de l'Esperance and thereafter the Hotel de l'Europe. The hotel was demolished in 1900 and rebuilt as the Grand Hotel de l'Europe (completed in 1905), otherwise known as the Adis Building after its owner. However, these houses made way for the Grand Hotel de l'Europe in 1900, the
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only other hotel in Singapore that could be comparable with the landmark Raffles Hotel. The Grand Hotel boasted a lounge, reading room, a bar, shops and a roof garden, a novelty at that time. In 1932, the hotel's business declined and filed for bankruptcy. It made way in 1936 for the present building, the former building had good views of the Padang from its verandah. In 1935, the government acquired the 76,344 ft2 hotel site for a new Supreme Court building. Modelled after the Old Bailey in London, the building was designed by Ward, then chief architect of the Public Works Department, in his typical classical style. It was built by United Engineers at a cost of $1,750,000.
The image shown at at the construction site of the former Supreme Court, how it will be turned into National Art Gallery in a few years time.
A recent image of the former Supreme court that is under construction.
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HISTORY
The original plans included the demolition of the Cricket Club, the Parliament House and the Victoria Memorial Hall and Theatre, but the start of World War II stopped this ambitious plan. The foundation stone of the building was laid on 1 April 1937 to commemorate the event. 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. On 3 August 1939, the building was declared officially open by Governor of the Straits Settlements Sir Shenton Thomas, and handed over to Chief Justice Sir Percy McElwaine. The courthouse had 11 courtrooms and
adjoining judges' chambers. In 1988, a further 12 courtrooms from the City Hall were transferred to the Supreme Court to accommodate the needs of the main courthouse, as it needed more courtrooms. The building used to have many premises before moving to the premises at City Hall. Dorrington Ward's plan was to demolish the Singapore Cricket Club, Old Parliament House and the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall to make way for a grand government scheme designed by his department. However, this plan was interrupted by the onset of World War II. The Old Supreme Court Building, together with the adjacent City Hall, was slated be converted into the National Art Gallery of Singapore.
MOMENT IN IN TIME TIME AA MOMENT
The building shows the architectural features of classical designs along with the murals and dome.
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ARCHITECTURE Built Built in in front front of of the the historical historicalPadang Padanggrounds groundsbetween between1937 1937and and1939, 1939,the the Old Old Singapore Supreme Court building designed Frank Dorrington Singapore Supreme Court building waswas designed by by Frank Dorrington Ward of Ward of theWorks Public Works Department of Singapore, wasand his most last and most the Public Department of Singapore, and was and his last significant significant piece of work. piece of work. The Corinthian columns, classical design, and and The former formercourthouse courthousefeatures features Corinthian columns, classical design, spacious interiors with with murals murals by by the the Italian Italian artists. artists. The The four-storey four-storeysteel steelstructure spacious interiors structure wasbyerected by United Engineers. The building consists of surrounding four blocks was erected United Engineers. The building consists of four blocks surrounding a central courtyard houseslaw thelibrary circular lawitslibrary with its a central courtyard which houseswhich the circular with significant dome significant dome and Travertine columns supporting on two and Travertine columns supporting two balconies on two two balconies levels. Behind the main levels. main dome, is a smaller dome. The pediment sculpture dome, Behind there is the a smaller dome.there The pediment sculpture which characterized the which characterized the Supreme Courtsculptor is a work by Florentine Supreme Court is a work by Florentine Augusto Martelli.sculptor Augusto Martelli. The Corinthian columns are works by Cavaliere Rudolfo Nolli. Nolli also carried The Corinthian columns are works by Cavaliere Rudolfo stone Nolli. Nolli also carried works for the general building, pre-cast works, imitation sculptures, artistic works for the general building, pre-cast works, imitation stone sculptures, decorations, special plastering and bush-hammered facing works. artistic decorations, special plastering and bush-hammered facing works.
A MOMENT IN TIME
FORMER SUPREME COURT