KUALA LUMPUR HERITAGE LEGACY

Merdeka Square

Kuala Lumpur is a realtively new city. It was established around 1857 as a small settlement for

River confluence

Chinese miners. It took place where two small rivers meet : the Gombak River (Sungai Gombak) and the Klang River (Sungai Klang). These two rivers have kept carrying alluvions. The name for the city originates from their muddy appearance as it actually means 'muddy confluence'.

→ Kuala Lumpur

Before becoming the modern southeastern city of today, Kuala Lumpur had a rich historical past, which can still be seen in the old city-center. This perimeter is rather small. It is limited in size having Chinatown on one side and roughly spreading to Merdeka Square area. The heritage quarter has two major historical interests : the original colonial townhouses and the British colonial monuments that were built later during the era of the British colony of Malaya.

1. The colonial townhouses.

Heritage trails

The only real way to appreciate the beauty of the original buildings is to walk leisurely in this area. The Malaysian Tourist Board provides maps for self walking-tours in this section of town. Some houses have recently been revamped and look absolutely gorgeous in their new vivid colors. Since there seems to exist an active conservation movement, some have been transformed in cafés, restaurants, hotels or simply shops. This is a positive trend but unfortunately many of these lovely townhouses still await better days. To admire their great charm, you must look up to catch a glimpse of all the different facades. They have often kept their foundation dates.

This is a busy and lively part of town with a mixed blend of cultures : Chinese, Indians, Malays and today also with migrants from Nepal or Bangladesh.

2. The British Neo-Mughal Legacy.

The country became a British colony from the 18^th to 20^th centuries (British Malaya). It gained its independence on 31 August 1957. Yet, it only became a federation called Malaysia in September 1963.

Rickshaw at Central Market

→ British Malaya

During the British period, an English architect named A.C. Norman (1858-1944) was commissioned to design some of the downtown public buildings between 1893 and 1903. A.C. Norman had worked in Africa and India before. As he had been inspired by the Mughal architecture, he created a new style known as Indo-Saracenic or more prosaically Neo-Mughal. His successor Arthur Benison Hubback (1871-1948) continued building monuments in the same style.

→ Arthur Charles Alfred Norman

     Arthur Benison Hubback

Many of these iconic monuments stand on Merdeka Square or in its proximity. They are :

• The former Chartered Bank building of Kuala Lumpur (1891) : link

• Sultan Addul Samad building (1897) : link

• Masjid Jamek (Jamek Mosque) (1909) : link

• Old KL Railway Station (1910) : link
  
  
• The Old High Court building (1915) : link
  
  
• Former Natural History Museum :  link
  
  
• Former KTM headquarters (1917) : link

→  Architecture of Kuala Lumpur

It is encouraging to see that many conservationists in Malaysia have actively fought to preserve the country heritage and avoid such past mistakes done in Singapore for instance. KL historical legacy is worth the attention of UNESCO. Hopefully, the old townhouses will continue being restored in an effort to preserve Malaysia's national heritage for future generations and for the greatest enjoyment of the tourists visiting the country.

→ Keeping the past perfect (Southeast Asia Globe)

Christian Sorand

PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERIES:

• KL Colonial Townhouses
• KL Neo-Mughal Colonial Heritage