![Preview tour organised by the wonderful folks at the National Art Gallery Preview tour organised by the wonderful folks at the National Art Gallery](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5014790811_b22d187b5d_z.jpg)
The National Art Gallery, Singapore will be holding a special event at the City Hall and former Supreme Court buildings from 9-10 October 2010 (this Sat and Sun). Titled The New Museum Open House, the event offers the public a rare glimpse into the buildings’ illustrious history and distinctive architecture. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the buildings as they are, before they are transformed into the new National Art Gallery.
The event will feature guided tours into various interesting spaces within these buildings, screenings of specially-curated Asian films in the historic City Hall Chambers, and amazing exhibition displays of the future National Art Gallery. There will also be a range of side activities – from flea markets, snack fairs, to interactive art activity corners for kids. Visitors will also stand to win attractive lucky draw prizes. Admission is free.
Sounds fun isn’t it? More details about the open house is available on the National Art Gallery’s official website.
Thanks to Walter, Kevin and the team at the National Art Gallery, I got to attend the preview tour a few weeks earlier. Below are some photos I took during the amazing heritage tour.
![View from the balcony of the old Supreme Court View from the balcony of the old Supreme Court](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5015403740_1372aaaa9e_z.jpg)
![Magnificent skyscrapers Magnificent skyscrapers](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5014791789_60240a0dfc_z.jpg)
![The majastic pillars on the balcony The majastic pillars on the balcony](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5015402896_86bb2a246c_z.jpg)
![Rickety spiral stairs up to the dome Rickety spiral stairs up to the dome](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/5014793441_83a6465928_z.jpg)
![The structure is made of English steel The structure is made of English steel](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5015400180_7729481f4f_z.jpg)
![Told you the steel was from England Told you the steel was from England](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5015397920_753aff61e0_z.jpg)
![The spiral stairway was a little rickety The spiral stairway was a little rickety](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5014789183_f807dcb6d5_z.jpg)
![Finally reached the top - doesn't this look like a scene from Batman's Gotham City? Finally reached the top - doesn't this look like a scene from Batman's Gotham City?](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5015399244_4b718f4476_z.jpg)
![Interior of the old Supreme Court dome-shaped roof Interior of the old Supreme Court dome-shaped roof](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/5014794877_d57dbda996_z.jpg)
![The interior of the dome - there were lots of bats flying around The interior of the dome - there were lots of bats flying around](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5014792989_ee47854f2a_z.jpg)
![At the lobby area At the lobby area](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/5014791921_d5a45a40c1_z.jpg)
![Yes, this is the Sir Shenton whom Shenton Way is now named after Yes, this is the Sir Shenton whom Shenton Way is now named after](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5014789511_e12d1248a0_z.jpg)
![Building directory Building directory](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5015399390_69295b1df6_z.jpg)
![This black and white chequered design was very popular then This black and white chequered design was very popular then](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5015398438_505762133e_z.jpg)
![More chequered floor patterns More chequered floor patterns](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5015397212_9fe4f38f29_z.jpg)
![Birds and bats droppings Birds and bats droppings](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5014789251_24632eea0a_z.jpg)
![Judges' name roll Judges' name roll](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/5015402580_9a4ef38f59_z.jpg)
![The old cafeteria level The old cafeteria level](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5015401158_06a47ae32e_z.jpg)
![Old chandelier Old chandelier](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/5014791439_4058da5592_z.jpg)
![Court is in session? Court is in session?](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/5015399550_90aae02410_z.jpg)
![Inside the courtroom Inside the courtroom](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/5015403094_a66a3ec32d_z.jpg)
![Still in the courtroom Still in the courtroom](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5014794499_ca5fbfceac_z.jpg)
![Old courtroom chairs and desks Old courtroom chairs and desks](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/5015398218_1080fb78e8_z.jpg)
![Bloggers milling around to take photos Bloggers milling around to take photos](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5015400830_86e426e8c7_z.jpg)
![Translator buttons Translator buttons](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/5015401294_c815b0cede_z.jpg)
![The Chief Justice's work desk, a piece of furniture that's marked for preservation The Chief Justice's work desk, a piece of furniture that's marked for preservation](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5014792535_da15010c8f_z.jpg)
![Antique cabinet Antique cabinet](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/5014792649_a68928714b_z.jpg)
![An interesting flying house emblem on the cabinet An interesting flying house emblem on the cabinet](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/5015399114_36f8080fa3_z.jpg)
![This other emblem looks like the NTU school crest This other emblem looks like the NTU school crest](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5014788521_fe12dfbb68_z.jpg)
![More antique furniture More antique furniture](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/5015397026_b70c9df871_z.jpg)
![Direct passageway from the Chief Justice's office to his personal carpark Direct passageway from the Chief Justice's office to his personal carpark](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/5014792869_33382955bb_z.jpg)
![The Supreme Court library The Supreme Court library](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/5014790747_a5ac4c69b9_z.jpg)
![The roof top of the library is dome-shaped The roof top of the library is dome-shaped](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5014795345_da0227ea88_z.jpg)
![Old monitors Old monitors](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5015399460_87df46304f_z.jpg)
![Antique VCR machines Antique VCR machines](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5015398728_c446d4fef8_z.jpg)
![Grimly passageway leading to the holding cell Grimly passageway leading to the holding cell](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5015399180_1a1989cf9f_z.jpg)
![Down to the holding cells area Down to the holding cells area](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5014788387_44f323ce61_z.jpg)
![The guardhouse outside the prison cells The guardhouse outside the prison cells](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5014793925_06d24bc398_z.jpg)
![Singapore Prison Department Organisational Chart in 1997 Singapore Prison Department Organisational Chart in 1997](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5015403892_5cb4ef5eb2_z.jpg)
![The Law Needs Proof The Law Needs Proof](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5014794307_0946f2dced_z.jpg)
![Noticeboard, first aid box and such, still intact in the guardhouse Noticeboard, first aid box and such, still intact in the guardhouse](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/5015400530_eb55754277_z.jpg)
![Newspaper clipping of Yong Pung How and Lee Kuan Yew Newspaper clipping of Yong Pung How and Lee Kuan Yew](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/5014790063_7cdbc0c881_z.jpg)
![Area for the guards to check clear their firearms and to la kopi Area for the guards to check clear their firearms and to la kopi](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5015401704_dab42ca4ab_z.jpg)
![I presume this is the room whereby the accused meets his/her family members and lawyer I presume this is the room whereby the accused meets his/her family members and lawyer](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5014788603_09f661795c_z.jpg)
![The sad-looking cells The sad-looking cells](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5014790283_bd08b97caf_z.jpg)
![Antique chair outside one of the cells Antique chair outside one of the cells](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/5014788455_7fe6012e21_z.jpg)
![Cell S2 Cell S2](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/5015398844_c1492b2319_z.jpg)
![From the cell, looking out From the cell, looking out](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5014789341_cdc9f80f62_z.jpg)
![Grimly toilet Grimly toilet](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5014795215_8711d6a902_z.jpg)
![The toilet flushes are built outside the cells The toilet flushes are built outside the cells](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5015396948_0d683c9e14_z.jpg)
![Carpark connected to the holding cells Carpark connected to the holding cells](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5015398918_e98caa35cc_z.jpg)
![One of the open space in the old City Hall where the flea market will be held during the open house One of the open space in the old City Hall where the flea market will be held during the open house](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5014794035_147930a53f_z.jpg)
![I remember there was a giant Google map like art installation here during one of the Singapore biennale I remember there was a giant Google map like art installation here during one of the Singapore biennale](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5015403568_a13bb4258c_z.jpg)
![The Singapore Crest - our first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, was sworn to office in this room The Singapore Crest - our first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, was sworn to office in this room](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/5015397808_36cd20f9dd_z.jpg)
Technorati Tags: The New Museum Open House, national art gallery open house, old city hall singapore, city hall singapore, former supreme court singapore, old supreme court singapore, national art gallery, old chief justice office, former supreme court heritage tour, old city hall heritage tour