The Istana houses the offices of the President and Prime Minister of Singapore and is a venue for state events and important official functions.

The Istana is also the office of the prime minister of Singapore and contains Sri Temasek, the official residence of the prime minister since Singapore's independence in 1965, though none of the prime ministers have ever lived there.

The estate was once part of the extensive nutmeg plantation of Mount Sophia. In 1867, the British colonial government acquired the land and built a mansion to be the official home of the British governor. This continued until 1959 when Singapore was granted self-governance, and the governor was replaced by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, who was in turn replaced by the president of Singapore.

The Istana was gazetted as a national monument on 14 February 1992.

History

thumb|The front façade of the Istana, which once won accolades from its occupants, writers and visitors

Construction and colonial era

The Istana was built between 1867 and 1869 as the official residence of the Governor of the Straits Settlements. The site, formerly part of a nutmeg plantation owned by merchant Charles Robert Prinsep, was acquired by the colonial government after the collapse of the nutmeg trade in Singapore.

The building was designed by engineer John Frederick Adolphus McNair, who later became Colonial Engineer and Superintendent of Convicts. Indian convict labour was used extensively in the construction of the building and its grounds.

Originally known as Government House, the building was first occupied by Governor Sir Harry Ord in 1869.

During the Japanese occupation of Singapore from 1942 to 1945, the building was used by Japanese military authorities and was reportedly occupied by senior officers including Tomoyuki Yamashita.

When Singapore attained self-government in 1959, the building was handed over to the Government of Singapore and renamed the Istana. Yusof Ishak became the first local head of state, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, and took office there.

The building underwent extensive renovations between 1996 and 1998 to increase space and modernise its facilities.

Present

Since its first occupancy in 1869, the Istana has seen 21 terms of governorship (1869–1959), two terms of occupation by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara (1959–1965) and nine terms of presidential occupation (since 1965), not to mention the Japanese occupancy between 1942 and 1945.

The Istana is the official residence of the President of Singapore. However, no presidents nor cabinet ministers have lived there after the tenure of Devan Nair, the third President of Singapore. The villas, which are meant to be used for foreign heads of state, are used rarely.

Public open houses at the Istana began in 1969 and are typically held during major public holidays. The Istana building and its grounds are open to the public on five selected statutory holidays – Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa, Labour Day and National Day. Due to Hari Raya Puasa (Eid al Fitr) moving through the civil year as a Muslim lunar calendar date, the grounds of the Istana are sometimes open only once when two public holidays are near together. The grounds are also often used for state functions and ceremonial occasions such as swearings-in, investitures and the presentation of credentials by heads of foreign missions. The Prime Minister, Senior Minister and Minister Mentor have their offices in the Istana Annex.

On the first Sunday of the month, there is a Changing of the Guards parade, which is a popular public event.

Architecture

thumb|The Istana Villa.

thumb|The Japanese field-artillery gun on display on the Istana grounds.

The Istana is similar to many 18th-century neo-Palladian style buildings designed by British military engineers in India. It has a tropical layout like a Malay house, surrounded by statuesque columns, deep verandahs, louvred windows and panelled doors to promote cross-ventilation. The central three-storey 28-metre-high tower block dominates the building. The reasonably well-proportioned two-storey side wings feature Ionic, Doric and Corinthian orders with Ionic colonnades at the second storey and Doric colonnades at the first storey. The building sits in its elevated position overlooking its stately grounds, the Domain, reminiscent of the great gardens of England.

Conservation and restoration

The Istana underwent major restoration and upgrading works between 1996 and 1998 to modernise its infrastructure while preserving its historic architectural features.

Buildings and structures in the grounds

  • Sri Temasek, also built in 1869 for the Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements, has been the official residence of the Prime Minister of Singapore since independence.
  • The Annexe.
  • The Istana Villa (1938).
  • The Lodge (1974).
  • The Japanese field-artillery gun (a Type 92 10 cm cannon), presented to the leader of the returning victorious British forces to Singapore, Lord Louis Mountbatten, following the official Japanese surrender to the British in 1945 at the end of WWII.
  • Marsh Garden (1970).
  • Victoria Pond.
  • A nine-hole golf course.
  • A burial place of Bencoolen Muslims who came to Singapore between 1825 and 1828 is located on the southern slopes of the grounds close to the Orchard Road entrance.

Grounds and gardens

The Istana grounds contain a variety of landscaped gardens, ponds and mature trees accumulated over more than a century of development. The estate is known for its biodiversity and contains numerous heritage trees and rare plant species.

Security and accessibility

The Istana grounds are protected by the Singapore Armed Forces Military Police and officers from the Singapore Police Force. Access to the main building and grounds is restricted except during official events and designated public open houses.

The main entrance to the Istana is located at the junction of Orchard Road and Cavenagh Road. The nearest Mass Rapid Transit stations are Dhoby Ghaut, Somerset and Orchard.