Kuala Lumpur Railway Station

This month architecture segment will cover another famous landmark in Malaysia Capital City, Kuala Lumpur. Compare to other colonial power that set their foot in Malaysia, British holds a significant influence in the land development at early age. Many of Malaysian current landmarks were originated from the British, especially with the British adapting the design of Mughal and Moors architecture as their 'official' design in Malaya. Considering the timeline of British power in Malaysia less than 100 years, it is exceptionally mesmerizing. Architecture segment for today will cover the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, located at the heart of downtown Kuala Lumpur.

HISTORY

The railway station is among the finest building in Kuala Lumpur. It is located at Jalan Hishamuddin, the building complex consist of a railway station, a hotel and KTM Headquarters. The complex were built in 1900s, when the railway line development is at its peak. Before the building's construction, the Railway Station has been opened in 1886, the Resident Station and in 1892, the Jalan Sultan Station located close to the current Puduraya Bus Station. At that time, it is just a humble temporarily wooden station. This original first station, the Resident Station is located to the south of the current location.

The Resident Station, named as such due to its proximity to the official residence of British Resident.

The Jalan Sultan Station.

With the increasing number of passenger and usage of trains, including the growth of Kuala Lumpur, a new larger station was design to replace the stations built in 1886 and 1892. The building construction was commissioned in 1900 consist of three platform and a simple open-air station. An acting architect of Malayan Public Work Department, Authur Benison Hubback is responsible with the building's design. The building was open on 1st August 1910. The construction cost for the building is estimated at $23,000.

The station was in operation in 1911. With the opening of Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, the Resident Station was demolished and the Jalan Sultan Station was replaced by a smaller terminal station.

The Railway Station has been upgraded several time in the past. By the year 1914, the Station has already 4 railways in it. And, in 1915, an extension of the Station consist of a 30-room Hotel and several other buildings were built and the construction cost is estimated at $1,000,669.

At the opposite direction of the Station located in Lot 13, 14 and 23 at Jalan Perdana and Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin stands the Building of KTMB Headquarter. The building were originally built as the new F. M. S Railway Administration Headquarters under the plan of C.E Spooner from 1901-1909. The cost is estimated at $508,000 and was offered to Ang Seng contractor. The construction started in 1914 but was delayed due to the outbreak of World War I. The construction is finally completed in 1917 with a cost of $780,422. (All in Straits Settlement Dolar). The building also severely damage during the outbreaks of World War II.

The Railway Station witnessed several modifications and upgrades, including the electrification work to the railway in 1995. After serving as the main Station of KTM for many years, it currently been reduced to a mere station of KTM Komuter as all operations of Intercity train were relocated at Kuala Lumpur Sentral located at the south of the station.

The train Station in 1929

The present station

Masjid Jamek Kuala Lumpur

This month architecture segment will cover the second landmark in Kuala Lumpur, the Masjid Jamek Kuala Lumpur. The masjid is also one of the oldest mosque in the Malaysian Capital. It is also the center of Islam in the city before the function been shifted to the new National Mosque. The mosque were also known as Masjid Sultan Abdul Samad, named after the Sultan of Selangor, His Highness the Sultan Abdul Samad.

British administration at this period of time adapting the use of Islamic architecture as the official design in developing public building in Kuala Lumpur, as can be seen from the mosque's design. Adapting the Mughal and Moor design, the wall's red and white stripes also greatly resembles the architectural design of mosque in Cordova, Spain. There are two major and several other minarets and mughal's design dome in the center.

HISTORY

The mosque construction was commissioned in 1909, where the British Administration at that time wants to provide a place of worship for the muslims civil servants. Thus, a mosque was built on the site of the first Muslim cemetery in Kuala Lumpur. The mosque was design by Author Benison Hubback, the acting Architect of Kuala Lumpur. He previously served in public work department in India. The mosque location is at the bank of Sungai Gombak and really near to the New Government Office (currently known as Sultan Abdul Samad Building).

The foundation stone was put by His Highness the Sultan of Selangor at that time, Sultan Sir Alaeddin Suleiman Shah on 23rd March 1909. The estimated cost for the construction was $32,615 where $20,000 of it were funded by the government. The rest is the collection from the people. It takes 9 months to complete. The opening ceremony were officiated on 23rd December 1909. Earlier, the jamaah will perform their ablution in the river nearby, as several steps of stair was also constructed into the river. It has been demolished nowadays due to the heavy pollution of the river. The masjid which among the oldest in Kuala Lumpur served as the center of Islamic activities in Kuala Lumpur until it was shifted to the new constructed National Mosque in 1967.

PROBLEMS

1. Trapped by two rivers

The location of the mosque which is at the confluence of Gombak and Klang rivers make it impossible for the government to expand the mosque to make it larger, especially to accommodate the rising size of congregation using the mosque. Even though renovation and expansion has been made several times in 1983-1984. The rapid development of Kuala Lumpur also taking its toll to the masjid as the mosque becomes trapped with no more room to spare and thus, makes the expansion of the mosque were no longer an option.

2. Flood

The name 'Kuala Lumpur' which literally means a muddy confluence is not just for show. The two rivers brought itself a heavy size of mud especially during the rainy season, and its become worse during flood. The mosque suffers from three major floods in 1926, 1971 and the latest in 2003. The mosque were covered with mud and the mosque's right side wall were also collapsed due to the cascade of water in the flood.

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

For today architecture segment, we will cover the building that has been a landmark of Kuala Lumpur for many years, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. The building is almost a smaller version of Malaysian Westminster Palace. The building were named after the Sultan of Selangor during the construction of the building began, His Highness the Sultan Abdul Samad.

The building is a 17.5m two-storey building. In the middle, there standing the Clock Tower with a height of 41.5m and three domes. The building covers an area of 10,200 meter square.

HISTORY

Kuala Lumpur in 1900

After the Sultanate of Selangor became a British Protectorate, the British Administration wanted to build a government office to govern the state efficiently. At that time, the Capital of Selangor, Klang is not a strategic location for administration as it is too far from the more developed area like Kuala Lumpur. The Sultan Abdul Samad who ruled from 1857 to 1898 later consent to change the State Capital from Klang to Kuala Lumpur.

When Kuala Lumpur became the Capital of Selangor, it only consists of several streets of shop houses and several non-prominent government office buildings. Thus, the Resident of Selangor at that time, W.E Maxwell wanted the new government office to be a prominent landscape of Kuala Lumpur. The idea and architectural design has started as early in 1889, when Maxwell invited an English Architect Arthur Charles Alfred Norman as State Architect and C.E Spooner from Ceylon as State Engineer. The original plan of the building from Norman was adapting the Classical English Rennaisance concept. But, Spooner does not satisfy with the design. Later, a young architect named Bidwell has made a modification with Norman design, adapting the Mahometan style concept of Moor and Moghul design as the main architectural design of the building.

The building construction was commissioned in 1894. On October 6, 1894, the ground breaking ceremony of the building was done by the Governor of Straits Settlements, Sir Charles B.H. Mitchell. The estimated cost of the construction was $152,000 and will take 2 years and 7 months to complete. After the construction fully completed on April 1897, the real expenses was $152,824. The building materials were delivered from masonry in Brickfield. The building was inaugurated by the Resident-General of the Federated Malay States, Sir Frank Swettenham on April 4, 1897 and was known as the New Government Office. Among the offices that been located here were Government Secretariat Office, State Council Chamber, Post Office, Sanitary Board, Judicial Commissioner, Public Work Department and District Office.

New Government Office

In 1948, when the Federation of Malaya was formed to replace Malayan Union, the building was renamed as Federal Secretariat. The building still retains its function after the independence of Malaya in 1957 and the formation of Malaysian in 1963. It is until 1974 where all of the State of Selangor Government offices were relocated to Shah Alam. The Federal Government also relocated its office to new building at Jalan Duta. And, for the first time, the building was renamed Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad. A major renovation works takes place in 1978, takes 6 years to complete with an expenses of RM 17.2 million. The roof was change into a new one, and the wooden dome was change with a copper dome. The Supreme Court, Appeal Court and Malaya High Court were placed here in 1978 before it had been relocated in 2007 at a new complex in Jalan Duta. The Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture of Malaysia currently occupied the building.

Below is some of the panorama of the building. The Moor and Moghul architecture exist in the building later became a standard architecture design in any construction built during the time of British Administration in Malaya.

EVENT

A historical event witness by the building is when Malaya achieving her independence from United Kingdom in 1957. This is the place where the Union Jack flag was replaced by Jalur Gemilang for the first time. It is also a venue of New Year Celebration every January 1 and Independence Parade every August 31. It is also the place of Trooping the Colour ceremony and Warriors Day Celebration.

Independence Parade

2011 New Year Celebration

Masjid Cina

Assalamualaikum and Peace be upon all of you.
Welcome to my blog.

Chinese New Year Celebration is still two weeks away, but the festive celebration can be seen anywhere. Yesterday, I went to Jaya Jusco to search a new comic for my collection. The Chinese New Year sale has already started. It gives me an idea for my architecture post for this month, The Chinese Mosque.


MASJID CINA (Chinese Mosque)

Just like its name, Masjid Jubli Perak Sultan Ismail Petra @ Masjid Beijing is the first mosque built in Malaysia using the Chinese architecture. It is located at Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas, Kelantan Darul Naim. The mosque construction takes about 3 years to complete. The mosque’s design is identical with Masjid Niujie, Beijing.

The construction of the mosque sparks some controversial issue especially on political matters. Most mosques in Malaysia commonly used Arabic architecture. Nevertheless, the construction still goes on and it well received by many Malaysian.

Masjid Al-Haram

Assalamualaikum and Peace be upon all of you.
Welcome to my blog.

The architectural segment for this month covers the holiest sites in Islam, Masjid al-Haram. Masjid al-Haram means “The sacred mosque”. It is the biggest and oldest mosque in the world. The mosque located at Makkah al-Mukkaramah, and surrounds the Kaabah, the place which Muslims turn towards while offering daily prayers. The mosque consist of internal and outer praying space and during the Hajj, it can accommodate almost 4 million people.

Currently, the structure covers an area of 400,800 square meters (99 acres).


EXPANSION

The construction of the Mosque outer wall started in 692 during the Umayyad Empire. At that time, the mosque was a small open area with Kaabah at the center. In 1570, the mosque is renovated again by Sultan Selim II’s private architect. The renovation resulted with a domed roof replaced the flat one and decorated with calligraphy inside of it and a new support columns. The renovation took place again in 1620s after the mosque is damaged by rain. This time, a new stone arcade is added, the marble floor was retiled and three more minarets were built. Later, no renovation been made for almost three centuries.

Masjidil Haram in 1951 after the last renovation

The current architecture and design of the mosque is done during the Saudi era. Almost 4 renovations were made resulted the further expansion of the mosque. The latest expansion started in 2007 and is expected to last in 2020.

The expected look of Masjidil Haram in 2020

INSIDE THE MASJID AL-HARAM


Kaabah

The Kiblat of all Muslim. The Muslim will faces the Kaabah in their daily prayer.

Kaabah

Interior of Kaabah

One question from me, When we are praying inside the Kaabah, which direction should we face?

The answer is :-

Inside of Kaabah, you can face anywhere you like. :D

Zam-Zam Well

The well located in Masjid al-Haram. According to my relatives who has went there for Hajj, the taste of the water differs when drink it in Makkah and outside of Makkah. More tastier when drink it in Makkah.

Zam Zam Well

The original structures of Zam Zam Well

IMAMS


Imams at Haram Sharif are :-

Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais

1. Sheikh Dr Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, Chief of Imams of Masjid al-Haram
2. Sheikh Dr Saud Al-Shuraim, Deputy Chief of Imams of Masjid al-Haram
3. Sheikh Abdullah Awad Al-Johany
4. Sheikh Mahir Al-Muaiqely
5. Sheikh Khaled Al-Ghamdi
6. Sheikh Dr Salih Bin Abdullah Al-Humaid
7. Sheikh Dr Usaama bin Abdullah Al-Khayyat
8. Sheikh Dr Salih Al-Talib
9. Sheikh Muhammed Al-Subayyil
10. Sheikh Faisal Al-Ghazzawi

Taj Mahal ; The symbol of love

Assalamualaikum and Peace be upon all of you.
Welcome to my blog.

“What should be sacrifice for love?”

This is the popular quote in the Nur Kasih drama that reaching its ending soon. Or in Malay, “Apa yang perlu dikorbankan demi cinta?” Even the original slot still has a few episodes left, the tv3’s evening slot from 7.25pm until 8.00pm has been used for Nur Kasih without any interruption from commercial break. Still remember in the last time episode, Nur Amina is depressed by her husband decision for not taking her to his trip to India even though he has promised to Nur Amina that they will take 3 days off and take her to Taj Mahal. The last minute decision by Adam led to a second separation between him and Nur Amina. What happen next will be aired tonight. (Very excited..)

The Taj Mahal is a tomb built by The Mughal Emperor at that time, Shah Jahan for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It takes about 20 years to complete. It is also among the Mughal Empire finest architecture. The Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The construction of Taj Mahal started in 1632 and finished around 1653.


ARCHITECTURE


The central focus of Taj Mahal is the tomb. Like any other Mughal’s Tomb, it used Persian origin as its basic elements. The white marble structure stands on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical building with an iwan (an arch-shaped doorway) topped by a large dome and finial. The base structure is essentially a large, multi-chambered cube with chamfered corners, forming an unequal octagon that is approximately 55 meters on each of the four long sides. On each of these sides, a massive pishtaq, or vaulted archway, frames the iwan with two similarly shaped, arched balconies stacked on either side.

This motif of stacked pishtaqs is replicated on the chamfered corner areas, making the design completely symmetrical on all sides of the building. Four minarets frame the tomb, one at each corner of the plinth facing the chamfered corners. The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan; the actual graves are at a lower level.

The minarets are about 40 meters tall.


HISTORY

Even though Shah Jahan has three wives, his most favorite is Mumtaz Mahal. Her real name is Arjumand Banu Begum. She is also the mother to Mughal well-known Emperor, Aurangzeb. She died during the birth of her fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum. The grief of Shah Jahan led to an inspiration of Taj Mahal. Arjumand married with Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan) when she is 19. Even Khurram has other 2 wives, their relations is nothing more than a status of marriage. Arjumand is the one gain the attention of Khurram and the intimacy, affection, attention and favour to arjumand exceed any other. Thus, she gets the title Mumtaz Mahal Begum (Chosen One of the Palace).

Mumtaz Mahal had a very deep and loving marriage with Shah Jahan. Even during her lifetime, poets would extol her beauty, gracefulness and compassion. Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jahan's trusted companion, travelling with him all over the Mughal Empire. His trust in her was so great that he even gave her his imperial seal, the “Muhr Uzah”. Mumtaz was portrayed as the perfect wife with no aspirations to political power in contrast to Nur Jehan, the wife of Jahangir who had wielded considerable influence in the previous reign. She was a great influence on him, apparently often intervening on behalf of the poor and destitute. But she also enjoyed watching elephant and combat fights performed for the court. It was quite common for women of noble birth to commission architecture in the Mughal Empire.

The Taj Mahal is the symbol of love to her beauty and life.
More Information can be refer here.

Istana Nurul Iman

Assalamualaikum and Peace be upon all of you.
Welcome to my blog.

Aerial view of Istana Nurul Iman

Istana Nurul Iman

Istana Nurul Iman is our topic for this month Architectural segment. Belong to HRH Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, it is currently the World’s Largest Residential Palace. The area of the Palace is about 2 152 782 square feet. The palace name literally means, Palace of the Light of Faith. The palace is designed by Leandro V. Locsin, and built by the Filipino firm, Ayala International. The interior is designed by Khuan Chew, Design Principal of KCA International.

Owner of the Palace, HRH Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah with his 2 consorts, Queen Saleha and Princess Consort Azrinaz Mazhar

In its interior, it is consist of 1788 rooms, 564 chandeliers, 44 stairwells, 18 elevators, 13 satellite dishes and 257 bathrooms. The cost of the palace is $US 400 mil. Of course it is not a big deal to a monarch who has an estimate of $US 40 billion in his account. It is both the seat of Brunei's government and the location of the prime minister's office. In addition to Audience and State Rooms, there is a Throne Chamber used for various occasions such as the proclamation of the Crown Prince and the annual Birthday Investiture. Also includes, mosque for 1500 people, a banquet hall for 4000 guest, stables, airplanes and helicopters.

Waiting Hall

The palace is not open for public except for 10 days of Ramadhan for Tadarus and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

WORLD LARGEST PALACE

In term of World Largest Palace, the Nurul Iman Palace is competing with others around the world, namely the Buckingham Palace (828,818 square feet), Royal Palace of Madrid (1,453,122 square feet), Stockholm Palace and not to mention The Forbidden City.