Istana Park

Location: Istana Park

Brief Introduction:

Istana Park is situated directly opposite the Istana, Singapore's presidential palace. The Istana is the official residence and office of the President of Singapore. 'Istana', meaning "palace" in Malay, it is where the president receives and entertains state guests. So basically, it is where the president works. It is also the working office of the Prime Minister of Singapore. Located within a large open compound in the urbanised and modern setting of the Orchard Road area, it was once part of the nutmeg plantation of Mount Sophia.

History:

In 1867, the British colonial government took the land and built a mansion to be the official home of the British Governor. This continued till 1959 when Singapore was granted self-government, and the Governor was replaced by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, who was in turn replaced by the President.


The Istana is the official residence of the President of the Republic of Singapore, previously known as Government House where the British Governor of the Straits Settlements. When Singapore gained self government, the Head of State which was Yang di-Pertuan Negara, got retained during the period when Singapore was part of the Federation of Malaysia from 1963 to 1965. 


Soon after the founding of modern Singapore by Stamford Raffles in 1819 the first Government House was built on Bukit Larangan, renamed Fort Canning in 1985 after Viscount Canning, Governor-General of India. Later in the years, Coleman, Singapore's first architect extended the House and redesigned it in the Neo Classical style. The House was demolished in 1859.

Changes through the years:

1996- Istana Park was officially opened.

1992 -Plans to turn the area fronting the Istana entrance into a lush landscaped park marking the entrance to the Civic District were first unveiled to the public on 20 February 1992.

1993-By November 1993, design plans for the park were finalised.
-The park was estimated to cost S$13 million and occupy the size of about 1.5 football fields.

Early 1990s-Palms and plants indigenous to the region would be planted in the park, in order to blend in with the Istana entrance, which underwent a S$1.7 million improvement project in the early 1990s. The park serves as a gateway to the Civic District, a historically significant area in the heart of the city.

Land use:

Istana Park is used for many purposes, having beautiful scenery like flowers and plants to admire and also places for people to rest and also a jogging lane, it is allows people to do all kinds of recreation there, for example jogging, enjoying scenery and probably even having a picnic with family and also even to take beautiful photographs there, etc. There is a fountain kind of thing that is actually used during national days and etc, and the beautiful lights will be on and fountain will start spraying and it looks very nice, and many Singaporeans want to go to the fountain too, since it is also near the Istana House, which is only opened for public occasionally.