Burkill Hall

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Burkill Hall is a historic bungalow in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It is the last Anglo-Malayan plantation-style house in the region and possibly in the world.

History

Constructed in 1868 to house the directors of the gardens, the building features broad verandahs and high ceilings to allow for more natural light and ventilation, and was originally known as the Director's House on the grounds of the Gardens, later renamed to Burkill Hall after Isaac Burkill and Humphrey Burkill. [1] [2] The building was the residence of gardens superintendent Henry James Murton. [3] The bungalow served as the residence of the first scientific director of the gardens, Sir Henry Nicholas Ridley. [4]

In 1960, the building was painted both black and white by the Public Works Department, despite the original building being completely painted in white. In 2013, gardens director Nigel Paul Taylor realised the error while doing research on the history of the bungalow, with all pictures of the building before 1959 showing the building being completely painted in white, and the building itself predating black and white bungalows. The building was subsequently repainted. [5] [6] The building is the last Anglo-Malayan plantation-style house in the region and possibly in the world. [5]

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References

  1. ↑ "Burkill Hall : An environment-friendly building that is 128 years old". The Straits Times . Singapore. 6 November 1994.
  2. ↑ Cheong, Kash (10 February 2014). "Fairy-tale wedding amid the orchids". The Straits Times . Singapore.
  3. ↑ Zaccheus, Melody (6 July 2015). "Revolver, parangs in showdown at 1868 bungalow". The Straits Times . Singapore.
  4. ↑ Cooper, Arnie (25 July 2015). "Singapore Botanic Gardens colorfully connects people with plants". Los Angeles Times . Singapore. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  5. 1 2 Zaccheus, Melody (6 November 2015). "Black and white Burkill Hall in Botanic Gardens to return to its original white palette". The Straits Times . Singapore. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  6. ↑ Gao, Wenxin (15 May 2015). "Gardens sleuth". The New Paper . Singapore.

1°18′44″N103°48′49″E / 1.31233°N 103.81366°E / 1.31233; 103.81366


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