Project Description
The Raffles Archives Museum and Memorial Garden project recognises the accumulated history of Singapore's first school, Raffles Institution, originating four years after the colony's founding in 1823. 

The primary functions of this archives museum is to proactively source for artefacts, conduct archival & research activities, host relevant exhibitions and alumni gatherings. Towards that aim, the design consciously overlaps a permanent exhibition with an activity hub and event spaces.

The museum emerges at a poignant time when the Raffles family of schools reunite in their Bishan campus, with a long-term trajectory for a campus heritage masterplan. This project lays the first track towards that realisation.

Project Details
Located in the Yusof Ishak (main admin) block, the Raffles Archives Museum and Memorial Garden are conjoined by a conceptual circle arcing through both areas, establishing the presence of a larger precinct by reducing the delineation between interior and exterior space.

The project also manifests a long-awaited 'living museum' for the institution that sources relevant artefacts and school-life stories from living alumni, contextualises and exhibits this content as part of current students' experiential learning and their connection with the broader alumni.

The contemporary backdrop amalgamates the intentional upcycling of antiquated school noticeboards and cabinets, to be populated with student work in both physical and digital media. The temporary exhibition area get maximum 'shop frontage' along the glazed corridor, while a 'joinery henge' arcs in domino arrangement from the main atrium, through the museum and into the memorial garden.


Client Raffles Archives Museum, Raffles Institution 

Duration 14 months. Completion & soft-opening in March 2014

Project Team
Client Representatives - Cheryl Yap, Dominic Chua, Ng Kok Ching
Project Leaders - Lim Chen Sian, Cheah Fang Leah
Research & Content Creators - Dr Kevin Tan, Lim Chen Sian
Project/Research Assistants - Michael Eng, Christabel Khoo
Copy Editing - Cheryl Yap, Dominic Chua, Jai Singh, Lim Chen Sian
Artifact Conservation - Lawrence Chin, Claire Lim, Lim Chen Sian
Interior & Joinery Design - Cheah Fang Leah, Adam Pustola
Landscape Design - Noelle Teh, Cheah Fang Leah
Graphic Design - Jos Tan, Cheah Fang Leah

Museum Contractor & Fabrication - Pico Art P/L
Garden Contractor & Planting - RI Estate & TCL