Singapore Architecture: Raffles Institution at Bishan

Yesterday, I was invited to give a talk on "Effective Concert Programming" to the students of Raffles Institution / Raffles Junior College. Visiting my alma mater was a somewhat emotional matter for me, having spent 6 years of my formative life in what is Singapore's elite educatio0nal institutions. Even though the spanking new premises at Bishan were unfamiliar (this is my first time ever visiting the campus), the sense of pride of being a Rafflesian was a personal one. For starters, the buildings at Bishan are so impressive, in contrast to the old Grange Road and Paterson campuses. Here are some photos I took of the school. Students of today do have it good!

My talk was held at the Innovation Centre, where the school's Roll of Honour is also housed.

The old RI had one quadrangle. This one has many.

The Raffles Biodiversity Pond is a far cry from the old Natural Sciences Society's pond, which was literally a hole in the ground.

What makes a school great is not its buildings, founder nor brand name, but its students - past, present and future.

Singapore Architecture: From Connaught Drive to Old Parliament House

Here are some photos which I took whilst taking a short walk from Connaught Drive to Old Parliament House. Of course, I chose that "scenic route" which cuts across the Padang (parade ground) for some stunning ground views of Singapore's new and old buildings.

The baroque Tan Kim Seng fountain 

and decorated lamp-post.

The Cenotaph remembers Singapore's 

war dead in the First World War.

Two views of the Padang, 

one of Singapore's few free spaces.

Supreme Court and City Hall (left), 

slated to become the National Art Gallery, 

& Swisshotel tower of Raffles City (right), 

once the world's tallest hotel.

The view along St.Andrew's Road 

and Rodolfo Nolli's sculptures 

on Supreme Court.

The clock tower of Victoria Concert Hall

 & Theatre with Raffles Place skyscrapers 

in the background.

Old Parliament House (left, now The Arts House) 

and former Attorney General's Chambers (right)

King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of 

Thailand's gift to Singapore, a black elephant.

SINGAPORE ARCHITECTURE: FROM NIVEN ROAD TO NAFA

If for any reason you need to be near the Middle Road or Selegie area, do park your vehicle along quiet Niven Road (where it is free after 5 pm, and whole day on Sundays and public holidays). It's still within the CBD, but that does not matter on a Sunday. A walk in this part of town used to entail a small amount of risk, but not anymore. It's become quite chic to have a home here.

The now-gentrified Niven Road homes 

have a new air of respectability.

The art deco of Sophia Flats (1930), 

at the corner of Niven Road and Wilkie Terrace.

The grotty old Selegie Complex has 

been replaced by Wilkie Edge 

and the new Citadines Hotel.

More art deco, David Elias building 

and old Middle Road Hospital.

The new look of Middle Road.

Campus 1 of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

A new coat of paint on the 

backpacker lodges of Bencoolen Street.

The red-bricked gem of Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church (1930), whose congregation of Straits Chinese date back to the 1840s. The foundation stone was laid by Sir Song Ong Siang.

Singapore Architecture: From Mackenzie Road to McNally Street

How does one attend an event at the LaSalle College of the Arts without incurring exorbitant ERP and car parking charges? The solution: park at the fairly large carpark at the end of Mackenzie Road, just by the edge of the Istana. Its free after 5pm besides being outside of the CBD. Total costs: 0 dollars 0 cents! Then take a leisurely walk to Selegie Road where the imposing LaSalle College edifice is within a stone's throw. Meanwhile, enjoy some interesting buildings along the way.

New condominiums on a recently gentrified Mackenzie Road, with the old bus depot (now a used car mart) just across the street nearby.

The venerable Rex Theatre with its age-old banyan tree. I remember watching Earthquake (starring Charlton Heston) with Sensurround here with my kid brothers.

Ellison Building with its eateries. The Star of David on its facade suggests that its first owners (or builders) were Jewish.

The ugly new look of Sungai Road, part of Little India.

The LaSalle College of the Arts, one of Singapore's most distinctive looking buildings.

Airy spaces and skybridges link its buildings.

The address is 1 McNally Street, named after Brother Joseph McNally, one of Singapore's pioneer artists and educators, and LaSalle's most famous principal.

Singapore Architecture: From Armenian Street to Esplanade

Finding an inexpensive parking spot near Esplanade on a Saturday evening leading up to the National Day Parade festivities is an impossibility, so one is forced to travel further. In this case, the free parking lots at the site of the now-demolished National Library are out to good use. It also means a longer walk, but one where one may view some of Singapore's most distinctive architectural sites.

The Peranakan Museum (formerly Tao Nan School) and old shophouses on Armenian Street.

The art deco facade of Loke Yew Mansion.

Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the monolithic (and windowless) Singtel building on Victoria Street.

The derelict Stamford Building and Capitol Building on Stamford Road.

SPIRES: St. Andrew's Cathedral, with OUB and UOB Towers in the background; the tower of Swisshotel Stamford, once the world's tallest hotel.

The moon rises over Esplanade Theatre.

A chopper surveys Marina Bay and the Marina Bay Sands.