Astana

Brief information

The Istana stands on land that, before the colonial palace, was part of the Mount Sophia nutmeg plantation. In 1867, the British government bought this plot and built a mansion for the governor; after Singapore gained self-government in 1959, the building passed to the local government and was given the name Istana, meaning “palace.”

Today it is the official residence and office of the President of Singapore, and the venue for state receptions and ceremonies. At the same time, the earlier logic of power is visible not only in its function: one house has made the journey from the residence of the British governor to a presidential palace, while the complex also contains the Prime Minister’s Office and Sri Temasek, the Prime Minister’s official residence, where no prime minister has actually lived.

What to notice right away

The architecture of the Istana combines representativeness with adaptation to the tropics. You can compare the austere columns with the deep verandas, louvered windows, and panelled doors: these elements not only decorate the facade but also provide cross-ventilation. The central three-storey section, 28 metres high, gives the palace a vertical accent, while the two-storey side wings maintain the symmetry.

It is worth noticing how different details show the change in functions. The wings use the Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian orders, the language of official colonial architecture. The U-shaped ceremonial staircase connects the floors of the main building and emphasizes the ceremonial character of the interior spaces. The statue of Queen Victoria, which used to stand in the State Room, is now located by Victoria Pond: from the centre of power it has become a separate historical marker on the grounds.