Designed by George D. Coleman, the Arts House was constructed between 1826 and 1827. It was initially built as the home of a Scottish merchant, John Maxwell. However, according to the 1822 Raffles Town Plan, the area near the Singapore River was never meant to be a residential area. Rather it was designated for government and administrative buildings. As a result, Maxwell leased the building to the colonial government. He never had the opportunity to live in the house he commissioned. It was later purchased by the East India Company in 1841 for 15,600 Spanish dollars. The colonial government altered the building as they saw fit to include more offices and other official functions, such as a small courthouse.