http://www.fosterandpartners.com/internetsite/images/project_media/1095/1095_01.jpg

The new Supreme Court will provide Singapore with a major new judicial centre to respond to its growing population and to replace the limited courtroom facilities of the existing Supreme Court.

Due for completion at the end of 2004 it will house 35 new courtrooms ranging in size from 120m2 to 250m2. Consisting of 21 civil courts, 11 criminal courts and 3 appeal courts with associated offices and related spaces such as an auditorium, library and restaurant. The building will also house facilities for the Singapore Academy of Law and commercial space for the legal profession. The building will be connected to the historical Supreme Court by an underground tunnel.

The vision for the project is to create a courthouse that will equip Singapore’s legal system for the demands of the twenty-first century. It will be flexible to allow future advances and expansion, house the latest electronic information systems allowing cases to be processed with greater efficiency, providing greater quality of service to the public. The building’s architectural vocabulary and the design of its public spaces must convey the image of dignity, history, judicial symbolism, transparency, accessibility and the enforcement of justice, qualities representative of Singapore’s legal system.

The surrounding urban fabric plays a major role in determining the form of the new Supreme Court building. The design takes its cue from the scale of the adjacent buildings in order to ensure a seamless urban integration and to promote interconnectivity with neighbouring sites. The existing buildings in the civic district, including the Supreme Court, the City Hall, the Parliament House and the Treasury, appear solid and fortified, reinforcing the image of dignity and sobriety. Like all successful civic architecture, these buildings suggest permanence.

Rather than creating a single monolithic form, the building has been broken down into separate blocks, in order to create public routes through the site. The blocks are separated by two light wells and a central atrium, which contains escalators providing access to the criminal and civil courts. The atrium brings filtered daylight into all the public spaces and voids cut into the ground floor allow daylight to reach into the subterranean accommodation.

The four central blocks house the criminal and civil courts. These spaces are highly flexible, allowing for changes in the size and configuration of courtrooms. Flanking these are four administrative blocks, which are stepped back at ground level to create a sheltered passage along the street front. The administrative blocks and the commercial accommodation are unified by a large roof supported on pillars that create a colonnade around three sides of the building.

The courts of appeal – the highest courts in the land – occupy the highest part of the building, and are symbolically raised above the legal and civil courts in a dramatic metal disc. The form of the accommodation refers to the symbolic harmony of the circle and responds to the dome of the existing Supreme Court building, offering a contemporary reinterpretation of this historical architectural device. The two-storey disc also contains a public viewing platform, with dramatic views across the city. The surface of the roof below the disc will be coated with reflective material in order to bounce daylight onto the underside of the disc and back down into the central atrium.

The ground floor contains a public restaurant and there is a library, café and fitness centre on the lower ground floor. The two basement levels contain car parking and plant, holding cells and an auditorium. The latter is a flexible space allowing for raked seating or a flat arrangement. It will be used for the annual procession for the beginning of the legal year and may be used for public events.

The building’s structure consists of pre-cast concrete elements with a steel structure for the appeal courts. The building employs a palette of high-quality materials including glazed stone – a laminate of glass and stone – which appears solid but allows filtered daylight to pass through. At night this will admit a gentle glow from the interior lighting. The east and west facades require shading elements to protect the office spaces from direct sunlight. These are provided by cantilevered balconies, which act as a gangway for façade maintenance. A solid vertical overhang descends from the edge of the balconies to provide passive shading.

The building is overlooked by tall buildings and so its roof – or fifth elevation – is visually very important. The roofs of the office blocks will be planted with 3-meter-high trees with flat outstretched boughs to create a continuous blanket of greenery. This will provide a public promenade, shaded from the sun.

Appointment Date: 2000

Construction Date: 2001

Completion Date: 2004

Statistics: Area: 70,000 m2

Consultants:
PWD Consultants PTE Ltd
TID Associates PTE Ltd
Tierra Design
Lighting Planners Associates Inc.
CCW Associates PTE Ltd
Colt International Ltd
Arup Facade Engineering

Anyone can post construction pics and updates on the progress?

http://www.bachy-soletanche.com.sg/bss-thumbs/054-supreme/images/bss-supreme-general-small.jpg

The diaphragm wall for the New Supreme Court was constructed between June 2000 and September 2000. In the centre of Singapore the diaphragm wall was an advanced works contract awarded directly to Bachy Soletanche by the Supreme Court of the Government of Singapore. The Client's Engineer PWD design for the basement enclosed the existing basement remaining from the demolition of Columbo Court, which previously occupied part of the site.

The site consisted of 10,000m2 of 1000mm thick diaphragm wall up to 35m deep. Two hydraulic grabs, KS 3000, were used to complete the excavation works well within programme. The ground conditions varied accross the site but were essentially fill and sand for the initial 5m overlaying 5m to 17m of soft marine clay and then dense old alluvium.

http://www.bachy-soletanche.com.sg/bss-thumbs/054-supreme/images/bss-supreme-2ks-small.jpg

The 2 KS3000's are seen here working along Columbo Court. The near machine is the low headroom model with an additional jib section allowing it to operate in normal mode. The 2nd KS in the background is the classic machine.

Note that both machines are working on the temporary decking.

The particular problem on this site was the old basement structure left over after the demolition of Columbo Court. The slab at the ground floor level would not support the excavation and services cranes along with all the ancillary equipment. A temporary decking was required for the duration of the works. This was designed and constructed by Fuchi Engineering as a sub-contractor to BSS.

wow wens it getting bulit?

i think it will look graet wen its builit:)

I just can't wait!

Is Norman Foster the same as Foster & Partners?

Originally posted by redstone

Is Norman Foster the same as Foster & Partners?

I believe the Foster in Foster & Partners refers to Norman Foster.
I took the pics and info from the website of Foster & Partners btw.

http://www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/landow/post/singapore/images/expomrt.jpg
http://www.edmbooks.com/bookstore/images/Expo-2000a-L.jpg
http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/singapore/images/singapore4.jpg
The Expo MRT Station is also designed by Foster!:D

To date, I have never seen the Expo MRT station with my own eyes yet but heard lots about it.

I think the dome design gives a futuristic feel and maybe theyre inspired by the turn of the millenium hence the need to project that image.

Like all new things, they'll grow on me. I am sure the new Supreme Court is gonna light up spectacularly at night:guns1:

Originally posted by redstone

http://www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/landow/post/singapore/images/expomrt.jpg
http://www.edmbooks.com/bookstore/images/Expo-2000a-L.jpg
http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/singapore/images/singapore4.jpg
The Expo MRT Station is also designed by Foster!:D

SIngapore is just obsessed with those UFO look alike discs.

Maybe it's a conspiracy by the government to communicate with the aliens or something. :D

Either Foster ran out of ideas, or the govt likes those stuff so much, they paid forsters to do it again.

Wat if fosters gets to design a HDB precinct. Help us.

Anyway, here's more stuff from govt propaganda site:

New Supreme Court Building

http://www.supcourt.gov.sg/english/images/newbuilding.gif

Our vision for the new Supreme Court building is to create a courthouse that will equip Singapore's legal system for the demands of the 21st century and enable the Supreme Court to take on the increasing challenges and to further enhance our quality of service to the public.

Architectural design

To achieve our vision, Lord Norman Foster, world-renowned architect, and his team of architects from Foster and Partners, have been appointed to design the new building. A distinguished and eminent Design Advisory Panel gives guidance and advice at each stage of the project. The building's architectural vocabulary and the design of its public spaces will convey an image of dignity, history, judicial symbolism, transparency, accessibility and the dispensation of justice - qualities representative of Singapore's legal system.

The new Supreme Court building is due for completion at the end of 2004. It will house courtrooms ranging in size from 120 m2 to 250 m2, together with associated offices and related spaces, such as an auditorium, a library, as well as commercial space. The design of the building will be flexible enough to allow for future advances and expansion of courtrooms, administrative or commercial usage. The building will be connected to the historical Supreme Court by an underground tunnel.

The surrounding urban fabric plays a major role in determining the form of the new Supreme Court building. The design takes its cue from the scale of the adjacent buildings in order to ensure a seamless urban integration and to promote interconnectivity with neighbouring sites such as the Parliament House, the City Hall, The Treasury and The Adelphi.

Instead of creating a single monolithic form, the new Supreme Court building has been broken down into separate blocks, in order to create public routes through the site. The blocks are separated by two light wells, and a central atrium, which contains escalators providing access to the criminal and civil courts. The atrium brings filtered daylight into all the public spaces together with voids cut into the ground floor to allow daylight to reach into the subterranean accommodation.

The four central blocks house the criminal and civil courts. Flanking these are four administrative blocks, which are stepped back at ground level to create a sheltered passage along the street front. The administrative blocks and the commercial accommodation are unified by a large roof supported on pillars that create a colonnade around three sides of the building.

The Court of Appeal will occupy the highest part of the building, and is symbolically raised above the legal and civil courts in a dramatic metal disc that responds to the dome of the existing Supreme Court building. The two-storey disc contains a public viewing platform, with dramatic views across the city and Marina Bay.

The ground floor contains a restaurant, and a library, a café and a fitness centre on the lower ground floor. The two basement levels contain car parking and plant equipment, holding cells for accused persons and an auditorium.

As the building is overlooked by tall buildings, its roof - or fifth elevation - is visually very important. The roofs of the office blocks will be planted with 3-metre-high trees with flat outstretched boughs to create a continuous blanket of greenery.

http://www.supcourt.gov.sg/english/organisation/images/newbuilding1.GIF

Information Technology within building

Within the building, state-of-the-art technology will feature strongly. There will be extensive wireless facilities throughout the courthouse with electronic presentation facilities in the courtrooms and conference rooms. A multi-media recording system will allow for the recording of court proceedings by way of a digital video recording system to produce a 3-tier audio, visual and textual record of proceedings together with infrastructure and technologies to support real time transcription of notes of evidence of court proceedings. Information kiosks will be fully interactive, with video walls and television monitors at public areas to provide easy access to information, high-speed network for broadband/video-streaming applications and extension of video-conferencing facilities to the desktop. There will be mobile commerce infrastructure to support mobile information services and mobile transactions, together with new business applications like data warehouse of case repositories with data mining capabilities and other intelligent systems.

Finally, the building will have a sophisticated environmental management system as well as state-of-the-art and user-friendly security features.

Foster seems to be asserting his position in Asia, especially in Hong Kong with his Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank headquarter, Chap Lap Kok airport and the West Kowloon Reclaimation scheme.

It is interesting to note that tha ceiling detail of the Expo station is exactly the same as the ceiling of Chap Lap Kok.

Originally posted by Kit

Foster seems to be asserting his position in Asia, especially in Hong Kong with his Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank headquarter, Chap Lap Kok airport and the West Kowloon Reclaimation scheme.

It is interesting to note that tha ceiling detail of the Expo station is exactly the same as the ceiling of Chap Lap Kok. And I have to point out they designed the new terminal for the airport in Beijing! Thankfully not another big disk! :D

Based on huaiwei's post I must say that the good thing about this design is the extensive potential for greenery and open public spaces at the base and I like that idea of a public viewing platform:cool:

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Based on huaiwei's post I must say that the good thing about this design is the extensive potential for greenery and open public spaces at the baseOpen public space? If you based that on this picture:

http://www.supcourt.gov.sg/english/organisation/images/newbuilding1.GIF

Then I have to point out the green space in the foreground belongs to the neighbouring Parliamant Building! :D Ok I do like the "rooftop greeney" thou.....I can still give this building the benefit of the doubt till it gets built. ;)

I don't like the design that much, these are the type of Foster designs I don't like.

The top circular portion looks like a spaceship just landed!

LORD Norman Foster???

Sir Norman Foster.

foster is getting lazy ...
i think he is mostly involved with prelim design in asia ...
and let the rest of the team do the rest ...
while he spends most of his time in london ...

Originally posted by InitialD18

foster is getting lazy ...
i think he is mostly involved with prelim design in asia ...
and let the rest of the team do the rest ...
while he spends most of his time in london ... And he happily gets all the credit, but ironically, it is not as thou people here particularly love that docked flying saucer! :D

Love the design!

Read from somewhere that the project costs over S$700m (can someone verify?).

wow, that's even more costly than The Esplanade project, and the contruction site's area is barely a mere fraction that of the Esplanade's. what's the money going into? Platinum hammers for the judges? possibly the most costly courthouse in the world...

Ops...Kit's gonna scream at that figure!! :D

Must have been foster's trying to overcharge for giving us a disk. Maybe people were screaming at that time because of this....

26 Dec 2003

Structure has reached the setback level.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103sc3.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103sc2.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103sc.jpg

Woah!! I have never seen the construction site reaching this level before! ;)

Aiyoh...you seldom pass this area ah:D

My next batch of constr pics I plan to take will be my next break in end March. I think it would have been practically finished by then. But the progress was quite quick since September. I bet it will light up nice at night:cool:

Yeah lah I dont go there often now at all......especially now. Maybe I shd get my butt moving soon! :D

Wow!! That's fast! Too bad High Street Centre is not as quick, nothing significant has happened yet.

The last time I went to Supreme Court, it was only about 3 storey's high.

I don't have much to say about the building itself. But it certainly makes me wonder what Singapore will look like in the future, like 10 years from now....

it looks robocop-ish.

I think 10 years from now there wont be any dramatic changes, but the contrast between ancient and futuristic will be even more delightful. Just look at the new glass behemoths coming up next to Shenton Way. Then there will be that new giant ferris wheel which will add an interesting dimension to the Marina Bay area.
Also I think there is a proposal to build a pedestrian bridge just besides the Benjamin Shears bridge....and with the current restoran works on numerous landmarks around the island..I'm lovin it:cheers:

I think singapore will change quite a bit, though in what way i'm not too sure. It'll be nice to wait and see, though...

Singapore island itself is taking on a rather robotic and in-organic shape as we browse this forum, via reclamation especially on the western and eastern ends:cool: MRT should update their mapboards:dizzy:

Yea. My Japanese penpal saw a map showing the whole of Singapore island and asked by the coastline was so straight and even.... lol

Originally posted by EyeToEye

Yea. My Japanese penpal saw a map showing the whole of Singapore island and asked by the coastline was so straight and even.... lol The coastlines around most major Japanese cities isnt much better in this department! :D

I just love the shape of Singapore, it looks so futuristic, in fact, I used to draw Future Singapore with straight lines.:D

Now I'm hoping for a bridge linking P. Tekong and Ubin to mainnland Singapore.:)

Originally posted by Cliff

I just love the shape of Singapore, it looks so futuristic, in fact, I used to draw Future Singapore with straight lines.:D

Now I'm hoping for a bridge linking P. Tekong and Ubin to mainnland Singapore.:) There wont be a bridge...there will be tunnels for sure! :D

Eh? Why? As if spoiling Sentosa is not enough.:mad:

Originally posted by huaiwei

There wont be a bridge...there will be tunnels for sure! :D

I heard about the bridge proposals, but got tunnel meh?

anyway I heard the bridge proposal is a contentious issue with Malaysia.

Originally posted by RafflesCity

I heard about the bridge proposals, but got tunnel meh?

anyway I heard the bridge proposal is a contentious issue with Malaysia. Hmm.....saw the thing in the concept plans thing....they have dotted lines over the part with water, so I presume that means its underwater. :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Hmm.....saw the thing in the concept plans thing....they have dotted lines over the part with water, so I presume that means its underwater. :D

That sounds interesting. Is it the latest revision? Maybe we can start a thread for such topics on future land use/plans or add on to the original if there is:cool:

Heres a massing model. It looks huge compared to the old Supreme Court in front of it! :eek:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103scmodel.jpg

Construction progress (1/1/04)
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103dscn1721.jpg

Take a moment and imagine a huge disk sitting on top of that construction site....hmmmm.........:D

Haven't been there for a while since I left my workplace near Funan Centre, which is practically beside the new Supreme Court and it is now 3 stories high.;)

I am not sure if this is true but the Government has a hard time to either buy back The Adelphi or to get the owner of Adelphi to re-develop the building. It could be because with the new Supreme Court, Adelphi will not be architectually 'in-sync' with the buildings within arguably the "primest" land parcel in Singapore.

Originally posted by paw
I am not sure if this is true but the Government has a hard time to either buy back The Adelphi or to get the owner of Adelphi to re-develop the building. It could be because with the new Supreme Court, Adelphi will not be architectually 'in-sync' with the buildings within arguably the "primest" land parcel in Singapore.

Wooooo... does this means they'll demolish the pair of durians and build something worth mentioning? Excellent...

What building sat behind the Supreme Court before the new building is being built?

Colombo Court

Originally posted by paw

I am not sure if this is true but the Government has a hard time to either buy back The Adelphi or to get the owner of Adelphi to re-develop the building. It could be because with the new Supreme Court, Adelphi will not be architectually 'in-sync' with the buildings within arguably the "primest" land parcel in Singapore.

At least that old and drab part of town is getting a spruce! The contrast of styles will be delightful..even if you dont agree with them;)

I do wonder what will happen to the Adelphi, but looks like that disc will tower over it.

Maybe the should demolish the Adelphi and reconstruct the old beauty that once stood on its site. :D

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005503-8073-3222-4709/img0068.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005502-8073-3222-4708/img0093.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007377-8105-3181-0353/img0093.jpg
This beauty?The Adelphi Hotel?

Yes!! Rebuild it! :D

Ok to be realistic, at least do something that is more deserving of such a site. I dont think much effort needs to be done to do one better then the existing one. ;)

The Adelphi Hotel was one of the few hotels in Singapore ,along with the Raffles Hotel and the Hotel l'Europe.

Originally posted by redstone

The Adelphi Hotel was one of the few hotels in Singapore ,along with the Raffles Hotel and the Hotel l'Europe.

Wow! That existed in Singapore? :eek:
Time to make a thread for lost treasures...

Its quite amazing to see Adelphi being so dead when its surrounding is bustling. Perhaps all they have to do is to look into what's going on in the building. Maybe some minor renovation works. Not necessary have to do any major changes. One obvious difference that the surrounding buildings have and the Adelphi doesn't is a food court.

Before anyone decides to shoot me again for what I said, this is just what I think.

Yes ,please ,asap!:D

Look at Raffles Place ,there used to be Classical buildings everywhere!

Now ,we are only left with The Ogilvy Centre ,The Fullerton and 19 Cecil Street!:(

Eh ,what say I start ,then each of you can contribute info if you guys want to.

Make it 'sticky' ,so that it'll be always up there?If you do ,do the same for the Old Beauties thread.Thanks!:D

They'll make a good pair!

Originally posted by Kit

Its quite amazing to see Adelphi being so dead when its surrounding is bustling. Perhaps all they have to do is to look into what's going on in the building. Maybe some minor renovation works. Not necessary have to do any major changes. One obvious difference that the surrounding buildings have and the Adelphi doesn't is a food court.

Before anyone decides to shoot me again for what I said, this is just what I think. Haha...thats the kind of responses we appreciate much more, ie, constructive criticisms or more insightful discussions that arent just a bout of complains that seems to be enforcing yet another stereotype of us Singaporeans! :D

I dont think anyone is armed here, by the way. ;)

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Wow! That existed in Singapore? :eek:
Time to make a thread for lost treasures... Erm..gimme a break while I go through the end of this week please? I have tonnes of things to finish before school reopens, and I am quite sure I will be freaking free when that happens, upon which those promised threads shd naturally revive or appear. ;)

I already done it.Helped you.

Feel free to contribute anytime!:D

I only speak my mind. Being appreciated or not doesn't matter.

Adelphi is undergoing interior renovations right?

The new Supreme Court looks enourmous!!

Then what will happen to the old one?

Originally posted by Cliff

The new Supreme Court looks enourmous!!

Then what will happen to the old one? They will take that hammer synominus with the courts, and smash the dome on the old supreme court such that it flattens and resembles the new one....

I need sleep...:D

Originally posted by huaiwei

They will take that hammer synominus with the courts, and smash the dome on the old supreme court such that it flattens and resembles the new one....

I need sleep...:D

Wow. Very active imagination you have.... :colgate:

Originally posted by EyeToEye

Wow. Very active imagination you have.... :colgate: It also tells you how much I appreciate that "thing." ;)

Hmm..maybe that "thing" was actually an escape pod that allows our beloved PMs to escape into when danger lurks. :D

Originally posted by EyeToEye

Wow. Very active imagination you have.... :colgate:

You found your match.:D

But I prefer your Cardboard story.:colgate:

Hahaa...well anyways....any updates on this project?

Originally posted by huaiwei

Hahaa...well anyways....any updates on this project?

aiyah..go and snap some pics if you're passing there :colgate:

Originally posted by RafflesCity

aiyah..go and snap some pics if you're passing there :colgate: Fine fine....hopefully it doesnt rain when I try to make a trip down to URA this wed....;)

Cool!

snap snap snap, quality snaps, of course;)

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Cool!

snap snap snap, quality snaps, of course;) Wahaha!!!

How nice can construction photos be?? ;)

Hehe..I have reached a stage where I get excited about anything new on the cosntcruction site LOL!

Well One Raffles Quay would be the most exciting construction to watch of course;)

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Hehe..I have reached a stage where I get excited about anything new on the cosntcruction site LOL!

Well One Raffles Quay would be the most exciting construction to watch of course;) Yeap! I wil try to walk down the road and capture both developments...and cathay too if possible! :D

The old cathay cinema is in a really sad state now. It looks so damaged and forlorn.... sad....

Er......how better can a building look when its bein rebuilt? ;)

I just went up to the 27th floor of Peninsula Plaza, and I can see that the construction of the saucer of the new Supreme Court has started.

Originally posted by Cliff

I just went up to the 27th floor of Peninsula Plaza, and I can see that the construction of the saucer of the new Supreme Court has started. What brings you up that tower anyway? ;)

wow thats really fast! :dooby:

Originally posted by huaiwei

What brings you up that tower anyway? ;)

Oh there was an open house of the business club on top.:)

Is it possible to go up there and can you get a view out?

You must be a member of the club, which is actually just a large room on top where you can hold functions and meet with yur friends.:D

Peninsula Plaza is one of those kind of buildings with internal lift lobbies.

Anyway, it is very difficult to get a good wide angled view because of the vertical columns outside, like WTC. And the worse thing is they completely block any view that is about 30 degrees from the perpendicular as they extend 1ft outwards.

Hm...dosent sound like a scraperfanatic friendly building to go up to at all?? :bash: :D

Originally posted by Cliff

Peninsula Plaza is one of those kind of buildings with internal lift lobbies.

Anyway, it is very difficult to get a good wide angled view because of the vertical columns outside, like WTC. And the worse thing is they completely block any view that is about 30 degrees from the perpendicular as they extend 1ft outwards.

What do you mean by internal lift lobby exactly?

Sounds like it isnt really designed for panoramic views, but the architecture of Peninsula Plaza is quite amazing and unique in Sg.

March 28 2004

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sc283.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sc283a.jpg

In this picture you can clearly make out the 'flying saucer' forming.
http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sc283b.jpg

What do you mean by internal lift lobby exactly?

Sounds like it isnt really designed for panoramic views, but the architecture of Peninsula Plaza is quite amazing and unique in Sg.

The lifts are placed right in the middle or close to middle of the building. The lift cores thus become an integral part of the building's main structure. Common construction method skyscrapers.

On the contrary I find the saucer look quite appealing. I like the silver high tech look.

Yea. My Japanese penpal saw a map showing the whole of Singapore island and asked by the coastline was so straight and even.... lol

LOL! Good one :D

Wow...we have a new forumer with us? Welcome, frothymilkshake!

You happen to be ethnically Japanese or something? :D

Hello FrothyMilkShake!!! I love frotht milk shakes, yeah! Really nice!

I find the saucer unique, but maybe a little too standout-ish....? But i guess it's okay lah. Anything also can. Look nice can liao... :tongue2:

The lifts are placed right in the middle or close to middle of the building. The lift cores thus become an integral part of the building's main structure. Common construction method skyscrapers.

oh ok thanks although Cliff confused me when he said that this method leads to less outside views which I think is not necessarily true. In fact most glass scrapers are like that.

@frothymilkshake, welcome to the forum! :cheers:

I was looking at that last picture...somehow, I shudder to think what happens when the disk is completed, and how it is going to look beside the dome?

maybe like a spinning disc about to decapitate the old supreme court. :p

Well....it reminds me again of the conequences of smashing that hammer in the court room on a dome...you get a flat disk...

:bash: :D

Actually I also felt that the disc and dome look weird next to each other. It kinda detracts from the grandeur of the old Supreme Court. It may be dismaying but it also portrays the image of past and future :cool:

in that last pic, i think the old supreme court, new supreme court and renovated high street centre when completed would make a really surreal picture...

Actually even with the old and new supreme court, if they didnt upgrade High Street Ctr it would still look stupid. So everything hinges on that ugly beast.

:rofl:

Hahahaa.....at least I see some changes happening to the few remnents of dirt around us.....whos next? International Plaza? :D

i'd like furama hotel to have a reclad... not to be glassy blue or something.. its brown is a nice difference... maybe clean up or something

Shaw Towers at Beach Road? although I kinda like it the way it is, so reminiscent of its era.

Basically dirty buildings need a cleanup.

i think some of those in Golden Mile needs a serious upgrade.....(including shaw towers)

that orange red building... gross... and that um cascading apartment thing...

that orange red building... gross... and that um cascading apartment thing...
Wahahah!! You actually know what I am talking about! :D

The Plaza needs updating to. The whole row looks like they are stuck in the 1980s. Only the concourse looks a little better, but it is still predominantly whitish?

heh i not stupid ok... i think the shaw towers thing look ok... old, but different arch style... i dont mind... and the blue colour thing... also i dont mind.. maybe just reclad.. but it's those two above mentioned buildigns i really hate

Walao....I got say u stupid meh?? :D I just tot that most people dont even realise how ugly some of the buildings can be!! :D

but it's those two above mentioned buildigns i really hate

geez..those 2 were in the spotlight recently :eek:

Took it on 28/04/2004

Looks good!
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/857a.jpg

Btw, I saw the sign thingy, and it did not say the Foster was the architect, but some other strange company...

when will it be compelted?

Looks like a lego creation in the latest photo! :D

Thanks for the update Cliff, seems they are working on the top now. Here are 2 other pics I took.

Early April 2004
http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sup.jpg

24 April 2004
http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sup2.jpg

So what would happen to the old Court when this is completed?

So what would happen to the old Court when this is completed?
Is there an old court?

the old supreme court..

The current one ,lah.

No idea man......turn it into a mall? :D

Touch wood!!!

Perhaps it would still hold government offices?

Now the City Hall has lost the function of 'traditional' City Halls ,where govt offices are.Now ,I think it has several courts in it?

No idea man......turn it into a mall? :D
LOL!!!!!

Hmm... we already have so may art centres, hotels and museums converted from old buildings...

How about turn it into a casino!!!!!:D :rofl:

oh yeah! that's the best idea! a hotel would still be nic ethough.. or a library!

Library cannot...too near to Esplanade branch, unless they want a "civil service-themed" library? :D

My fav is the casino idea. :)

Touch wood!!!

Perhaps it would still hold government offices?

Now the City Hall has lost the function of 'traditional' City Halls ,where govt offices are.Now ,I think it has several courts in it?
Since when does city hall have courts?

Anyway isnt a city hall kind of an outdated concept in today's world?

New supreme court(taken on 6/6/04,evening):

http://img73.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/City%20Landscapes/DSCN10091.jpg

is it to be completed end of this year?

hehe..the top reminds me of Lau Pa Sat, interesting to see how they gonna install the flying saucer.

@heirloom, yes should be end of this year but I think they will open next year.

Actually the four cranes on all four corners are quite nice also hor? Maybe they should stay there permenantly? :D

I notice the "saucer" is a octagon(8 sides).....dun know if that has any feng shui element in it or not?? :D

i think just structural... saucer is round i think...

New supreme house( taken on 25/6/04, outside parliament house)

http://img73.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/City%20Landscapes/DSCN14261.jpg

hmm..I see a ring on top of the octagon..never seen that before..think thats the most exciting part of this project :cheers:

it really looks like a mini container port

A closer look at the ring on top of the octagon(30/6/04):

http://img73.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/City%20Landscapes/DSCN15543.jpg

It looks better from the top.

Wait till you see the structure from the Esplanade Bridge/Padang.....

17 July 2004

http://img3.exs.cx/img3/291/sc17.jpg

http://img9.exs.cx/img9/7020/sc17b.jpg

^
Can roughly visualise the disc from this.......:yes:

So contrasting. :cool:

it's so robocop...

Another look at it from 17th July.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103sc17a.jpg

17 July 2004

http://img9.exs.cx/img9/7020/sc17b.jpg
I didnt know it is as revolting as this.....:puke:

oh dear..yes it is revolting to me cos it contrasts sharply with the majestic and historical Supreme Court. I just hope that it will look better when completed.

Location doesnt seem right IMO.

Precisely. What a complete disaster I have to say...the least. The only way they can save this is if they do someting to the Adelphi such that this one building dosent stand out too much like a big flattened sore thumb.

hrm... i can't say i hate it as much as you all do... but i do think it looks a little comical... hope it turns out nice

Well by itself it looks ok, but see how it looks when in direct contrast with the older buildings? It looks worse then normal.

hrm... i dont know but i think the juxtaposition is rather interesting... comical only because it reminds me of star wars or something haha

23 July 2004

I wonder if the dome is gonna be metallic looking

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/103sc23.jpg

Wah they finish the skeleton in a matter of days...

And if the renderings are accurate, it does look like its going to be metallic. Ouch.

The base looks too normal!

metallic might not be so bad..cos it may look invisible then....

Muahaha...anyway the base is supposedly overflowing with greenery or something?

Base can be improved a lot.Looks so plain and non-Foster. :(

but if you see the renderings...looks like got hanging gardens?

And who says foster is that big deal? Only know how to give us two disks....tsk tsk...

Foster is great and I liked his work a lot. HSBC was special and so were some of his earlier stuff. However, his works here are pretty disappointing. Look up the Expo station and you'll see Chep Lap Kok. Exact same triangular ceiling panels. There is nothing distintive in his projects that showed he knew Singapore(maybe he don't).

the base looks like a stack of containers...

but if you see the renderings...looks like got hanging gardens?

And who says foster is that big deal? Only know how to give us two disks....tsk tsk...

Perhaps foster sees the linkage between Singapore & semiconductor...... :lol:

Hahaha...anyway I didnt even realise the underside of Expo station looks like that in HKIA. Maybe coz I didnt bother staring at HKIA all these while? :D

Hahaha...anyway I didnt even realise the underside of Expo station looks like that in HKIA. Maybe coz I didnt bother staring at HKIA all these while? :D

Me either.....tsk tsk.....go to show how much effort he put in the Singapore project's design........

Me either.....tsk tsk.....go to show how much effort he put in the Singapore project's design........
Come to think of it...I might have snapped a photo of the expo underside....I might try comparing later. :D

Why did he give us two UFOs? :D

maybe someone up there equated futuristic with flying saucer and asked for it...

Why did he give us two UFOs? :D

Because he heard news about ppl wanting to build spaceports here?? :lol:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

MUAHAHAA!!! :rofl:

I dunno lah..the more I think of this disk beside the dome the more sickened I get. I just wished it will never be completed...then again, I have a small glimmer of hope that it might turn out all right afterall?

My fingers are crossed...

Imagine shooting it from Padang with the huge UFO looming behind the dome.

Ahhh....UFO attack!!!!!! :rofl:

i dont think it looks bad!! the worst i could say about it is 'inappropriate', but i dont think it is very.

http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/supreme%20court/IMGP5571.jpg


closer
http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/supreme%20court/IMGP5572.jpg


cover ugly lower part with trees - so pretty!
http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/supreme%20court/IMGP5555.jpg


http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/supreme%20court/IMGP5668.jpg

the second pic reminds me of naboo

Naboo again ^^
http://membres.lycos.fr/pengui/tour/040814_constructions.jpg

Nice contrast! :cool:

Modern with Neo-Classical with Postmodern!

from foster's website

The new Supreme Court will provide Singapore with a major new judicial centre to respond to its growing population and to replace the limited courtroom facilities of the existing Supreme Court.

Due for completion at the end of 2004 it will house 35 new courtrooms ranging in size from 120m2 to 250m2. Consisting of 21 civil courts, 11 criminal courts and 3 appeal courts with associated offices and related spaces such as an auditorium, library and restaurant. The building will also house facilities for the Singapore Academy of Law and commercial space for the legal profession. The building will be connected to the historical Supreme Court by an underground tunnel.

The vision for the project is to create a courthouse that will equip Singaporeís legal system for the demands of the twenty-first century. It will be flexible to allow future advances and expansion, house the latest electronic information systems allowing cases to be processed with greater efficiency, providing greater quality of service to the public. The buildingís architectural vocabulary and the design of its public spaces must convey the image of dignity, history, judicial symbolism, transparency, accessibility and the enforcement of justice, qualities representative of Singaporeís legal system.

The surrounding urban fabric plays a major role in determining the form of the new Supreme Court building. The design takes its cue from the scale of the adjacent buildings in order to ensure a seamless urban integration and to promote interconnectivity with neighbouring sites. The existing buildings in the civic district, including the Supreme Court, the City Hall, the Parliament House and the Treasury, appear solid and fortified, reinforcing the image of dignity and sobriety. Like all successful civic architecture, these buildings suggest permanence.

Rather than creating a single monolithic form, the building has been broken down into separate blocks, in order to create public routes through the site. The blocks are separated by two light wells and a central atrium, which contains escalators providing access to the criminal and civil courts. The atrium brings filtered daylight into all the public spaces and voids cut into the ground floor allow daylight to reach into the subterranean accommodation.

The four central blocks house the criminal and civil courts. These spaces are highly flexible, allowing for changes in the size and configuration of courtrooms. Flanking these are four administrative blocks, which are stepped back at ground level to create a sheltered passage along the street front. The administrative blocks and the commercial accommodation are unified by a large roof supported on pillars that create a colonnade around three sides of the building.

The courts of appeal ñ the highest courts in the land ñ occupy the highest part of the building, and are symbolically raised above the legal and civil courts in a dramatic metal disc. The form of the accommodation refers to the symbolic harmony of the circle and responds to the dome of the existing Supreme Court building, offering a contemporary reinterpretation of this historical architectural device. The two-storey disc also contains a public viewing platform, with dramatic views across the city. The surface of the roof below the disc will be coated with reflective material in order to bounce daylight onto the underside of the disc and back down into the central atrium.

The ground floor contains a public restaurant and there is a library, cafÈ and fitness centre on the lower ground floor. The two basement levels contain car parking and plant, holding cells and an auditorium. The latter is a flexible space allowing for raked seating or a flat arrangement. It will be used for the annual procession for the beginning of the legal year and may be used for public events.

The buildingís structure consists of pre-cast concrete elements with a steel structure for the appeal courts. The building employs a palette of high-quality materials including glazed stone ñ a laminate of glass and stone ñ which appears solid but allows filtered daylight to pass through. At night this will admit a gentle glow from the interior lighting. The east and west facades require shading elements to protect the office spaces from direct sunlight. These are provided by cantilevered balconies, which act as a gangway for faÁade maintenance. A solid vertical overhang descends from the edge of the balconies to provide passive shading.

The building is overlooked by tall buildings and so its roof ñ or fifth elevation ñ is visually very important. The roofs of the office blocks will be planted with 3-meter-high trees with flat outstretched boughs to create a continuous blanket of greenery. This will provide a public promenade, shaded from the sun.

I hope we'll never get a third UFO!

I hope we'll never get a third UFO!

Hard to say if we really build the spaceport.....:D

21 August 2004

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/103sc218.jpg

Like a giant inverted sieve. :cool:

Whats the circular structure for?, or just a centerpiece of the building?

it holds the highest courts of singapore

is that true? I wonder if it would have panoramic views during court proceedings :D

well read the description!!!

The courts of appeal ñ the highest courts in the land ñ occupy the highest part of the building, and are symbolically raised above the legal and civil courts in a dramatic metal disc. The form of the accommodation refers to the symbolic harmony of the circle and responds to the dome of the existing Supreme Court building, offering a contemporary reinterpretation of this historical architectural device. The two-storey disc also contains a public viewing platform, with dramatic views across the city. The surface of the roof below the disc will be coated with reflective material in order to bounce daylight onto the underside of the disc and back down into the central atrium.

oops sorry! ^^

The two-storey disc also contains a public viewing platform, with dramatic views across the city.

:carrot:

actually its so low.. i wonder how dramatic the views will be

Perhaps it will have a very scenic view of the river...

The surface of the roof below the disc will be coated with reflective material in order to bounce daylight onto the underside of the disc and back down into the central atrium.
Oh....for a moment I tot the light shall be reflected off the bottom of the disc and strike the ground around it, frying any and every one who dares come within range.....

:runaway:

well that's not too suitable for a supreme court :S

I hate the disk.....and my comments reflect my stance! :D

Maybe the only way for the disk to look good is to demolish Supreme Court.

no! i think the juxtaposition is wonderful!

4 Sep 2004

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/103sc049.jpg

I still hate the base.Looks so common.

I dont know if u guys have seen these b4, but here u go...

http://www.smoke3dstudio.com/thai3dviz/interview/images/lns09.jpg

http://www.smoke3dstudio.com/thai3dviz/interview/images/lns10.jpg

http://www.smoke3dstudio.com/thai3dviz/interview/images/lns11.jpg

http://www.smoke3dstudio.com/thai3dviz/interview/images/lns17.jpg

*Bonus,

Proposed Condominium for SG :

http://www.smoke3dstudio.com/thai3dviz/interview/images/lns08.jpg

*dies* no i havent seen these!

adelphi building should really crumble and die.

The condo seems very nice and futuristic.....:yes:

They torn down the beautiful Adelphi Hotel and replaced it with this very ugly thing. :bash:

huh? it was some other ugly building occupying that site... i dont think the name had adelphi in it..

No.

The Adelphi Building now stands on the site of Adelphi Hotel, which is very beautiful.

oh... i thought you were refering the the new supreme court .. didnt know there was an adelphi hotel before that..

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005503-8073-3222-4709/img0072.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005502-8073-3222-4708/img0093.jpg

huh so nice they tear down!!!!

Aiyo....why they tear it down......can reconvert it into the mall mah......

maybe they should tear down adelphi building and rebuild this.

It is still there in the early 1970s.

There are tons of stunning buildings near City Hall that had been demolished and replaced by crap, ugly buildings. :bash:

I want the Adelphi Building to be torn down..its a disgrace to one of the most historical areas of Singapore!

@Chad..thats AMAZING find!!!! :eek2:

and that condo looks cool :cool:

SEPT 26, 2004
It's a revolving restaurant, a research lab... No, it's
The Supreme Court
By Jeremy Au Yong

ONE passer-by thought it was a revolving restaurant. Another figured it was a research lab. And yet another was sure it was a shopping centre.

They were all wrong. This futuristic-looking building is the new Supreme Court complex, designed by Foster and Partners, the firm of renowned British architect Norman Foster.

The building is under construction and looks completely different from the current Supreme Court just in front of it. That classical colonial building was built in 1939.

Although the new building will be ready only by the middle of next year, it is drawing curious stares and barbed comments for the large disc at the top of the building.

The Sunday Times interviewed 24 people and, mostly, they either loved the building or hated it. Hardly any of them sat on the fence.

Mr Michael Lau, 45, an architect, said: 'How does this form relate to a Supreme Court? Court buildings are supposed to be stately. My first impression is that a spaceship has just landed.'

Sales manager Vijay Sharma, 39, agreed that it looked like something from outer space.

But he said: 'It is quite unique and it stands out from all the buildings around it. It can be an icon to represent Singapore.'

The building design has been controversial ever since it was unveiled two years ago.

In a letter published in The Straits Times Forum page, architect Tay Kheng Soon said he was 'appalled' at the design of the new Supreme Court. Two years on, with the building beginning to take shape, his opinion has not changed.

Mr Tay, 63, told The Sunday Times: 'The full horror has finally come to fruition.

'The top disc is a very paradoxical thing. We always thought that the law is something very important, with timeless qualities. The building should not allude to something that is not part of our existence on earth.'

A spokesman for The Supreme Court said it recognised that the disc would attract a range of views.

In an e-mail message, the spokesman said: 'The disc on the top of the building will house the Court of Appeal - the highest court in our legal system. The architectural vision is for the disc to be symbolically raised above the building, to reflect its place in the judicial process.

'The disc was built to complement and yet not compete with the old Supreme Court building's dome nearby. It responds to the dome, but is different from it.

'It portrays an icon of justice of the future, but with similarities to connect it to the past.'

The design is not without its supporters though. Marketing executive Anne Yee, 50, thought it was a revolving restaurant, but welcomed the non-traditional look. She said: 'I think it's good to have buildings of different shapes. This will make the city more vibrant.'

Mr Rajeev Suri, 34, a business manager, agreed: 'All the court buildings in the world look the same. At least this one is different.'

Not everyone was so quick to take sides.

Former Singapore Institute of Architects president John Ting still thinks it is too early to judge.

He said: 'All we can see now is the skeleton. I think if the architect is very skilful, he can still come up with a skin for the building that will still be able to relate it to a Supreme Court.

'The 'clothes' will make or break this building.'

Features

THE new Supreme Court building is so designed as to make the court more user-friendly. Here are some of its features:

-Waiting areas for lawyers and the public

-Private rooms for vulnerable witnesses such as sexual abuse victims

-A children's room to make the court more child-friendly

-Separate routes to the courtroom for judges and the public, and the accused. Currently, they all share a common corridor

Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

I was referred to the STI article by one of you guys, but there was no decent photo there so I went back up this thread ...

In my opinion this building could look a lot worse. It's well proportioned, but the Court of Appeal certainly looks like a flying saucer in those renderings ... and no doubt will be referred to as such.

Post: http://files.photojerk.com/sybarite/republicplaza/supremecourt.jpg

Well, the dome is definately taking shape. The site is beginning to take a rather weird turn...

the dome makes me feel like pressing it... it's like a giant button.. how could anyone resist?

It just looks really jarring to me.......

The facade on the side facing Funan is progressing quite rapidly but doesnt look very exciting...

got pics? renderings look like the changi airport makeover..

not yet....

I'm beginning to find that dome extremely irritating.... Never did before...

I'm beginning to find that dome extremely irritating.... Never did before...
Welcome to the club! :lol:

20 Oct 2004

facade
http://img94.exs.cx/img94/5717/sc2010.jpg

http://img98.exs.cx/img98/1663/sc2010a.jpg

huh... i just like it leh

the facade on closer look has something creamy to it, like marble.

in any case the facade better save the building!

i think it will be the first govt building i love... other tahn temasek? is temasek government building?

mmm...quite possibly yes!

national library leh?

hrm dont really like national library that much.. maybe i will like it more when its complete? looks a bit more conventional..

omigod this is such a scifi supreme court.. like judge dredd!!!

btw i use your picture for my lj hor...thanx!

Lj?????? :? :? :? :?

no problem at all, but whats lj ? @_@

Welcome to the club! :lol:

No! Seriousl! I used to love the dome, but then now it looks like crap to me. I dunno why...

oh uhm.. livejournal :p

8 November 2004

http://img122.exs.cx/img122/6959/sc0811.jpg

uhh you're right the façade looks unexciting. i hope it looks posh upclose.

compare the massing of the supreme court with its neighbour - it looks like it was designed to mimic the boxiness!

I noticed that a long time ago. Kinda has a mini and short Manhattan effect, as in everything is so together, very ''Wall Street''. I like it. There is this futuristic feel to it in that in the future this is how an urban city will look like, glass on all 4 sides and everything crammed together.

How I wish I lived in the future.

The facade looks so normal, so un-Foster like! :(

yar... but perhaps we should wait until construction is complete to pass judgement.. hope it looks better.

y is funan centre PINK :bash: it's an eyesore

pink funan is good!!!! there should be more colours. singapore looks very dull, even with christmas lighting this year.

30 November 2004

http://img83.exs.cx/img83/1198/sc3011.jpg

http://img78.exs.cx/img78/3101/sc3011b.jpg

Er....are they trying to justify the exitance of the Adelphi or something? :rant:

I strongly suspect thats the intention...

I'm not sure if thats good or bad though, if the facade was different it might have highlighted the ugliness of Adelphi, so maybe blending it in creates a smoother feel to the area ^^

Haha....for someone like me who wants both destroyed.......;)

Taken 11th January from UOB:

http://membres.lycos.fr/pengui/tour/050111_supremecourt01.jpg

haiz so pretty :D:D

SO GROSS what so nice. i will spit on it everytime i pass by it from now on.

aiyar want to spit also cannot spit at the supreme court mar....

1. its so nice
2. sure got video camera film you one

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/redstone/supcourt.jpg

where GOT NICE?!!!!!!!!!!!!! yuck. yah lah yah lah it will grow on us lah. shit grows on us after its putrified long enough and sun baked into sculpture. haha.

I walked by a few days ago. I hate it even more.

I'm reserving my judgement for when its really looking like its finished

Me too... I'm far from being convinced, but let's see...

it already looks finished to me!

Construction Update(15/1/05):
http://img19.exs.cx/img19/3313/dscn388617nk.jpg

more.. forgive the bad image quality.. my cmaera is going to die liao

http://imagehost.biz/ims/pictes/196374.jpg



http://imagehost.biz/ims/pictes/196375.jpg

15 January 2005

Supreme Court, City Hall buildings to be turned into art gallery
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE: Singapore's art scene will be getting a monumental boost in the form of a grand new venue.

The government will convert its current Supreme Court and City Hall buildings into a fine art gallery in four to five years' time.

This is part of the Information, Communications and the Arts Ministry (MICA)'s moves to make Singapore "the place to be".

The Supreme Court and City Hall buildings will have a combined exhibition space of 11,000 square metres.

"This art gallery will display some of the best works of art from the region, Southeast Asia, Asia. We will also display some of the art of our very best Singapore artists. This will definitely enhance Singapore's standing as an art hub. We'll be able to attract more international collections, and become a hub for the arts, which is what we want to do - to make Singapore a global city of the arts," said Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts.

The Singapore Art Museum says it'll rethink its strategy to complement exhibitions at the new art gallery.

"The new art gallery will focus primarily on Singapore art but in an international context, and the Singapore Art Musuem at old SJI will perhaps focus on just Southeast Asia, or just on special exhibitions," said Singapore Art Museum's Kwok Kian Chow.

And, there'll be modifications to other arts venues.

The Asian Civilisations Museum in Armenian Street will be converted into a Peranakan museum.

The Victoria Concert Hall and Victoria Theatre will be refurbished.

And, to unleash creativity and passion at the community level, MICA will work with private organisations and community development councils to provide seed funding for innovative projects that promote social bonding and create arts jobs. - CNA

Copyright © 2004 MCN International Pte Ltd

Hmm....so finally we know what they plan to do with them...

Not so sure if I support the move thou...

Hmm....so finally we know what they plan to do with them...

Not so sure if I support the move thou...

Emm.....why leh?? At least they are preserving the building mah........:lol:

Jan 16, 2005
From Supreme Court... to world-class art gallery
Together with City Hall, 11,000sq m of space will be available to showcase the full spectrum of Singapore art

By Li Xueying

SINGAPORE will embark on a mega-project to convert two of the country's most distinctive and historically famous buildings into a 'world-class art gallery', a development hailed as symbolising how art will play a more important role in the Singaporean's life.

The Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, adjacent to each other, are to be transformed into a showcase of Singapore and South-east Asian art.

It will take about four or five years and when completed, Singapore will have at least another 11,000sq m of exhibition space, putting the new centre on par with the National Gallery in London (10,500sq m) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (12,500sq m).

As the details are not finalised, the cost is uncertain, but it will be an 'appropriate investment', as was the $600 million spent on building The Esplanade, said Dr Tan Chin Nam, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (Mica).

He was elaborating on the plans disclosed by Minister Lee Boon Yang in Mica's addendum to President S R Nathan's speech opening the new session of Parliament last Wednesday.

Said Dr Tan: 'This is a very significant project. The City Hall and Supreme Court building present great opportunities because they are iconic and have great historical importance to Singapore.'

City Hall, built in 1929, is where then-prime minister Lee Kuan Yew declared Singapore's independence in 1965, while the Supreme Court, designed in 1937, is the highest court of the land.

A glass atrium is likely to be built to link the two to let the full spectrum of Singapore art be displayed, from the 19th century to present day.

'Singaporeans will have access to this wealth of Singapore culture that we own, and which till today has not had a sizeable venue to be displayed,' said Dr Tan.

A separate budget will also be provided to acquire new pieces of art, he added. Both buildings will be vacated when the new Supreme Court complex is ready later this year.

The new gallery will help add heft to Mica's 'cultural diplomacy' strategy to present Singapore in a new way. 'Many foreigners often view Singapore as a calculative and efficient society. We'd like to combat this stereotypical image, and present them with a new and more holistic vision of Singapore,' said Dr Tan.

The news was welcomed by artists and curators for further elevating the status of artists and art.

Many, including Mr Valentine Willie, managing director of VW Special Projects, and visual arts events consultant Shirlene Noordin, pointed out that the Singapore Art Museum, with an exhibition area of 3,000sq m, is too small to display works from both the permanent collection and travelling blockbuster exhibitions.

Said Mr Willie, who brought Colombian artist Fernando Botero's works to Singapore: 'Singapore needs a space that is more amenable to contemporary art, for example, installation videos.'

More significantly, the Government is sending out an 'important message by allocating such landmarks to the arts', said calligrapher Tan Siah Kwee, who received the Cultural Medallion in 2000.

'In the past, people say that sports and the arts are for the academically weak. This initiative will give a certain status to the arts industry.'

Artist and 1987 Cultural Medallion winner Tan Swie Hian said: 'This is definitely a good sign. Where can we see a proper exhibition of Chen Wen Hsi or Georgette Chen's work? Nowhere. Which is why I hope this new gallery can do such shows well.'

Similarly, 1999 Cultural Medallion winner and Chinese ink painter Chua Ek Kay and Dr Pwee Keng Hock, co-owner of Utterly Art gallery, want the buildings to be a national art gallery to showcase the history of Singapore's art development. 'Every Singapore artist would want to have his work displayed there,' said Mr Chua.

He added: 'The two buildings' image is of law and national administration. Now that they will be an art gallery shows changes in our philosophy.

'Art will play a more important part in our lives.'

\-- Additional reporting by Clara Chow, Sarah Ng and Sharlene Tan

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

hmm..the pink facade actually looks nice when the sun hits it

and looks like the silver dome is almost complete :yes:

i'm pleased with what they're doing to the supreme court and city hall, but why do they always have to house art galleries in refurbished buildings? i dont know any single new building in singapore built for the purpose of housing an art gallery.

more.. forgive the bad image quality.. my cmaera is going to die liao

http://imagehost.biz/ims/pictes/196374.jpg



http://imagehost.biz/ims/pictes/196375.jpg

Looks like a portable cd player! :p

21 Jan 2005

http://img24.exs.cx/img24/8992/supremecourtnew5gj.jpg

BOLD thing!

^
Oh wow.....the saucer now feels like a wok........:lol::jk: