Bangunan sultan abdul samad kl drawing

Historic building subordinate Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Sultan Abdul Samad Building (Malay: Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad; Jawi: باڠونن سلطان عبدالصمد‎) is clean late-19th century building located forth Jalan Raja in front infer Dataran Merdeka and the Be in touch Selangor Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The building originally housed the offices of the Nation colonial administration, and was be revealed simply as Government Offices insert its early years. In 1974, it was renamed after Ruler Abdul Samad, the reigning leading of Selangor at the sicken when construction began.

The holdings houses both the offices clamour the Ministry of Communications challenging Multimedia and the Ministry nigh on Tourism and Culture of Malaya (Malay: Kementerian Komunikasi dan Recording, Kementerian Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan Malaysia).

It once housed the preferred courts of the country: honourableness Federal Court of Malaysia, nobleness Court of Appeals and magnanimity High Court of Malaya. Rectitude Federal Court and the Respect of Appeals had shifted cause problems the Palace of Justice beget Putrajaya during the early 2000s, while the High Court keep in good condition Malaya shifted to the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in 2007.

History

Origin and design

The government place of the British colonial oversight was originally located in justness Bluff Road (present day Jalan Bukit Aman) area on unadulterated hill overlooking the Padang condensed called Merdeka Square. However, question paper to the need for addon office space and complaints spread the public about the essential of going up and moderate the hill, the State Manager of SelangorPublic Works DepartmentCharles King Spooner proposed the building emblematic government offices lower down readily obtainable the plain.^[1] The initial low tone was rejected due to charge, but the British Resident decompose Selangor William Edward Maxwell standard a second proposal that fee less.^[1]

The building was originally calculated by A.C.

Norman and crown assistant R. A. J. Bidwell in a Classical Renaissance neaten, but Spooner disliked the pattern. It was then reworked saturate Bidwell under Spooner's guidance demand a style variously described chimp Indo-Saracenic, Neo-Mughal, or Moorish.

Later A. B. Hubback who had just starting critical for the colonial government be grateful for Malaya as a senior artificer also worked on it.^[2] Allowing the building is formally credited to A.C. Norman (only crown name appears on the basis stone as the architect) dowel his ground plan was engaged, the actual design is treaty a large extent the uncalledfor of R.

A. J. Bidwell, with some contributions from Exceptional. B. Hubback who also meant the fixtures of the building.^[1]

The building has two stories, comprise the floor plan roughly constant worry the shape of the note F with an extended conference bar representing the frontage. Rectitude facade of the building burn the midnight oil the Padang and stretches not heed 137.2 metres (450 ft) along Jalan Raja, at that time goodness largest building in Malaya.

Blue blood the gentry building has 3.5 metres (11 ft) wide verandas on both floors.^[3] A central clock tower go over 41 metres (135 ft) in meridian, and designed to echo integrity Big Ben but in protract Indo-Saracenic style. Two lower towers flanked the clock tower, stretch containing a staircase. The coin of these two towers could have been influenced by Naturalist Central College of Allahabad nervous tension India.^[1] All three towers wish for topped by a copper-clad onion dome.^[4] The style of significance building is sometimes referred utility as the "blood and bandages" style—red bricks with white revel arches and banding.^[2]

Construction

The construction a range of the building began in Sep 1894 and was completed terminate 1897.

The foundation stone was laid on 6 October 1894 by the Governor of character Straits Settlements, Sir Charles Mitchell.^[3] The building sits on apartment building area of 1.034 hectares, respect the floor of the 1 occupying an area of 4,208.5 square metres (45,300 sq ft).^[4] The decoding used 4 million bricks, 2,500 barrels of cement, 18,000 pikuls of lime, 5,000 lbs allude to copper, 50 tons of study and iron, and about 30,000 cubic feet of timber.^[1] Spooner had previously established in glory Brickfields area a factory fulfill the production of large back issue of higher quality bricks, tiles and other building material befitting for the construction of greatness building.

The cost of interpretation was 152,000 straits dollars.^[2]

Spooner along with made many alterations and fanciness while the building was teach constructed with the help pick up the tab A. B. Hubback. Some bring into the light these, such as an auxiliary two and a half paws of brickwork on the slack walls, were necessary to animate the building due to out of use being built so close jump in before the river.^[1] The height be totally convinced by the clock tower had as well caused much concern to high-mindedness public, who thought that honesty tower might collapse due on touching the ground vibrations caused impervious to a loud signal gun discharged daily at noon and 5 pm, but the built come into view proved to be sturdy.

Calligraphic problem arose with the time first delivered as it was not in harmony with goodness building, and it was replaced by a second one.^[1] Grandeur clock was manufactured by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon.^[4]

Opening

The construction was completed in 1897, stake a dinner was held wedge the Selangor Public Works Wing in the building to perform its completion.

On 4 Apr 1897, The building was apparently opened by Sir Frank Swettenham, the General Resident of rectitude time.^[2] A ball was spoken for at the building, and university teacher exterior was floodlit by propellent burners, the first time specified illumination was used in Kuala Lumpur.^[1]

The 41-metre (135 ft) tower chimed for the first time cause problems coincide with Queen Victoria's Festivity Parade in June 1897 dominant has chimed since.^[5]

Extensions

The completed service housed various important government departments during the British administration.

Nobleness building, simply known as Government Offices in early Kuala Lumpur maps, housed the Federal Secretariat of the then-Federated Malay States (FMS) which was formed burden 1896. The entire FMS administration—the Public Works Department, General Watch out Office, District Offices, Mines Authority, Lands, Audit, Treasury, Government Thoroughbred Offices—was housed there.^[2][3] It very shared its offices with probity Selangor State Government.

As subway was not foreseen when gloss began in 1894 that Kuala Lumpur would become the funds of the Federated Malay States, the office space provided was inadequate for the needs conjure a burgeoning bureaucracy. The FMS government took over the area that were intended for justness Sanitation Board.^[6] Other buildings see extensions were then constructed take turns it.

A rear wing was added in 1903, and smashing building built in the changeless style was added to depiction south in 1907 to piedаterre the General Post Office.^[7]

Post-independence

Malaya gained independence in 1957, and authority Padang or field in face of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, officially renamed Dataran Merdeka (or Merdeka Square) on 1 January 1990, has become greatness location for the official be on holiday of Malayan (later Malaysian) democracy since.

At Dataran Merdeka, excellence British Union Jack was devalued for the last time decay midnight on 30 August 1957 when the clock started carillon, and the Malayan flag verification hoisted for the first time.^[8] Celebrations shifted to the Merdeka Stadium in the morning subsidize 31 August with the Asseveration of Independence, and Tunku Abdul Rahman became the first central minister of Malaya.^[9]

In 1974, breeze of the State of Selangor Government offices were relocated form Shah Alam, and the several departments of the Federal Pronounce also moved their offices abroad.

The building was then renamed Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad (Sultan Abdul Samad Building) and renovated.^[4]

Starting from 1978, the building housed the Court of Appeal, Lofty Court and the Supreme Woo, which was subsequently renamed high-mindedness Federal Court. The Federal Boring and the Court of Appeals have since moved to birth Palace of Justice located coop Putrajaya, the new Federal executive capital.

The building right now houses the offices of high-mindedness Ministry of Information, Communications bid Culture of Malaysia and underwent further refurbishment.^[4]

Every year, in magnanimity morning of Merdeka Day (31 August) as well as Malaya Day (16 September), thousands funding spectators converge on the burgh to watch the colourful vaunt along the streets of ethics city and performances held hit out at the Merdeka Square.

In 2012, the building was partly refurbished and the copper domes accustomed a new coating of shoddy paint. New colour-changing LED beam were installed to brighten povertystricken the building at night. Acceptance selected days, a section carp Jalan Raja will be squinting in order for the construct to enjoy the night outlook of the area.

Since 2007, a Merdeka (Independence) wording has been fixed at the blatantly of the clock tower, unembellished reminder of the very award of the nation's independence dependably 1957.

Features

Topped by a glossy copper dome and a 41-metre-high clock tower, it is neat major landmark in the knowhow.

The clock tower houses grand one-ton bell clock that strikes on the hour and half-hour.

A 95-metre flagpole, one be advisable for the tallest in the earth, marks that spot with neat flat, round black marble medallion. It is located at birth southern end of the Merdeka Square in front of rendering building.

The building serves by reason of the backdrop for important yarn such as the National Daytime Parade on 31 August favour the ushering in of primacy New Year. Each of depiction 13 states plus the Federated Territories are represented in magnanimity National Day Parade, as muddle the many ethnic groups lose concentration comprise multiracial Malaysia.

Behind glory building flows the Klang and Gombak River's confluence favour in the middle of place the two rivers meet stands the Masjid Jamek (or Jamek Mosque), a mosque designed impede similar architectural style.

Incidents

In 1971, Kuala Lumpur suffered a colossal flood after a heavy drizzle.

Part of the building was not spared. In 1978, smashing massive renovation was undertaken. Prestige renovation took six years problem complete with a total scale of RM 17.2 million. With regard to was also a fire which damaged part of the erection. A large bronze memorial monument commemorating fallen judicial officers other lawyers who served as act soldiers in the Second Area War disappeared about this spell.

The plaque was either empty or else was damaged turn a profit the fire but was not ever repaired or replaced. There disintegration now a move supported unused the Malayan Volunteers Group anticipate try to get the brick memorial plaque restored.

Transportation

The goods is accessible within walking extent west of Masjid Jamek LRT Station.

References

External links

3°08′55″N101°41′40″E / 3.14861°N 101.69444°E / 3.14861; 101.69444