Wednesday, March 5, 2014
I We were looking forward to visiting the Victoria Concert hall, but unfortunately, like what’s stated here on http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/lifestyle/story/victoria-theatre-and-victoria-concert-hall-open-doors-audiences-august, the Victoria Theathre and Concert Hall is currently under construction and will only open its doors in April 2014.
The information for this section was retrieved from Infopedia and the National Heritage Board's website.
What are the two buildings connected by?
The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, are two separate buildings built more than 40 years apart and joined by a Clock Tower.
When were they built and for what purposes?
Designed by John Bennett, the municipal engineer, the Town Hall was completed in 1862. Originally, it served a dual function with a theatre on its ground floor and offices and meeting rooms on its second floor. However, with a growing administration and an increasing population requiring entertainment, it eventually proved too small for both functions. By 1893, the offices had moved out.
When Queen Victoria passed away in 1901, the colonial government decided to erect a memorial to her long reign, deciding that a public hall alongside the existing Town Hall building would be a fitting tribute. And sensibly, they decided, in the name of continuity, to keep the same architectural style as the earlier municipal building.
The new building was christened Victoria Memorial Hall upon completion in 1905, and almost immediately, the Town Hall underwent renovations to turn it into a theatre, with the space between the buildings earmarked for a splendid clock tower. The makeover project (to turn the complex into three different parts) was completed in 1909 when Victoria Theatre officially opened.
The Victoria Memorial Hall has played a critical role in Singapore's political landscape. During the early stages of World War II, it served as a hospital and, at the war's conclusion, it was the location for the trial of Japanese war criminals after their surrender. From 1948, the Hall was also the centre for the briefing of election officials and the counting of ballot papers. On 21 November 1954, the People’s Action Party used it for their inaugural meeting.
Between 1952 and 1958, the buildings underwent major renovations with the interiors restructured so that air-conditioning and soundproofing could be added. In 1979, the Victoria Memorial Hall was renovated again, with a gallery added to bring the total seating capacity to 937. With this extensive renovation, the Victoria Memorial Hall was renamed the Victoria Concert Hall.
What kind of architectural style do they represent?
Before its renovation, the architecture style of the Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall is considered Palladian style, a common style for 19th century British Singapore.
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