- Former Saint Joseph's Institution
The Former Saint Joseph's Institution (Chinese: 前圣约瑟书院) is a historic building in
Singapore , located atBras Basah Road in theMuseum Planning Area , within theCentral Area , Singapore'scentral business district . The building has been restored and currently houses theSingapore Art Museum .History
Until 1988, the Singapore Art Museum was
Saint Joseph's Institution , one of Singapore's oldestCatholic boys'school s. In 1992, the building was gazetted as a national monument and it was converted into the Singapore Art Museum, which opened on20 December 1996 . Many of the building's original features were sensitively preserved.Saint Joseph's Institution was set up by Father
Jean-Marie Beurel , who was also responsible for the building of theCathedral of the Good Shepherd from 1843 to 1847. Saint Joseph's Institution began life on1 May 1852 in awood and attapchapel building completed in 1833 at Bras Basah Road. The erection of the adjacent Cathedral of the Good Shepherd had allowed the original chapel to be converted into a school for boys, but a need for a better school building was quickly felt. Thefoundation stone for the present central block was laid on19 March 1855 but funds had run out the year before.In 1863, Brother Lothaire, now Brother Director, arrived from
Penang and pleaded to the government for financial assistance. He designed and raised funds for the new school building. By August 1867, the new school was ready. This was the year when the administration of Singapore was transferred fromIndia to Britain. In two years, enrolment rose to almost 200.By the turn of the 20th century, Saint Joseph's Institution had grown in both stature and size and the building soon became insufficient for its students' needs. In 1900, Brother Michael Noctor enlisted Father Charles Benedict Nain, who designed the chapel of the
Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus , to design an extension to the building. This extension was completed in 1903.In 1905, Brother Michael carried out a second extension — the Anderson Block. Brother Michael's final extension was the school
hall and chapel, constructed in 1911. After that, he made improvements to the old building. He left in 1915.In January 1987, the Ministry of Community Development (now the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports) announced that the National Museum Art Gallery (now the Singapore Art Museum) will occupy the 5,000 m² school space as an extension of its existing gallery at the museum.
Today, the Singapore Art Museum has an elegant Glass Hall featuring artworks and a stately
auditorium .The former Saint Joseph's Institution building was
gazette d as a national monument on14 February 1992 .Architecture
Built on the site of a small Catholic chapel erected in the 1830s, the first in Singapore, the former Saint Joseph's Institution is another example of the work of a 19th century French
priest -architect , Brother Lothaire. Brother Lothaire was one of six Brothers, five Sisters and two youngmissionaries who came to Singapore with Reverend Father Jean Marie Beurel on his return fromFrance in 1852 to found the new Catholic boys' school of Saint Joseph's Institution.When the school was first completed in 1867, the completed building which is the current central block comprised a two-storey rectangular block with a pitched
roof and modestbelfry .In 1903-1906, Father Nain, the then
parish priest, added two new semi-circular wings to match thearchitectural theme of the central block and to define the fineBaroque entranceforecourt which is such an important part of the urban area in which it stands. This quality has been all but destroyed in recent years.In 1910,
verandah s running along the whole length of the building were added at the rear, a largedome built that replaced the old belfry was lined withteak and thecross was erected. Newpediment s and aparapet were also added. Brother Michael was responsible for the hall,gym nasium and the chapel, which were added between 1911 and 1912.References
*National Heritage Board (2002), "Singapore's 100 Historic Places", Archipelago Press, ISBN 981-4068-23-3
*Norman Edwards, Peter Keys (1996), "Singapore - A Guide to Buildings, Streets, Places", Times Books International, ISBN 9971-65-231-5
*Preservation of Monuments Board, "Know Our Monuments"External links
* [http://www.stjosephsinstitution.moe.edu.sg/home.htm Saint Joseph's Institution Online]
* [http://www.nhb.gov.sg/SAM Singapore Art Museum official website]
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