Art World
Inside the Dramatic Architecture of Singapore’s New National Gallery
See the soaring rotunda and striking roof terrace.
Photo via National Gallery Singapore.
Photo via National Gallery Singapore.
Brian Boucher
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The former Supreme Court terrace.
Photo courtesy National Gallery Singapore.
Two architectural sites that have seen dramatic developments in Singaporean history now house the city-state’s new National Gallery, which opened today.
National Gallery Singapore.
Photo courtesy National Gallery Singapore.
The museum’s collection includes more than 8,000 works of modern art of the region, featuring artists like Chong Soo Pieng, Ho Ho Ying, Liu Kang, and Chen Chong Swee.
Bridges connecting the former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings.
Photo via National Gallery Singapore.
The sites housing the museum saw the birth of the city-state. The 1939 Supreme Court Building, with its imposing Greek façade, and a grand, classical Municipal Building from the same year, were occupied by the Japanese during World War II; Singapore’s first head of state was inaugurated in the City Hall chamber in 1959.
Roof terrace.
Photo courtesy National Gallery Singapore.
The new museum has been ten years in the works. The renovation of its interiors was overseen by France’s Studio Milou Architecture.
Former Supreme Court foyer.
Photo courtesy National Gallery Singapore.
During construction, further history was discovered during a 2010 archaeological dig on the site, which turned up artifacts from as far back as the 14th century.
The rotunda of the former law library.
Photo courtesy National Gallery of Singapore.
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