Malay Heritage Centre

The museum & the collection

The Malay Heritage Centre in Singapore is dedicated to presenting the history and culture of the Malay community in Singapore. Officially opened in 2005, the Centre is housed in the former Istana Kampong Gelam, a 19th-century National Monument that once served as the royal seat of Malay royalty in Singapore.

Its permanent exhibition, From Region to Home | Dari Rantau Ke Rumah, traces centuries of movement, trade, and cultural exchange across the Malay Archipelago. Through thematic galleries, visitors encounter stories of kinship, migration, urban life, women in culture, living heritage, and the ways in which Malay communities continue to reinterpret heritage for the future.

The assignment & the challenges

For the refurbishment of the Malay Heritage Centre, Meyvaert was appointed to deliver 8 wall cases, 2 table cases and 1 freestanding case. The showcase scope followed a familiar technical path, using established showcase types, materials and finishes. One point required careful attention: the anchoring system had to be coordinated with the conditions of the historic building. Our broad experience in working with historic buildings allowed this integration to be carried out successfully; while also reinforcing an approach we can confidently apply to new projects in heritage contexts.

In addition, components for the first- and second-level galleries had to be planned around a maximum width of 1 metre, meaning they were pre-assembled in a way that allowed them to be brought into the galleries safely and efficiently.

The solutions & the result

By aligning the showcase design, anchoring approach and component dimensions with the building conditions from the outset, the team ensured that the cases could be delivered and installed without compromising the conservation and security requirements of the project.

The completed showcases provide a stable and secure environment for the collection, with passive climate control, an AER of 0.1, and museum-standard locking systems. Ceiling grids in the showcases give the museum flexibility in lighting the displays, allowing the exhibition team to support the storytelling of each gallery as the visitor moves through themes of identity, migration, memory and continuity.

The final exhibition is marked by its vibrant use of colour, giving the galleries an engaging and contemporary atmosphere while keeping the focus on the objects and stories on display. The project also continued our valued relationship with the National Heritage Board.