Old Parliament House, Singapore
| The Arts House | |
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The Arts House, now occupies the building
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neo-Palladian |
| Address | 1 Old Parliament Lane |
| Country | Singapore |
| Coordinates | 1°17′19″N 103°51′03.6″E / 1.28861°N 103.851000°ECoordinates: 1°17′19″N 103°51′03.6″E / 1.28861°N 103.851000°E |
| Completed | 1827 |
| Client | John Argyle Maxwell |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | G. D. Coleman |
| Website | |
| www |
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| Designated | 14 February 1992 |
The Arts House (formerly Old Parliament House) is a building in Singapore. It is currently a multi-disciplinary arts venue which plays host to art exhibitions and concerts. Built in 1827, the Old Parliament House is the oldest existing government building in Singapore. The building was home to the Parliament of Singapore from 1965 to 1999, when it moved to an adjacent new building.
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 the 13th and 14th centuries found. The building's river frontage was also where the founder of modern Singapore Stamford Raffles was presumed to have landed on 29 January 1819.
The building was designed as a Neo-Palladian mansion by architect G. D. Coleman for a Scottish merchant, John Argyle Maxwell, who was based in Java. It was intended as his private residence, however, Maxwell never occupied the house due in part to a dispute over the ownership of the land the house was built on. Raffles had originally allocated the land for government use, and persuaded the Temenggong or local chief who previously occupied the land to move to Telok Blangah in 1823. 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 was completed in 1827. Maxwell applied for a statutory grant to the site in 1827, and the then Resident Councillor of Singapore John Prince objected as the land was intended for government use. A compromise was struck whereby Maxwell was granted a 999-year lease in June 1827, 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 finally transferred to Governor S G Bonham and the East India Company on 10 October 1842.
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