Makeover for a Grande Dame

The National Museum of Singapore, constructed in 1887, is being restored and upgraded. The last time the oldest museum here underwent such works was in 2006. The Straits Times goes behind the scenes to capture how history is being preserved using modern techniques – and uncovers some hidden stories.

- Gavin Foo

High on the metal scaffolding surrounding the National Museum's facade, workers carefully scrape paint from Queen Victoria's royal coat of arms. Before this work began, its surface was treated with environmentally friendly chemical paint stripper to loosen the layers of old paint.

Meanwhile, in the rotunda, a specialist is using a handheld digital microscope to inspect a section of the wall. Ms Yeh Yi Min, senior consultant at Maek Consulting, searches for areas where layers of paint – spanning the oldest to the most recent – can be uncovered.

Once identified, a scalpel is used to carefully extract a sample, which is then analysed in a laboratory using a high-resolution stereo microscope. This process reveals the composition and appearance of the paint, offering insights into the building's evolution and changes in its decorative finishes over time.

Ms Ryanne Tang, associate director at Maek Consulting, an architecture and materials consultancy specialising in heritage conservation and preservation, explains: "This information is meant for proper documentation of the actual construction of historic walls, which would give a better understanding to future maintenance and restoration teams about the building's history and development and condition of the historic fabric." Eventually, the brick walls will be finished with compatible plaster and paint.

The restoration and upgrading works for the museum's oldest structure – the two front wings – began in September 2023. Restoration of the rotunda and the parallel block behind it commenced in February 2024.

A Rich History