Colonial Architecture in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, our nation's capital is a relatively young city, which is why most of its colonial buildings were built during the late Victorian or early Edwardian era. The architecture styles include Moorish, Tudor, Victorian, Neo-Gothic, Grecian-Spanish and much more. What's special is most of these buildings were built to suit the local resources and climate. Here is some pictures of the most famous colonial buildings that today stand as a landmark and memorial to our colonial heritage.

1. Neo-Moorish

The colonial rule of the British introduced the fast developing Kuala Lumpur to the Neo-Moorish, or locally known as the Mughal architecture. Some iconic buildings designed in the Neo Moorish style include:

KTM Headquarters

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Kuala Lumpur Railway Station

 Kuala Lumpur City Memorial Library

InfoKraft Textile Museum

Old Kuala Lumpur High Court

Bandaraya Theater

2. Tudor 

A prominent feature of the Tudor architecture style was the buildings were built with such precision that would acclimatize them to their environment's weather conditions. This is why the Tudor buildings in Kuala Lumpur were designed to help resist the hot and damp climate of the tropics. Large exposed wooden beams in half-timbered walls was the typical model for most Tudor styled buildings in the country such as these:

Royal Selangor Club

St. Mary's Cathedral

3. Victorian

The Victorian architecture style was also popular choice, naturally during the late Victorian and early Edwardian era. Many colonial schools were designed in this style. Victorian buildings usually are made up of elegant proportioned columns and plaster.

Victoria Institution

4. Neo-Gothic

Many religious buildings in the city are built in the Neo-Gothic style, though other buildings were build in this style too. Some fine examples include:

Church of the Holy Rosary

St. Andrew's Church

King's House of Carcosa Seri Negara

5. Grecian-Spanish

The use of red and white bricks are the most prominent feature of the Grecian-Spanish architectural influence in Kuala Lumpur. Before World War II, most two story shop houses were inspired from Straits Chinese and European traditions. Other buildings also are designed this way. Some of them include:

St. John's Institution