Kuala Lumpur’s Evolving Architecture
Posted by Brody on December 26, 2008Malaysia’s capital is Kuala Lumpur. It is the fastest growing city in the region and has become a popular tourist destination. Many use it as a gateway to other parts of Malaysia. In addition to the many opportunities for shopping, dining, and exploring the local culture and art, Kuala Lumpur offers some incredible architecture for the aesthetically inclined.
Kuala Lumpur does not have a distinct influence. Instead it is a blend of Asian, Islamic, colonial and modern styles. Since colonialism in Kuala Lumpur wasn’t that long ago, examples of this period include Tudor, Grecian-Spanish, Neo-Gothic, and Moorish styles. Of course, these styles were adapted to the resources available in Malaysia and the humid, hot climate. Old shophouses have survived, most built prior to World War II. These show the European and Straits Chinese influences and can be found in areas such as Chinatown, Jalan Doraisamy, and Old Market Square.
The mid-to-late twentieth century saw a rapid expansion of the city when buildings began to reflect a more Islamic and local style. Some of these structures were designed after traditional Malay items such as keris and head dress. Other buildings feature Islamic geometric motifs. Still other buildings were designed to imitate places of worship. Some examples of the latter are the national Planetarium and the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.
Turn of the millennium architecture follows a late and postmodern style. Structures with an all glass shell can be found around the city. The Petronas Twin Towers, which are the iconic image of the city, are a mixture of this glass shell construction combined with Islamic influences. They were constructed to resemble Islamic art motifs.
Some of the buildings of note include the Tudor-style Royal Selangor club, the Neo-Gothic St. Mary’s Cathedral, and the National Art Gallery which reflects Victorian architecture. The Telecom Museum is a good example of Grecian-Spanish influences while Neo Moorish or Mughal architecture is visible in the Jamek Mosque, the KTM railway station, and the sultan Abdul Samad Building.
The city is constantly developing new projects. Construction in development include The Pavilion, the Gardens, and additional lots of KLCC. Visitors can make their architectural exploration of the city personal by choosing lodgings that offer styles based on the various eras and influences. For example, some of the 5 star hotels in Kuala Lumpur feature colonial influences while others are distinctly modern in style.
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