The Old Supreme Court

The Old Supreme Court

The Old Supreme Court was the final destination that our group explored in the Civic District Trail. By the time we arrived, we were tired and sore from hours of walking, taking pictures, walking, and more pictures. Yeah you get the idea. Nevertheless, the inner photographer in us immediately took out our smart phones (and one camera) to snap (surprisingly) good pictures of the huge architecture that stood before us.

Designed by Frank Dorrington Ward, the Chief Architect of the Public Works Department, the Old Supreme Court was built from 1937 to 1939. The land it occupied previously belonged to the Grand Hotel de L'Europe.

Trivia

Underneath the foundation stone of the building laid by Sir Shenton Thomas in Malaya back in 1937, a "time capsule" was buried. It contained six Singapore newspapers dated 31 March 1937, as well as a handful of Straits Settlements coins. The time capsule is slated to be retrieved in the year 3000. How cool is that?

Architecture

What is cooler is that the Old Supreme Court can be said to be the last classical building that was built in Singapore. Milanese sculptor and architect Cavaliere Rudolfo Nolli, was tasked with the building of the Old Supreme Court. Did you know that the term “Cavaliere” refers to “knight”? Rudolfo Nolli was so successful in the 20th Century, he was given the title of a knight in Bangkok as a form of recognition for his works.

The Portrayal of Justice

The iconic representation of Justice is seen through the intricate design of sculptures in the tympanum. Justice stands in the middle, with a scale in his right hand, and a sword in his left hand. From our view, the left side depicts a scene of a cruel world plagued by violence and repression. The individual kneeling before justice symbolizes the repressed and poor, begging for protection. In contrast, the right side presents a flip-side to the world with justice. With law and order, justice for the people, there is peace. Peace brings about prosperity and abundance, depicted by the man with a cow and the children holding onto a sheaf of wheat. The individual bowing before justice symbolizes gratitude and thanksgiving.

Teachers represent education, politicians represent the people, doctors represent hope and lawyers represent justice. I never took into consideration that even the buildings where these various professions work also represent what they serve and what they stand for. What an interesting discovery! After all the snapping, we concluded our trail with a final selfie and headed straight to the mall for air-con and food.

Featuring Noah's hand and the boys who took a selfie... Without me.

Final selfie of the day with the Old Supreme Court

Suggested Activity

Research on the notable civil crime cases that were being put to justice at the Old Supreme Court.