The Grand Old Dame: Allegories of Istana Woodneuk
Abstract
Situated beside Singapore’s Botanic Gardens, the land where the ruins of Istana Woodnuek currently sits on still belongs to the Sultan of Johore. Ambiguous borders and ownership concerns plagues the narrative of this once Grand Dame.
An important element of experiencing the ruined dame is trespassing into the sultan’s private grounds characterised by overgrown landscaping. Its inaccessibility, lush foliage, replaceable graffiti and wreckage adds character to the ruins.
This thesis aims to conserve heritage & re-contextualise forgotten stories by showcase the past, present and future of the ruin site through the experiences of 3 different personas namely the royals, the villager and the explorer who patronise its grounds.
Supervisor Comments
Mirrah’s research of the forgotten istanas of Singapore has uncovered the history of the abandoned Istana Woodneuk. The project aims to bring visitors to experience three scenarios based on the royalty, the servants and the explorers, representing three perspectives on the life of the Istana. The design of the structures on the ground and the Istana building provides the setting for these experiences to remember the past and finding new significance for the future of the site. The treatment of the ruined building into three sections respects the heritage value of the site intertwined with the spirit of present-day explorer.
- Prof. Ho Puay Peng (Dr.)
Mirrah Najihah Binte Abdul Hashim
Mirrah Najihah Binte Abdul Hashim