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\n\u00a0The Civic and Cultural District is rich in the history and heritage of Singapore.
\nThe Civic and Cultural District is one where old and new are juxtaposed, and to which locals and foreigners alike flock for a wealth of education and enjoyment. With its historical landmarks and modern attractions, all along the Singapore river, its appeal appears timeless.
\nby\u00a0Cheryl Marie Tay
\nKnown as the district \u201cwhere modern Singapore began\u201d, the Civic and Cultural District was formed in 1822 by Singapore\u2019s founder, Sir Stamford Raffles. It runs along the banks of the Singapore River, adjacent to the river mouth.
\nSince the inception of this early master plan by Raffles (quite possibly the very first master plan the country ever saw), the district has seen a drastic transformation, yet still retains the most iconic elements of its history and heritage.
\nPreservation amid transformation
\nLandmarks such as the former City Hall, Empress Place and Supreme Court buildings, the Old Parliament House, the Padang, and the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall still stand today. The district\u2019s last master plan was drawn up and put into motion in the 1980s; since then, modern landmarks such as the ArtScience Museum, Esplanade \u2014 Theatres on the Bay and Merlion Park have sprung up on its landscape.
\nFurthermore, some of the older buildings in the area have been converted into museums and theatres: The former Empress Place building is now the Asian Civilisations Museum, the Old Parliament House is now the Arts House, and the former Supreme Court building is now the National Art Gallery of Singapore.
\nFrom far and near
\nNeedless to say, the Civic and Cultural District brings in many tourists, with its mix of historical significance and modern landmarks. As Eugene Lim, Key Executive Officer at ERA Realty Network says, \u201cThe Civic and Cultural District is a major draw for tourists, with its many attractions. The newly opened National Gallery, the Esplanade, and the National Museum are just some examples. The area is also historically rich, being known as the birthplace of modern Singapore and (having been) master-planned by Sir Stamford Raffles.\u201d
\nHowever, it is quite unlike other tourist attractions in Singapore, or \u2014 as some bluntly call them \u2014 \u201ctourist traps\u201d, such as Chinatown and Sentosa.
\nThis is mainly because the Civic and Cultural District focuses less on pricey gimmicks and souvenir shops whose main purpose is to get tourists to spend money, and more on entertainment, culture, and Singapore\u2019s heritage. That is not to say places like Chinatown and Sentosa lack these aforementioned elements, but the Civic and Cultural District\u2019s greater number and variety of historical sites and monuments make it a part of Singapore both tourists and locals alike love to visit.
\nIndeed, it is not uncommon to see tour groups, teachers and students on school excursions, families, groups of friends, or couples in these parts, taking in the sights and learning more about Singapore\u2019s history. So what are the must-see attractions here?
\nAt 690,000 sq ft, The National Gallery Singapore is the country\u2019s largest museum and visual arts venue.
\nMuseums
\nA tour of the Civic and Cultural District and it will become obvious why it is often informally referred to as the museum district. The National Museum of Singapore, a neoclassical building located on Stamford Road, showcases local treasures. Nearby, on Bras Basah Road, the\u00a0Singapore Art Museum holds\u00a0regular exhibitions from its permanent collection of 4,000 Southeast Asian paintings. The Asian Civilisations Museum, situated in what once was the Empress Place building, displays stunning collections of artefacts and art works from China, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
\nFor a taste of Straits Chinese history, head to the Peranakan Museum on Armenian Street, where you can find rare Peranakan artefacts. If you have an interest in stamp-collecting, go further up Armenian Street to the Singapore Philatelic Museum, which is downhill from\u00a0Fort Canning Park.
\nIn 2011,\u00a0the 50,000 sq ft ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands was opened. Designed by accomplished architect Moshe Safdie, the museum\u2019s exterior stands out for its resemblance to a lotus flower. It has three permanent galleries, with 21 gallery spaces in total.
\nMore recently, in November last year, The National Gallery Singapore opened. Comprised of two national landmarks, the former Supreme Court Building and City Hall, the art gallery on St Andrew\u2019s Road is Singapore\u2019s largest museum and visual arts venue at 690,000 sq ft.
\nEntertainment and the arts
\nThere is plenty to watch in the district, what with the Arts House (the Old Parliament House), Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, and Esplanade \u2014 Theatres on the Bay all located here.
\nThe Arts House, as its name suggests, showcases a wide range of different art forms, from the literary and visual to the dramatic and musical. It also holds programmes and workshops that encompass the aforementioned arts for children, youth and adults.
\nThe Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, which first saw the light of day in 1862, is one of Singapore\u2019s oldest performing arts centres. It has no doubt undergone extensive refurbishment over the years, and still hosts musical and theatrical productions to this day. Known for its superior acoustics, the concert hall was the Singapore Symphony Orchestra\u2019s (SSO) main performance venue before the Esplanade was completed in 2002.
\nSince its completion in 2002, Esplanade \u2014 Theatres on the Bay has hosted shows from all over the world, from ballets and stage musicals to plays and orchestral performances. It is perhaps best known for being the home of the Esplanade Concert Hall being the main performing venue of the SSO, and for hosting the annual 10-day long Mosaic Music Festival, which ran from 2005 to 2014.
\nHistory and heritage
\nApart from the museums, concert halls and theatres, the district has no shortage of historical landmarks and monuments.
\nNot far from the National Gallery Singapore is St Andrew\u2019s Cathedral, a 180-year-old Anglican church known for being one of the country\u2019s grandest places of worship. Barely a 15-minute walk away, on Beach Road, is the iconic Raffles Hotel, a colonial-style luxury hotel established nearly 130 years ago.
\nOf course, there is also Fort Canning Park, the former residence of none other than Singapore\u2019s founder, Sir Stamford Raffles. It played a role in the Second World War as a vantage point from which enemy movements at sea could be observed, and is today a historical park that has also hosted many an outdoor performance.
\nAn unconventional home
\nThe Civic and Cultural District is not known for its residential developments, but those willing to consider a less conventional location in which to live might do well to give this area a chance.<\/p>\n