The Arts House

History

The building occupies one of the most historic sites of Singapore. During the refurbishment of the building in 1989, archaeological evidence of older habitation in the area was uncovered with stoneware and earthenware dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries found. The building's river frontage was also where Sir Stamford Raffles was presumed to have landed on 29 January 1819. The area was occupied by Temenggong Abdul Rahman and his family and followers. Raffles would later persuade the Temenggong to move to Telok Blangah in 1823 as he planned for the land to be used for public and administrative purposes.

Design and construction

The building was designed as a Neo-Palladian mansion by architect George Drumgoole Coleman for a Scottish merchant, John Argyle Maxwell. It was intended to be his private residence, however, Maxwell never occupied the house due in part to a dispute over the ownership of the land on which the house was built. Raffles had originally allocated the land for government use in his Town Plan, however, Raffles' successor John Crawfurd issued a permit allowing Maxwell to build a house on the site.

The construction of the Old Parliament House began in 1826 and it was completed in 1827. Maxwell applied for a statutory grant to the site in 1827, and the Resident Councillor of Singapore, John Prince objected as the land was intended for government use. A compromise was then struck in June 1827, and Maxwell was granted a 999-year lease, but the house would be leased back to the government for a 500 rupees monthly rent. Later, Maxwell's residence went up for auction, which the colonial government won with a bid of $15,600 Spanish dollars, and the ownership of the courthouse was transferred to Governor George Bonham and the East India Company on 10 October 1842.

Extension and uses

The building was initially used as a court house, but other government offices including the Land Office also moved into the building. The first court session was held in the central room on the first floor at the front of the building.

In 1839, a new single-storey annex was built on an adjacent plot of land, forming what is now the Former Attorney-General's Chambers building later incorporated into the Parliament House. The Courts then moved into this new building (later on to Empress Place Building), and the vacated building was then used as government offices. The government offices were sited at the building until 1875 when the Supreme Court moved back in after the building was renovated.

The building went through several major extension works. The first was carried out between 1873 and 1875 by John Frederick Adolphus McNair. In 1901, the building was extended towards the Singapore River. As a result of the extension works, Coleman's original design was lost. In 1909, two courtrooms were reconstructed and a residence for the Attorney General was built.

The building was the Supreme Court House until the Supreme Court moved into a new Supreme Court opened 1939. The building was then used as offices for the Department of Social Welfare as well as a government storehouse.

As Parliament House

After the Second World War, the building was reconstructed and became known as The Assembly House when Sir John Nicoll, the Governor of Singapore, used it to house the new Legistive Assembly in 1953.

The arches at the porch of the building and Palladian windows of the front façade were part of the original design, although the building currently appeared more Neoclassical in style.

The building was gazetted a national monument on 14 February 1992.

The Arts House at The Old Parliament

Due to space constraints at the Parliament House, a new Parliament House that faces North Bridge Road was planned next to it in 1989. On 6 September 1999, the Parliament of Singapore moved into the new Parliament building, after which the vacated Parliament House became known as the Old Parliament House. It was then turned into an arts and entertainment venue called The Arts House at The Old Parliament.

The Arts House at The Old Parliament opened on 26 March 2004 as an arts and heritage centre. The parliamentary chamber was converted into a 150-seat concert room called as The Chamber where music performances as well as film screenings and art exhibitions could be held.

The Arts House was temporarily reinstated as a legislative venue after two decades when it hosted one of the two sessions for the opening of the 14th Parliament of Singapore on 24 August 2020. Alongside the Parliament House, it was used concurrently for the first time in Singapore's history. This arrangement was implemented as a precautionary measure to facilitate social distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Arts House is currently administered by Arts House Group, which also manages Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, Drama Centre, Goodman Arts Centre, Aliwal Arts Centre, and Stamford Arts Centre.

Notes

References

• Tan, Sumiko (2000) The Singapore Parliament: The House We Built Times Media, Singapore
• Norman Edwards, Peter Keys (1996), Singapore – A Guide to Buildings, Streets, Places, Times Books International,

References

1. (2002). "Singapore's 100 Historic Places". Archipelago Press.
2. Jane Beamish. (1 December 1985). "A History of Singapore Architecture: The Making of a City". Graham Brash (Pte.) Ltd..
3. "Courthouse Architecture". Supreme Court Singapore.
4. Tsang, Susan. (June 2008). "Discover Singapore: The City's History & Culture Redefined". Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd..
5. "Former Supreme Court". Roots.
6. Koh, Lay Tin. "The Arts House (Old Parliament House)". Singapore Infopedia.
7. "Former Parliament House and Annex Building (now The Arts House)". National Heritage Board.
8. (2 August 2025). "60 years of building Singapore". The Straits Times.
9. "The Old Parliament House Renamed "The Arts House At The Old Parliament"". Arts House Group.
10. "Old Parliament House". National Library Board, Singapore.
11. "Parliament opening to be held at Parliament House and Arts House". CNA.
12. Ong, Sor Fern. (27 Aug 2025). "Arts House Group: New name, new era for arts and writers festivals?". The Straits Times.