Over the weekend Female went to a special walkabout at the new National Gallery Singapore. No, it’s not opened to the public yet – but here are some exclusive photos.
The Gallery comprises two national monuments – City Hall and the former Supreme Court. Built between 1926 and 1929, City Hall has witnessed many critical moments in Singapore’s history, including the surrender of Japanese forces to the Allied forces, and the inauguration of Lee Kuan Yew as Singapore’s first Prime Minister. Here’s what we saw on our preview tour.
The original Neo-classical look was kept, but the original rubber tiles on the floor were all replicated, and replaced with marble. (The architect for the project is French company Studio Milou.)
Some visitors couldn’t wait and started queueing already.
The new sixth floor on the Supreme Court Terrace was built to match the height of the Gallery.
The aluminium slats replicates the leaves and branches of trees; the dappled shadows it casts is a nod to our tropical woods.
The stairs to the gallery starts from what used to be the basement parking lot. So you are in effect walking up to second floor windows (but which are now entrance doors) of The Chamber – the grandest room in the entire building.
The Supreme Court building: You don’t want to be here if you have no business here. Unless it’s to gaze at the geometric tiles. (Actually, at the bottom of the stairs there is a time capsule buried under the foundation stone – due to be retrieved in the year 3000.
All photos by DFL: @davidwiseguy
See more photos on Instagram: #nakedmuseumsg
