Istana Open House

In the picture, members of the public are visiting the Istana during an open house. Families are walking on the grounds and taking photographs, and I can see the large green lawns and old trees around the main building. There appears to be a ceremonial guard in uniform standing at attention nearby. What I also noticed is that the visitors are dressed casually and children are running on the grass, so it feels welcoming rather than formal despite being an official residence.

My family visited an open house at a fire station near our home during a community event. We were allowed to sit inside a fire engine and hold the hose, which was much heavier than I expected, and an officer explained how quickly they must respond to a call. My younger sister tried on a helmet that came down over her eyes, which everyone found very funny. I came away with much more respect for their work than I had before.

I feel it is very important, especially because Singapore is so small. Large green spaces cool the city down, provide homes for birds and other wildlife, and give people somewhere to walk and rest, which matters a great deal when most of us live in high-rise flats. Places like the Istana grounds also carry history, and once old trees and buildings are removed they cannot be recreated. I understand that land is scarce and there is pressure to build, however I believe a city that keeps some space to breathe is a better place to live in.