Singapore Art Museum’s buildings were once home to Catholic boys' schools – St. Joseph’s Institution on Bras Basah Road and Catholic High School on Queen Street.
Transforming SAM for the future
SAM’s two museum sites – the former St. Joseph’s Institution (SJI) building on Bras Basah Road and former Catholic High School building on Queen Street – were closed in 2019 for redevelopment works.
This major undertaking includes the preservation of the buildings’ heritage architecture, blending the old and the new. When SAM re-opens, visitors can look forward to an iconic space to experience and engage with art.
Learn more about the former SJI building, a gazetted National Monument, below.
The new floors—reinforced concrete with timer-strip finish, were designed and constructed to take the load expected of galleries. A new wall system, comprising a lightweight wall, insulation material and vapour barrier, was added to the existing walls.
The Glass Hall
It was 'modernised' in the 1950s to become the school hall, then known as the Oei Tiong Han Hall. All arches were flattened, Doric columns were turned into cylindrical columns and external walls and windows were added to enclose it. This hall was restored to its original state based on an original drawing found on site.
The Glass Hall is commonly used for exhibition openings and related programmes.
THE CHAPEL
All the important elements of the chapel are preserved. These include the small 'basins' for holy water, Stations of the Cross, original pressed steel ceiling and dado panels, and original concrete floor tiles. Salmon is the original colour of the walls. When the school was taken over for the construction of the Museum, several pieces of old floor tiles were found missing. These were reinstated with the new tiles specially manufactured to match the old. A plaque outside the chapel commemorates Brother Michael (1856 –1936) who, as Director of SJI (1900 – 1914) played a major part in the development of the 3 historic buildings that are preserved.
QUEEN STREET & WATERLOO STREET WINGS
Waterloo Street Wing
The Straits Settlements Government had made a generous contribution towards the building funds. Originally, this building had a staircase projecting into the courtyard, taking up much courtyard space. It was removed possibly in the 1950s and modern staircases were added to either of the block. These modern staircases greatly marred the beauty of the exterior of the building and were removed as part of the effort to restore Anderson Building into its original splendour.
Queen Street Wing
Built too small and narrow for conversion to museum use, the building had to make way for the current new structure, designed to harmonise in rhythm and composition with the historic building and yet have a contemporary look.
QUEEN STREET WING
Built too small and narrow for conversion to museum use, the building had to make way for the current new structure, designed to harmonise in rhythm and composition with the historic building and yet have a contemporary look. They are clad with the machine-made precast concrete panels with stylised details, which contrast with the hand-made classical details of the historic buildings. More galleries can be found in this part of the museum.
THE COURTYARDS
They were of tarmac finish and served as basketball courts and carpark. One level of the basement has been constructed under the Eastern courtyard.
