A couple of us took a walk around Istana Woodneuk, a beautiful building located right next to the Botanical Gardens. It belongs to the sultan of Johore and has been abandoned for some years. Just a couple of months ago the building looked alot better but alas vandals have struck. I will definitely go back there as i think i really haven't done justice to this grand old building. i found this little video on youtube
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SHw6NhfXDWQ
As anyone who knows this blog is aware i have an immense affinity for old buildings, i find the architecture and design aspects to be very pleasing to the eye, from shop houses in joo chiat to 70's style seaside bungalows in Mountbatten there is just something that appeals to me. From a practical standpoint the high ceilings and plantation style windows of these older buildings really make sense in the pre-aircon era as did barred vents that allowed air to circulate without hindering the security of your home(especially true of old shophouses)In most older colonial style buildings you will note a complete lack of glass windows, this is because they were both expensive and unnecessary, if you wanted a view you would open your windows and if you didn't you closed them, simpler times eh lol and i suppose the air was much fresher back then. Today most house have lower ceilings in order to make them easier to cool with an air conditioner, in fact if you look at a number of restored buildings they too have lower ceilings and glass windows in order to make it easier to cool, while i acknowledge the importance of restoring old buildings instead of tearing them down sometimes i do feel the restoration causes the building to lose its original identity
Sidebar example clarke quay and boat quay no where can you see of feel a link with the past it just happens to be old buildings with the insides gutted to suit the current use, pub, restaurants.. This line is a test to see if you read this post which i doubt anyone does.. The wrap around balcony or even the individual room balcony meant that you could open your full length plantation style doors without having to have glass in between you and the outside world. The main building below is located at the top of a hill within its own grounds and surrounded by what once must have been rather lovely gardens. It would have been a wonderful place i am sure.
Anyhow this is rather a large post with 35pictures. I took almost 300 pictures and i think i need to go back and focus abit more on the things i like as opposed to shooting everything in sight.
Viewed From the Driveway
A Series On Doorways Of Woodneuk
Corridor Leading to staff quarters, kitchen and pantry
Bathroom on the first floor. I love the colours
The decorative iron work is i think my favorite part of the building.
The above photograph is my favorite of the day, its in the staff kitchen, abit of light pouring in from a hole in the roof.
The main kitchen
Pantry
The inside of one of the roof tiles. It must have been a magnificent sight in its heyday.
Collectors Item...
Singapore Phone book 1975.
Leak.
I think the center piece of this house must have been the grand staircase, wooden floor and fantastic metalwork it is a sight to behold. I found it very difficult to photograph and i do not think i did it justice. I shall return.
Some really good people were down from perth this week and i popped down to Sacred Heart Church to meet up with them and as it turned out some old friends.
Above, a new friend..Josh Sebastian, the son of another old buddy and his great wife Andrew and Katrina...and Josh is also the grandson of Benny and Anna two of the nicest people you will ever meet! Looking at the picture below it could have been Trinity anytime from 1989 onwards.
The proud new Grandpa(on guitar) and our resident steel guitar man Fr.Paul Tay.
And here out of the blue. Caitlin.
