![](\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Cannon-located-on-the-green-field-in-Istana-1024x678.jpg?fit=1024%2C678\")
\nFa\u00e7ade of the main Istana building. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
\nThe Istana is our version of the White House. Home to seven presidents, it has witnessed historic events such as the Second World War and Singapore\u2019s independence. We find out what makes this national monument so significant to Singaporeans.
\nBy Romesh Navaratnarajah
\nSingapore has no shortage of luxury homes with huge price tags. For instance, the exclusive Sentosa Cove enclave is known to attract ultra-wealthy foreigners looking for multimillion-dollar bungalows that come with private berths for their yachts.
\nOver in the downtown core, developers are trying to outdo one another with more impressive projects. Recently, a $108 million super penthouse at Wallich Residence in GuocoLand\u2019s Tanjong Pagar Centre made headlines after it was put up for sale.
\nThe 21,108 sq ft five-bedroom triplex unit on the 64th floor includes a 12m private pool, 600-bottle wine cellar and round-the-clock butler service.
\nSingapore\u2019s most expensive home
\nHowever, this price pales in comparison to the estimated $18 billion to $25 billion for the Istana (palace in Malay) in District 10, according to a PropertyGuru contest held back in 2013.
\nConsumers were invited to \u2018guesstimate\u2019 its value, with the aim of educating the public on how to accurately price a residential property.
\nPropertyGuru said its calculations were based on several factors including the Istana\u2019s original building cost of $185,000, the value of the 40ha land it sits on, the purpose of the land (commercial and residential use), and the impact of inflation.
\n\u201cLet me clarify that the Istana is not, and will never be, for sale,\u201d PropertyGuru Group\u2019s Chief Marketing Officer Bjorn Sprengers said at the time. \u201cWe chose the Istana because it is Singapore\u2019s most distinctive and respected sovereign icon. After all, it is the official residence of the president of Singapore.\u201d
\nA mysterious place
\nDespite this, many young Singaporeans don\u2019t really know much about the Istana.
\n\u201cI think they want to keep a low-profile for safety reasons,\u201d said student Firdaus Sari. \u201cAfter all, I\u2019m sure it houses some priceless treasures.\u201d
\nNatasha Salman, another student, said the first word that comes to mind is \u201cmysterious\u201d.
\n\u201cI know it is our president\u2019s home, but that\u2019s only because I pass by it regularly (when I\u2019m) in town,\u201d she told PropertyGuru. \u201cIt would be interesting to find out more about the Istana.\u201d
\nHer friend Asrina Kamal added: \u201cI didn\u2019t even know that it\u2019s open to the public.\u201d
\nIn fact, the Istana grounds are open to the public on certain public holidays such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa and National Day. There are usually a variety of performances, guided walks and booths selling food and drinks.
\nMembers of the public are also encouraged to explore and have picnics on the Istana\u2019s expansive grounds.
\nBuilt by convicts
\nFormerly a nutmeg plantation, the Istana site was picked because it was elevated, and on a clear day offered views of the Indonesian islands and Johor. Completed in 1869, the building was built by convict labourers and housed British governors during colonial times.
\nYusof bin Ishak was the first Singapore president to live there when he took office in 1965, and it has remained the official residence for subsequent presidents including the current head of state, Dr Tony Tan.
\nOver the years, the Istana has also hosted many foreign dignitaries including Brunei\u2019s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, members of the British royal family, and former US president Barack Obama.
\nToday, the front of the Istana is bounded by busy Orchard Road and it is close to shopping malls such as Plaza Singapura and PoMo, as well as Dhoby Ghaut MRT station.
\nAs such, many visitors who walk through its impressive main gate are surprised to find extensive, well-manicured gardens which are considered among the most beautiful in Singapore.
\nThe gardens are home to different types of mature trees and plants, with a team of curators and gardeners from the National Parks Board helping to maintain it regularly.
\nIn addition, the gardens contain a few relics from the past, such as a marble statue of Queen Victoria and a Japanese cannon captured during World War II.
\nThe Istana\u2019s grounds contain many mature trees and important relics, including a Japanese cannon.
\nDesigned by a famous architect
\nThe main Istana building was designed by famed architect Major McNair, who was also behind the historic Empress Place Building. It blends different architectural styles like classical Palladian, Anglo-Indian and tropical Malay elements.
\nThree-storeys high, it comprises a total of 10 palatial rooms. Six of them are function rooms decked out in antique furnishings such as mahogany Louis XVI chairs, Persian carpets, rosewood tables and ornate chandeliers.
\nFor a small fee, visitors can tour the state room, banquet hall and reception room. However, the president\u2019s lounge on the top floor which overlooks the grounds is a restricted area.
\nThere are another three conserved buildings within the compound: Sri Temasek \u2013 a bungalow that is the prime minister\u2019s official residence, the Istana Villa guesthouse, and The Lodge.
\nA dedicated park
\nTo give it more prominence, a 1.3ha park was developed opposite the Istana\u2019s main gate. Completed in 1996, the Istana Park was built at a cost of $13 million. More than 150 species of plants can be found here, and it has become a popular spot to relax and take photos.
\nThe centrepiece of the park is a four-storey Festival Arch that rises from a reflecting pool. Last October, the president opened the Istana Heritage Gallery there, where visitors can view state gifts from world leaders and learn more about the Istana\u2019s history.
\nFAST FACTS(THE ISTANA)
\n\u2022 Type: Palace
\n\u2022 Tenure: Freehold
\n\u2022 Land area: 40ha
\n\u2022 Completion: 1869
\n\u2022 Facilities: Extensive gardens, swan pond, nine-hole golf course, gun terrace
\n\u2022 Nearby amenities: Shopping malls, MRT station
\n\u2022 Price range: $18 billion-$25 billion
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