Kuala Lumpur architecture has won accolades all over the world. A beautiful amalgamation of the old and new styles, the architecture of the city has added great opulence to the Kula Lumpur skyline.
Kuala Lumpur architecture reflects a fine amalgamation of the colonial, Asian, Malay, Islamic and contemporary forms of architecture. The prominent feature of the buildings at Kuala Lumpur is that almost all the buildings hold some local or Islamic motifs over them. The architectural pattern of these buildings is greatly influenced by many conventional items of the Malay like head-gear and the Keris and the Islamic geometrical patterns. The three prominent styles that could be noted in the building plan and designing are categorized as Neo Moorish (Mughal), Tudor & Victorian and Grecian-Spanish style.
Influence of Neo Moorish architecture on Kuala Lumpur
The influence of the Neo Moorish style of architecture, also known as the Mughal style of architecture, can be seen in the architecture of Kuala Lumpur during the colonial rule. The buildings designed in the Moorish style are mostly located at Dataran Merdeka, China Town, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin and Jalan Duta. Some of the famous buildings of Kuala Lumpur designed in the Neo Moorish style are:
- KTM Headquarters
- Sultan Abdul Samad Building
- Masjid Jamek
- Kuala Lumpur Memorial Library
- Kuala Lumpur Railway Station
- Old Sessions & Magistrates Courts
- Old Kuala Lumpur High Court
- InfoKraft (Textile Museum)
- Bandaraya Theatre
- National History Museum
Influence of Tudor & Victorian architecture on Kuala Lumpur
The Tudor & Victorian form of architecture influenced the Malay architecture in the 20th century. The prominent feature of this Tudor style of architecture was that the buildings were created with such precision that would acclimatize them to the weather conditions of the place. Thus, the buildings built in Kuala Lumpur were structured in a manner that would help them resist the tropical climate of the city. Deteran Merdeka and the Royal Selangor Club are the fine examples of the Tudor style of architecture.
A lot of Victorian styled buildings constructed during the colonial era can also be found within Kuala Lumpur. Mostly the schools have been designed in the Victorian style. Some of the finest examples of this style include the Methodist Boys School, Convent Bukit Nanas, the Victorian Institution, the National Art Gallery, Industrial Court Building, Mansem, the PAM Center, Malaysia Tourism Center and the Coliseum Theater.
Influence of Neo-Gothic architecture on Kuala Lumpur
The religious buildings housed in the city depict the
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influence of the Neo-Gothic style of architecture. The Bukit Nanas Community Center, St. Mary's Cathedral, Church of the Holy Rosary and St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, are the famous buildings constructed in the Neo-Gothic style.
Influence of Grecian-Spanish architecture on Kuala Lumpur
The use of red and white bricks and the shop houses are the finest example of the Grecian-Spanish architectural influence on the Kuala Lumpur architecture. Some of the famous buildings of Kuala Lumpur constructed under the influence of Grecian-Spanish architecture are St. John's Institution and shop houses in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Chinatown, Tengkat Tong Shin, Jalan Doraisamy, and Bukit Bintang.
Influence of Malay architecture on Kuala Lumpur
Many of the buildings in Kuala Lumpur are designed in the form of some traditional items like the head gear, Keris and sword. This marks the influence of Malay architecture. Some of the popular buildings influenced by this form of architecture are:
- Menara Telekom
- Menara Maybank
- The National Library building in Kuala Lumpur
- Istana Budaya
- Muzium Negara
Influence of Islamic architecture on Kuala Lumpur
The domes and minarets are the prominent features of the Islamic style of architecture. A number of popular buildings of Kuala Lumpur with domes and minarets have also integrated Islamic geometrical symbols, Arabic calligraphy and other motifs. This symbolizes the influence of Islamic architecture on the designing and construction of the buildings. Many of the religious buildings in Kuala Lumpur are designed in the Islamic architectural pattern. The Wilayah Masjid, the Negara Masjid, the Dayabumi Complex, the National Planetarium and the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia are some of the examples of Islamic architecture.
Influence of Contemporary architecture on Kuala Lumpur
Modern architecture influenced Kuala Lumpur in the 19th and 20th centuries. Various enormous sized buildings with the facade of glass and contemporary interiors were constructed. The Petronas Twin Tower and the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center are the finest examples of the high technology, engineering and designing of the modern architecture.
Kuala Lumpur architecture is renowned world wide. With the influence of technology and modern engineering methodologies, a number of structures are being constructed which have marked a remarkable change in the Kula Lumpur skyline.
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