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A)    National Museum of Singapore

Photo 3: National Museum of Singapore

The National Museum of Singapore[1] is the oldest museum in Singapore where it was established by Singapore Institution Committee in 1849. Before it name as National Museum of Singapore, it was named as Singapore Library-Museum and later renamed Raffles Institution.

The exhibited items in the museum are the historical and archaeological value from Singapore and other place in Asia. In the early year of 1965, after Singapore have independence, the museum featured exhibits on history ethnology and arts of Singapore and the region.

Photo 4: The Glass Passage

The National Museum of Singapore is an iconic architecture where bringing together the old and new. It was originally built by Colonel Sir Edward McCallum as the former Raffles library and museum in 1887 with the elegant neo-classical building is flawlessly joined by new modernist extension of glass and metal.  

Inside the museum, there are a glass passage which has been designed to blend into the old neo-Palladian architecture with frameless glass-form. The corridor is built for visitors’ access through the old building to the new extension building and also visitors will have a clear view of the old 19^th century neo-Palladian architecture.

B)  

Photo 5: National Taiwan Museum

National Taiwan Museum

National Taiwan Museum[2] is one of the oldest museum has witnessed major changes for the island and its people, culture of the country which exhibits the story of Taiwan’s land, environment, flora and fauna, culture and history and all grand old colonial-era building.

It was established in 1908 and was built by Japanese colonial government in Taiwan and was name Taiwan Viceroy’s Office Museum. In 1949 after relocation of the National Government of the Republic of China to Taiwan. The museum’s name was change to Taiwan Provincial Museum until 1999, under the purview of the central government and experienced a new naming as National Taiwan Museum.

The museum was designed by Japanese Architect. The structure itself built in reinforced concrete (RC) with load-bearing brick walls and it was an advanced technology in the early 20^th century. The roof was constructed of cypress and covered with copper tiles. The colonnade and balcony were constructed on the south façade of the museum in consideration of the subtropical climate of Taipei.[3]   

Photo 6: The Dome

The museum was constructed in Classical Style. The walls are composed of columns with the window done in Renaissance Style. Yet, the roof is a dome and gable construction together with huge classical Doric hex style columns supporting the portico. The building style are mixed with different style, where it show that the spirits of eclecticism was alive at the time. The collection and research are anthropology, earth sciences, zoology and botany that relevant to Taiwan and through themed exhibitions, education activities, publication and various cooperation plan where the museum publicizes the role of humans by protecting the environment and the importance of biological and cultural diversity.    

During the past from the early time, they have already built the museum based on the culture from its own country and remain the old structure and building until now. The building of the museum have to remaining the same even there’s a restoration after the World War II  because the government wanted to show to the tourist, local peoples and also for the young generation about the history of the museum, and to show what have been collected from the past. Therefore, the museum is been open for public purpose and it also allow everyone participate to have activities or event in the museum. During the past, there is not much of activities or event to be held, so people may just visit the museum for normal visit but now, new generation like now, the government and the director of the museum allow students or publisher to held activities in the museum so that it could attract peoples such as students, tourists to come for visit.  

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[1] http://nationalmuseum.sg/?sc_lang=en

[2] http://www2.ntm.gov.tw/en/About_5_1.htm

[3] http://www2.ntm.gov.tw/en/About_5_1.htm