Affectionately known as the "Old Hill Street Police Station", the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) Headquarters is a heritage building that is gazetted as a national monument. This project is a blend of the old and new, incorporating modern amenities while complying with stringent conservation requirements.
Its key architectural wisdom is seen in the adaptive reuse of spaces and the restoration of elements of architectural merit. Six of the original eight blocks are retained and conserved, in addition to the external historical facades facing Hill Street and River Valley Road. Most of the timber louvered windows are retained and painted in bright rainbow colours to lend vibrancy to its neo-classical architecture and to symbolise the Ministry's multifaceted roles. New secondary glass windows are introduced to contain the air-conditioning. The rectangular courtyard is transformed into an air-conditioned atrium covered with a new glazed roof for arts activities, performances and commercial activities. A lightweight, column-free and fully-glazed glass canopy fronting the block provides shelter to pedestrians along the street corridors. Light, modern materials, such as glass and steel are adopted to achieve the effects of contrast and transparency.
Project name
Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts Headquarters