Leong Ching
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2012
ISBN: 9789814351553
As a working palace, the Istana is tradition firmly rooted in the present. It has links with Singapore's colonial past, being first a nutmeg plantation owned by a British businessman, then office to the colonial government and then to Singapore's first President after independence.
Today, it houses the offices of the highest office holders in Singapore - the President and the Prime Minister. It is also a place where ordinary Singaporeans celebrate extraordinary achievements - scholarships, awards for teachers and nurses as well as community leaders, artists and musicians.
The grounds of the Istana reflect Singapore's vision of its future as a city in a garden, flowing from its old rain tress, orchids, spice shrubs and formal gardens. From its slight hill, the Istana looks out into the heart of Orchard Road, Singapore's prime shopping and city belt, a vital part of the country's heartbeat.
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