To get a feel of the city’s architectural past, Hanna Hussein checks out the free Heritage Guided Tour Of Dataran Merdeka
NO matter what time of the day it is, the ever busy and hectic city of Kuala Lumpur retains its charm. The city has gone through much in its development — from tin mining and heavy flooding to British rule and the Japanese Occupation — to grow into one of the world’s top urban destinations.
Although Kuala Lumpur is mushrooming rapidly with skyscrapers reshaping the skyline, it has not lost its rich historical identity. Many of the old iconic buildings still stand and some have been restored.
Today, these architectural landmarks are major tourist attractions. The thrice-weekly Heritage Guided Tour Of Dataran Merdeka, for instance, will take tourists on a walk of these buildings. It is organised by Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
KUALA LUMPUR CITY GALLERY
This magnificent Moghul-inspired structure, which is now the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery, was built in 1898 by architects A.C. Norman and J. Russell to meet the printing needs of the-then British Malaya Administration. This was where the Government reports, official government books and even train tickets were printed.
Facing the KL City Gallery is the Padang, or better known as Dataran Merdeka today. This was where the British Union Jack was lowered and the flag of the independent Federation Of Malaya raised for the first time on Aug 31, 1957.
KUALA LUMPUR CITY LIBRARY
Adjoining the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery is the KL City Library. It is the first public library in Kuala Lumpur and the first in Peninsular Malaysia to go online. It is also a research centre there you can read up on Kuala Lumpur history, its administration, its development and see exhibitions and artifacts connected to the heritage.
Visitors can browse through a collection of 50,000 titles of both adult and children’s books. It also has a good collection of audio and visual material as well as ebooks.
VICTORIAN FOUNTAIN
The Victorian Fountain, which features very lovely art nouveau tile work, was brought in from England. It is estimated to be more than 100 years old. For years I had believed it was a wishing fountain where people tossed in coins and made a wish. In reality, it was built to provide drinking water for horses during the British colonial years.
RESTORAN WARISAN
Built in 1919, this three-storey symmetrical building with a protruding porch and arches on the ground level expresses Moghul architecture eloquently. Now a restaurant, it used to be the Chartered Bank, the first ever bank to open in Kuala Lumpur. The location was chosen mainly because it was near the police headquarters in Bluff Road (now Jalan Bukit Aman).
NATIONAL TEXTILE MUSEUM
Built in 1896 as the Federated Malay States Railway Station, this grand beautiful building now houses the National Textile Museum. Its distinctive red and white banding is a typical style design by British architect A.B. Hubback.
The museum showcases the art of batik making and textile weaving using indigenous materials such as kain gerus, pua, songket and telepuk. You can also see samples of textiles of historical value and current fashions and designs.
SULTAN ABDUL SAMAD BUILDING
The Sultan Abdul Samad Building is the first example of Moghul architecture in the country and features a 41m-high clock tower, arched colonnades and copper domes. The majestic building, built between 1894 and 1897, now serves as the office for the Ministry Of Information, Communications And Culture. It used to be an administrative office, High Court and Supreme Court.
FORMER HIGH COURT BUILDING
Another colonial building with a Moorish design but is less famous than the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is the former High Court Building. Construction started in 1912 and it was completed in 1915. The two-storey building with four towers first housed the KL High Court, as its name indicated. But the court was later moved to bigger premises in the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.
CITY THEATRE
The Old City Hall was built in 1896. With its black domes and an interesting roofline defined by Islamic arches and dome-shaped pavilions, it stands out from the nearby buildings. Today, it is one of the oldest theatres in the country and those fortunate enough to catch a performance here will appreciate the experience of old-world glamour.
CATHEDRAL OF ST MARY
The Cathedral of St Mary is the first brick church in the Federated Malay States. It is also one of the oldest Anglican churches in the region. Built in 1895, its pipe organ is a masterpiece made by Henry Willis, one of the greatest organ makers in the world.
ROYAL SELANGOR CLUB
The Royal Selangor Club was built in 1884 as an exclusive club for the growing expatriate community back then. Today, its members comprise mainly locals. Those who join the Heritage Guided Tours Of Dataran Merdeka will also get the privilege of entering the club for refreshments at the Long Bar, so they can imagine what it was like during the old days.