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 to the 13th and 14th centuries found. The building's river frontage was also where
Sir Stamford Raffles was presumed to have landed on 29 January 1819. The area was occupied by
Temenggong Abdul Rahman and his family and followers. Raffles would later persuade the Temenggong to move to
Telok Blangah in 1823 as he
planned for the land to be used for public and administrative purposes.
Design and construction . Coleman's original building had been changed considerably since. The building was designed as a
Neo-Palladian mansion by architect
George Drumgoole Coleman for a Scottish merchant, John Argyle Maxwell. 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 was transferred to Governor
George Bonham and the East India Company on 10 October 1842. The first court session was held in the central room on the first floor at the front of the building. The building was then used as offices for the Department of Social Welfare as well as a government storehouse. The arches at the
porch of the building and Palladian windows of the front façade were part of the original design, although the building currently appeared more Neoclassical in style.
The Arts House at The Old Parliament Due to space constraints at the Parliament House, a new
Parliament House that faces
North Bridge Road was planned next to it in 1989. On 6 September 1999, the Parliament of Singapore moved into the new Parliament building, after which the vacated Parliament House became known as the Old Parliament House. It was then turned into an arts and entertainment venue called The Arts House at The Old Parliament. The Arts House at The Old Parliament opened on 26 March 2004 as an arts and heritage centre. The parliamentary chamber was converted into a 150-seat concert room called as The Chamber where music performances as well as film screenings and art exhibitions could be held. The Arts House is currently administered by Arts House Group, which also manages
Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, Drama Centre,
Goodman Arts Centre,
Aliwal Arts Centre, and
Stamford Arts Centre. ==See also==