Istana Park
Istana Park, Singapore
Istana Park is located in Singapore
Istana Park
Location in Singapore
LocationSingapore
Coordinates1°17′57.41″N 103°50′37.62″E / 1.2992806°N 103.8437833°E / 1.2992806; 103.8437833
Area1.3 hectares (13,000 m2)
Created6 September 1996 (1996-09-06)
The Festival Arch at the Istana Park serves as the gateway to Singapore's Civic District.

The Istana Park is a park in Singapore, located in the Museum Planning Area within the Central Area, Singapore's central business district. The park is bounded by Orchard Road, Penang Road, Penang Lane and Buyong Road.

The park is a landmark situated in front of the Presidential Residence, the Istana. It has an area of 13,000 square metres. The Istana Park serves as a gateway to Singapore's Civic District Trail, which aims to educate visitors of the rich history of Singapore.

History

On 20 February 1992, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for National Development, Lee Yiok Seng, unveiled plans to turn the area in front of the Istana to a landscaped park to mark the entrance to the Civic District.[1] Two proposals were considered but the chosen design consisted of a water feature and planting beds.

The park was designed by Ren Matsui Landscape Design and the Public Works Department provided architectural and engineering design.

The Istana Park was completed in late 1995 and officially opened on 6 September 1996 by National Development Minister Lim Hng Kiang.[2]

On 7 October 2017, the Istana Heritage Gallery, located inside the park, was opened by President Tony Tan.[3]

Architecture

The centerpiece of the park is the 26-metre-high stainless stell and concrete Festival Arch in a reflecting pool. The design of the arch was based on the gateposts and railings at the Istana's entrance. The arch is symbolic of the gateway to Orchard Road.[4] The reflecting pool is about 40cm deep and one-third the size of an Olympic pool.

As part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Civic District Lighting Plan, the park is lighted daily from 7pm to 7am.[5]

Istana Park was served as the place for a U-Turn in the 9th Leg of the sixteenth season of The Amazing Race.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Istana Park to be built as gateway to the Civil District". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  2. ↑ "Creative parks possible if people are more responsible". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  3. ↑ Auto, Hermes (7 October 2016). "Istana Heritage Gallery launched by President Tony Tan Keng Yam | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  4. ↑ "Trees aglow and reflecting pool for Istana Park". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "City gets new sparkle with clever night lights". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "The Amazing Race and Singapore". sg.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
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