Sultan Abdul Samad Building
Jalan Raja, 50150 Kuala Lumpur

   




This sight is located in Kuala Lumpur. For information about Kuala Lumpur, go to the Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide. If you are planning to tour Kuala Lumpur on your own, read also the free AsiaExplorers Self-Guided Tour of Kuala Lumpur Heritage Sites. For country information, refer to the Malaysia Travel Guide

 The Sultan Abdul Samad Building is the centrepiece of colonial architecture in Kuala Lumpur. The Sultan Abdul Samad Building was designed by RAJ Bidwell, the chief draughtsman, and construction by the Public Works Department, under its state engineer and director, CE Spooner. Spooner conceptualized the "Mahometan" [sic] style for the building, referring to the Neo-Saracenic style that characterizes several major buildings in British India. I visited this building a couple of times to photograph it for AsiaExplorers. I decided to use the above photograph although the sky is a bit bright, because the buildings are clearer.



The Sultan Abdul Samad building in Kuala Lumpur.


Sultan Abdul Samad Building was formerly known simply as Government Offices. Construction began in 1894 and the building was completed in 1897. Constructed entirely of bricks, the building has a front façade which is 450 ft (137.2m) in length, and an imposing porch in the centre. The porch holds three horseshoe arches, and the piers supporting them are 4 ft thick. The 135 ft (41.2m) central tower holds a clock that was first tolled during Queen Victoria's birthday parade in 1897. The tower is topped by a copper dome that is in turn topped by a copper chatri. The stairways are housed in two circular towers on both sides on the central porch.

Credit should be given to CE Spooner for completing this prominent building within the allocated funds, which was $152,000 straits dollars. Originally known as the new Government Offices, it housed the Public Works Department and Telegraphic Offices.


























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About the Author: AsiaExplorers is researched and written by Timothy Tye. We take reasonable care to check and verify the accuracy of the content. However, we disclaim any responsibility for any inconvenience, mishap, injury or death resulting from following the advice provided directly or indirectly by AsiaExplorers and the comments on its pages. All the photographs in AsiaExplorers are available for publication. Please contact AsiaExplorers at the following email address for your enquiries: