HIDD

EN C

OLO

NIAL

GEM

S IN

KU

ALA

LUM

PUR

FUSI

ON

ARCH

ITECT

URE

1. Malayan Railway Administration Building

2. KL Railway Station3. National Textile

Museum4. Sultan Abdul Samad

Building5. Royal Selangor Club6. DBKL City Theatre7. Jalan Tuanku Abdul

Rahman

MY JOURNEY IN KUALA LUMPUR

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As the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur has a fascinating history combining Malay, Islamic, Chinese, Indian and colonial British influences.It indicated an end of the Federation of Malaya and of British colonial rule when Malaya gained independence from the British Empire in 1957 and formed Malaysia in 1963. Although British colonial rule which began in the early 1800s had end, it had left behind some impressive examples of colonial architecture mostly clustered around Kuala Lumpur‘s Old City Centre.

MalayIslamic

Chinese

IndianColonial British influences

3

INTRODUCTIO

N

MALAYAN RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

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Fine example of Moorish architecture reflecting the

Ottoman and Moghul glory of the 13th and 14th centuries blended with Gothic and

ancient Greek designs of the 14th century.

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Four spiral columns of orthodox Greek

design can be seen surrounding the five

domes that sit majestically atop the

building.

Westernised vernacular designs with surrounding verandahs and Gothic designed arches of

various widths.

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The Moorish inspired age-browned faade

was used in the design.

The typical Mughal feature, bulbous

dome.

KUALA LUMPUR RAILWAY STATION

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Spires, minarets, towers and arches explode against the backdrop of

skyscrapers emphasizing the glory of Moorish elegance. The elegance of the

building was enhanced when Roman features were added into the design.

Large chhatris at the corners of the

building accompanying

smaller variations at the front.

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Tall white classically

proportioned Roman columns.

Minarets, distinctive

architecture features of

Mughal style.

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Double-curve ogee (oh-jee) arches introduced from the Arab world in the

14th century and became famous throughout medieval England.

Horseshoe arches or known as the Moorish arches and the Keyhole

arches, are the emblematic arches of Islamic architecture.

NATIONAL TEXTILE MUSEUM

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Once again, an attractive structure of

Mughal-Islamic style

architecture had been built in 19th century. This building

was designed to harmonize

with the Islamic style of the adjacent government buildings.

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Chatri onion-shaped domes derived from

Mughal architecture of

India.

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Ogee archesMinarets

Chhatris British innovations was used-“blood and bandages” Signature design of

A.B.Hubback which is characterized by red-and-

white stripes from alternating bare bricks and plastered

ones.

SULTAN ABDUL SAMAD BUILDING

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As the major landmark in the city, the building bears Moorish influences with a blend of local culture and

British styles. Islamic touch was added before

completing the building to represent the identity of the Malaysian people.

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The 41 meter tower

chimed for the first time to coincide

with Queen

Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee

Parade in 1897 and

has chimed

since then.

The cornices and exterior trimmings are made of cement plaster with the surface depths achieved by careful arrangements of masonry brickwork.

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Ogee arches

Horseshoe arches

Shiny copper dome

An imposing porch placed at the center of the front

faade with massive Gothic arches and thick columns

DBKL CITY THEATRE

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Another interesting century-old Mughal-inspired structure. This elegant building is gazette as a heritage building under the

Antiquities Act and its Mughal architectural-styled faade has been preserved.

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Two impressive porches with black large domes atop it and horseshoe

arches.

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Faade which bears rich Mughal

influences

Unique Cinquefoil arches

Ogee arched

verandah

ROYAL SELANGOR CLUB

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A structure that is in Mock-Tudor

architecture style which is very rare in

Malaysia can be seen from Dataran

Merdeka.

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Distinctive black and white

facade

Thatched roof which is the typical

features of Mock-Tudor styling

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Decorative half-timbering

Rectangular and bay windows

JALAN TUANKU ABDUL RAHMAN

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The buildings here are mostly in Neo-classical style. It is the city’s longest

road with shops set up in pre-war

buildings along both sides. These

buildings reflect changing trends in our architectural design and some are still standing.

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Giant pilasters supporting highly decorative

pediments punctuate the facade

Bay windows adorn the first floor

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The block is unified by the cornice treatment.

The faade is embellished with plaster scrolls and emblems

AUTH

OR:

LIM

ZIA

HUE

IPH

OTO

TAK

EN B

Y: A

UTHO

RFusion architecture can be defined as architecture style that combines culture, technology, style, shapes and even ‘time’.

Fusion architecture can combines the classic elements and the modern elements together in

a single structure. Some say fusion architecture is the combination of beauty and I totally agree with that. There are no rules that limit in fusion architecture, creativity

move freely, just like ‘the sky is the only limit of creativity’. This is why I like fusion

architecture style.