Although Singapore is known to have been inhabited prior
to the arrival of the British in 1819, and the discovery of pre-colonial
artefacts have suggested that Singapore was an important trading port as early as the 14th century, nothing remains above ground of previous eras.
Singapore’s visible legacy therefore commences with the arrival
of Sir Stamford Raffles, and the waterfront statue of the founder at his
presumed arrival site, affords a thought-provoking view over the mix of colonial and modern architecture.
The town plan of 1822, inaugurated by Raffles, established
the administrative centre and beyond its fringes, separate settlement areas were earmarked for
European, Chinese, Malay, Arab and Indian communities, which set the pattern of
the evolving multicultural scene whose thriving ambiences and architectural
nuances can be found in Chinatown, Kampong Glam, Little India, Arab Street, Gaylang and Katong.
Among the many fine buildings in Singapore are the
earliest religious structures of the various ethnic groups, including the
Armenian Church of St. Gregory, St. Andrews Cathedral, the Fuk Tak Chi Chinese
Temple, the Sultan Mosque and the Hindu Sri Mariamman Temple.
Other
important faith sites in Singapore are the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and
Museum, the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Chijmes Convent, Sakya Muni Buddha
Gaya Temple and Kong Meng San Phor Kark Dee Monastery.
The oldest surviving colonial building is the Old
Parliament House, which having undergone modification, is now an Arts Centre. Many
other colonial buildings similarly also combine appreciation of their splendid
architecture with superb insights into the legacy of Singapore and the wider backcloth on which the country's cultural tepestry is woven.
Of these, the Raffles Institution building is now the
National Museum, the Empress Place Building, houses the insightful Asian
Civilisations Museum, while the Old Tao Nan School hosts the Peranakan Museum,
the former Istana Kampong Glam (Sultan’s Palace) preserves the Malay culture in
the Malay Heritage Centre, and the former St. Joseph’s Institution is now home
to Singapore Art Museum, all of which will impart a great cultural depth and
understanding of Singapore to any visitor.
Other famous buildings of the colonial era are the Istana
Presidents Palace, the glorious Raffles Hotel, Fullerton Hotel, City Hall, the
Central Fire Station and its Civil Defence Hertitage Gallery, Cavenagh Bridge
and the distinctive Victorian style of the octagonal Telok Ayer Market formed from Glaswegian cast iron.
More recently, the Japanese invasion during the Second
World War was a traumatic time for the population of Singapore, characterised
by harsh rule, hardship and mass executions. The War Memorial Park and its
focal monument were erected to remember the victims. Changi Museum is dedicated
to the history of the war in Singapore and also houses a simple but poignant chapel.