27/50: Istana Woodneuk

Built some time in the late 19th century, Istana Woodneuk (or Woodneuk Palace) is the forgotten palace of Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor. Sultan Abu Bakar, also known as the "Father of Modern Johor", erected the magnificent building for his beloved 4th wife, Sultana Khadijah. Originally a grand mansion, Istana Woodneuk eventually fell into disrepair, and in 2006 its brilliant blue roof was destroyed by a fire. Today, the structurally unsafe building, still owned by the Sultan of Johor, lies largely forgotten (and enveloped in nature), a hint of the once inseparable ties between Singapore and Malaya.