STATE COURTS MODERNISM IN SINGAPORE
Teo Shao Tian | Tay Boon Kiat | Benjamin Chong
Architecture and Sustainable Design 20.222 History, Theory & Culture II Spring 2019
CONTENTS 5 TIMELINE 6 INTRODUCTION 9
FACTS & FIGURES
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BUILDING DESIGN
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ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATION
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ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
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SIMILAR WORKS
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STATE COURT COMPLEX
22 LEGACY 23 REFERENCES
View of State Courts from 34 Upper Cross St
TIMELINE 1972 Call for tenders Sep 1975 Building in operation
Jan 1973 Construction work begins
1986 16 additional courtrooms added
1995 Juvenile court relocated from Subordinate Courts to the Family Justice Division
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2005 All Small Claims Tribunal offices relocated to the Subordinate Courts
7 March 2014 Renamed the State Courts
28 May 2014 State Courts Complex groundbreaking
THE COURT IS IN SESSION The State Courts are one of the two court systems with Judicial power vested by the Constitution of Singapore. It consists of the District and Magistrate Courts and various specialised courts which hear cases that are not under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. 6
Before the completion of the former Subordinate Courts in 1975, the Criminal District and Magistrates’ Courts were located at South Bridge Road and the Civil District Courts was operating at the old Parliament Building and the Supreme Court
Historical map of Singapore in 1972
Building. To resolve this, the Singapore government called for tenders for the construction of the Subordinate Courts in 1972 to integrate all the different courthouses that were operating from different locations at that time. Kumpulan Akitek was awarded the project and construction of the building began in 22 January 1973. The building was a collaboration between Kumpulan Akitek and Public Works Department (now known as CPG Corporation) and started operations on 15 September 1975.
Historical map of Singapore in 1975
First floor plan
STATING THE FACTS The cost of construction was originally projected to be $12 million. However, it later rose to $13 million, with the final cost at $18 million. Upon completion in 1975, the building comprised of 26 courtrooms over an area of 30,600 sqm. Courtrooms on the first and second floor had an area of 176.5 sqm while courtrooms on the third floor occupied 288 sqm. Each courtroom also had a witness room and waiting room for the accused. Other facilities included 12 interview
rooms, magistrates’ and judges’ chambers, 2 large administrative offices, a conference room, 6 lifts (2 for judges and magistrates, 2 for public, 2 for prisoners), a car park for 107 vehicles and 45 oneman cells in the basement. After expansion works were done on the mezzanine level to handle the increasing number of cases, there is presently a total of 40 courtrooms and 28 hearing chambers.
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A DESIGN OF ITS TIME
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A departure from the courthouses of old, the Subordinate Court’s fascinating geometry is testament to the Singaporean modernist works of the 60s and 70s. From the monochromatic color scheme to the functionalist approach to ornamentation, this move towards a new, global form could symbolise a new, modern administration. The controlled usage of materials indicates the care in planning for the formal and solemn environment; raw concrete was used for its overall structure and the panels on the interior of the courtrooms were made of wood. The main volume is formed by arranging key programs around an octagonal core, where the circulation and a central atrium is situated.
The atrium staircases were constructed in a way where all structures and support were concealed. These dog-legged staircases required careful engineering, which shows more care in providing a more unobstructed central atrium. The upper floors are similarly organised, but rotated and overlapped, creating a sculptural massing. The thought and effort towards planning for the circulation routes of different groups of users can be observed from how the requirements of different users’ movements. It became the key driver of the way spaces are distributed geometrically in the building with an octagonal formation with an atrium at the centre.
Ground floor plan
Entrance to State Courts demonstrating strong Brutalist features
Typical floor plan
Dog-legged staircase
A SPRINKLE OF INNOVATION
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Another aspect of the building that is noteworthy of that time is the anti-fire implementations to protect the wooden panels within courtrooms. Not only was it one of the first few government building that has the sprinkler system in the 1970s, it is also designed with the environment in mind. Natural lighting illuminates the atrium while tropical heat and glare is kept out by recesses and tinted windows. Air-conditioning in public spaces is also minimised through natural ventilation, with only courtrooms and offices being air-conditioned.
Section through central atrium
Courtroom with meranti wood panels
Naturally lit central atrium featuring marble flooring
BRUTAL BEAUTIFUL In the 1970s, several sub-styles of architectural modernism like high-tech and organic modernism were popular all around the world. In the case of Singapore, this was the period of Modern Brutalist architecture which can be seen in many government buildings. Brutalist architecture is often associated with reinforced concrete and its unfinished and raw look of the concrete. In the
Massing model of State Courts
case of the State Courts, the concrete is finished in black and white, further emphasising the clean lines and angular geometric forms. In comparison with the neoclassical architecture seen in the old Supreme Court building, this geometry driven building brings out a fresh new form of architecture which deals with form, space, structure and its functionalism.
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SIMILAR WORKS:
HIGHPOINT APARTMENT
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Another project by Kumpulan Akitek during the 1970s was the Highpoint Apartment. The base geometry was also an octagon, but of different sizes. For this residential project, the three octagons of different sizes come together to create an apartment that has an all-round view. The shape of the balcony volumes on the exterior further highlighted the base geometry of building and makes the distinction between each level more pronounced.
SIMILAR WORKS:
SINGAPORE SCIENCE CENTRE Another similar building in the 1970s is the Singapore Science Centre, designed by Raymond Woo. It was the first competition won by Raymond Woo Associates Architects (RWAA) and it represented Singapore’s advancement in science and technology. Completed in 1975, the five-storey building has a central atrium with three entrances for different types of users (VIPs, staffs and public).
The atrium serves as a congregation point for people as one has to pass through it in order to exit the building. The atrium also utilizes natural lighting as part of the environmental effort during that time. While maintaining the geometry of triangles, the other parts of the building radiates out from the atrium to cater for the various programmatic spaces such as exhibit galleries, stores and workshops. Spaces for staff and public are also segregated as lower floors were planned for exhibition spaces and services while educational facilities and administrative offices were located on the upper floors.
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SIMILAR WORKS: OCBC CENTRE
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Another example of Brutalist architecture in Singapore at that time is the OCBC Centre designed by Pritzker prize winner I.M.Pei and completed in 1976. This building was a larger scale brutalist skyscraper and was the first building involving international architects in Singapore. This 52 storey high building was the highest building at that time which took a shocking less than 2 years to complete due to innovative construction technology. Similar to other brutalist buildings which used reinforced concrete, the semicircular concrete cores were prefabricated which vastly sped up the construction process.
As compared to the 2 buildings above, the OCBC Centre is much more vertical in its design and circulation as a skyscraper. With its rectilinear form and windows which protrude out of the main form, it is designed to be a symbol of strength and permanence. Over the years, it is even nicknamed the “Calculator� due to its geometry.
Render image for the proposed State Court Complex
COURTING THE FUTURE: STATE COURTS COMPLEX In 2011, an open competition for the construction and expansion of the state courts and the refurbishment of the old state court was called for. Serie and Multiply Architects won this competition in 2012. Construction works started in 2014 and is estimated to be completed in 2019. Departing from the modern brutalist era in the 1970s, a new contemporary approach was used in the new design of the State Courts. The geometric building with a central empty core and courtrooms and administrative rooms situated around this core was fully transformed. The new design consists of 2 separate towers one for the criminal
courtrooms and the other for the judges’ chambers and supporting functions. The two are connected with a series of bridges which aids in the circulation between the chambers and courtrooms. The new open frame structure with a series of terraces acting like a green facade of the building is a massive contrast with the heavy looking Brutalist style. This allows the new building to have a lighter and transparent look to it. The proposed terraces was another tropical design consideration made in filtering the sun.
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LEAVING LEGACIES Following the construction of the State Courts Complex, the original octogonal State Courts will be refurbished and house civil, family and juvenile courts, still contributing to the overall court system in Singapore. 22
As such an important landmark which represented Modern Brutalist style in the 1970s, it is truly significant to refurbish and
bring back its original beauty. More importantly, it is also part of the same skyline as contemporary buildings, showing the growth in architecture in Singapore, the willingness to push and pursue fresh new designs and yet retaining important historical buildings.
REFERENCES • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
https://stateofbuildings.sg/places/state-courts https://www.homeanddecor.com.sg/articles/92568-beautysingapore-s-state-courts http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1819_201107-18.html http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/ straitstimes19721023-1.2.89 http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/ newnation19720630-1.2.26 http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/ straitstimes19730321-1.2.32 http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/ straitstimes19750504-1.2.23 http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/ straitstimes19750813-1.2.83 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/iconicstate-courts-building-in-havelock-square-celebrates-40thanniversary http://blog.nus.edu.sg/seaarc/2017/07/29/kumpulan-akitek-apioneer-architectural-firm-under-the-radar/ https://www.ura.gov.sg/Conservation-Portal/Explore/ History?bldgid=SUBCT http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/ straitstimes19750916-1.2.66 Contemporary Singapore Architecture, Singapore Institute of Architects, 1998 https://hm.onemap.sg
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