Istana Park
Encyclopedia
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
.
.
Arch
rising out of a shallow reflecting pool
. The design of the stainless steel
and concrete
structure was inspired by the gateposts and railing
s at the Istana's entrance. The Festival Arch forms the gateway to Singapore's Civic District, the cultural and historic heart of the city. The arch enhances the visual link across Orchard Road.
The park has a large shallow reflecting pool, the first of its kind in Singapore. Coconut
palms at the adjoining Palm Pools reinforces the impression of the Istana Park as a tropical oasis
in the heart of Orchard Road.
Fronting the main gate of the Istana, the park provides a vantage point for visitors keen to view the monthly changing of guards’ ceremony at the Istana entrance. In the evenings, the park is transformed into an "oasis of light". The park is one of the venues identified for enhanced lighting under the Urban Redevelopment Authority
's (URA) lighting master plan.
Music
al and cultural performances at the Istana Park are featured on the first Sunday of every month.
There is a restaurant called Giraffe Restaurant at Istana Park which is available to all for dining. Everyone can also participate/join in the concerts and performances held.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, located in the Museum Planning Area
Museum Planning Area
The Museum Planning Area is an urban planning area in the Central Region of Singapore. It is located in the area known as the Civic District. The area plays a "bridging role" between the Orchard Street area and the Downtown Core, which necessitates proper transport networks for vehicles,...
within the Central Area, Singapore's central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. The park is bounded by Orchard Road
Orchard Road
Orchard Road is a road in Singapore that is the retail and entertainment hub of the city-state. It is regularly frequented by the local population as well as being a major tourist attraction...
, Penang Road, Penang Lane and Buyong Road.
The park is a landmark
Landmark
This is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
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 of Singapore
The history of Singapore dates to the 11th century. The island rose in importance during the 14th century under the rule of Srivijayan prince Parameswara and became an important port until it was destroyed by Acehnese raiders in 1613. The modern history of Singapore began in 1819 when Englishman...
.
History
The Istana Park was completed in 1995. It was designed and built as an extension to the main entrance of the Istana. The Istana, located across the road, Orchard Road, from the park, is the official residence of the President of SingaporePresident of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
.
Highlights
The centrepiece of the park is the 26 metre high FestivalFestival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
Arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
rising out of a shallow reflecting pool
Reflecting pool
A reflecting pool or reflection pool is a water feature found in gardens, parks, and at memorial sites. It usually consists of a shallow pool of water, undisturbed by fountain jets, for a calm reflective...
. The design of the stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
and concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
structure was inspired by the gateposts and railing
Railing
Railing may refer to:* Guard rail, a structure blocking an area from access* Handrail, a structure designed to provide support, such as on a staircase* Insufflation , the act of inhaling a substance, generally a drug...
s at the Istana's entrance. The Festival Arch forms the gateway to Singapore's Civic District, the cultural and historic heart of the city. The arch enhances the visual link across Orchard Road.
The park has a large shallow reflecting pool, the first of its kind in Singapore. Coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
palms at the adjoining Palm Pools reinforces the impression of the Istana Park as a tropical oasis
Oasis
In geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
in the heart of Orchard Road.
Fronting the main gate of the Istana, the park provides a vantage point for visitors keen to view the monthly changing of guards’ ceremony at the Istana entrance. In the evenings, the park is transformed into an "oasis of light". The park is one of the venues identified for enhanced lighting under the Urban Redevelopment Authority
Urban Redevelopment Authority
The Urban Redevelopment Authority is the national urban planning authority of Singapore, and a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development of the Singapore Government.-Mission:The authority was established on 1 April 1974, and is of especially critical importance to the city-state,...
's (URA) lighting master plan.
Music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
al and cultural performances at the Istana Park are featured on the first Sunday of every month.
There is a restaurant called Giraffe Restaurant at Istana Park which is available to all for dining. Everyone can also participate/join in the concerts and performances held.