Malaysia is a country rich in culture, diversity and history. While history is mostly remembered in black and white, there’s no reason why historical landmarks should remain in monochrome. Thanks to a new splash of paint, some refurbishment, or being completely rebuilt, the landmarks featured in this article have been given a new breath of life.
Khoo Kongsi
From the north, we have the Khoo Kongsi complex, whose origins can be traced all the way back to 1851. This huge compound was originally built as a clanhouse for members of the Khoo family, who were among the wealthiest traders of that time.
After a lightning strike in 1901, the complex was burnt down. Rebuilding began a year later, before being completed in 1906.
These premises were home to an amazing hall that houses intricate carvings and beams carved from some of the finest wood. There was also a temple within the complex thatwas dedicated to deities, with many of the Khoo’s ancestral tablets are located.
Today, the Khoo Kongsi clan house hosts operas during the ‘Hungry Ghost Festival’ month and is a popular tourist attraction.
Kellie’s Castle
Moving down south lays Kellie’s Castle in Batu Gajah, Perak.Originally owned by a Scottish planter by the name of William Kellie-Smith, the castle was built as a gift for his wife and to celebrate the birth of their son. The castle was never completed however, as Kellie-Smith contracted pneumonia and passed away.
While it remains unfinished to this day, some of the rooms within the castle have been furnished to give visitors an idea of how it would look like back in the day.
Fun fact: Some scenes from the 1999 ‘Anna and the King’ and 2000 ‘Skyline Cruisers’ were filmed at Kellie’s Castle.
Ipoh Railway Station
An unlikely addition to this list, the Ipoh Railway Station is known as the ‘Taj Mahal’ of Ipoh. Designed by British architectural assistant Arthur Benison, the station has Indo-Saracenic styles with a dash of British Indian colonial architecture. Completed in 1917, this station remains operational to this day, alongside a hotel that goes by the name of Majestic Hotel.
Significant renovations were done during the early turn of the millennium to update the train services, as well as a small part of the station. Completed in 2007, the station is now the ideal place for visitors who want to experience a small piece of Malaysian history.
Fun fact: There is a large square in front of the station called ‘Ipoh Station Square’, and here is the middle is a large memorial that honours fallen soldiers from Perak, during World War I, World War II, The Malayan Emergency, the Indonesian Confrontation and the Re-insurgency Period.
Carcosa Seri Negara
Located in Lake Gardens, Carcosa Seri Negara consists of two colonial mansions – the first known as Carcosa, the other Seri Negara. Carcosa was built in 1897 as the official residence of the first British High Commissioner in Malaya. Designed by Arthur Benison (yes, the same person who conceptualised the Ipoh Railway Station), this mansion has a fusion of Neo-Gothic and Tudor Revival styles.
Seri Negara, on the other hand, features a similar design and was opened in 1913 as the official guest house of Governor of the Straits Settlement. In 1987, both buildings were acquired by the Malaysian government and repurposed into a luxurious heritage boutique hotel.
To preserve the outlook of these buildings, Dulux-AkzoNobel’s leading decorative paint, embarked on a journey to refurbish Carcosa Seri Negara in 2017.This is in line with AkzoNobel’s initiative which focuses on making people’s lives more inspiring and liveable.
Sultan Abdul Samad Building
That iconic building in front of Dataran Merdeka – that’s the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Built in 1897, this building was just known as ‘Government Offices’, as it was used as an office of the British colonial administration.
There is a central clock tower that stands 41m tall, and two towers on each side of the building. Like the Ipoh Railway Station, this building features Indo-Saracenic architectural designs, such as the onion-shaped domes.
Today, this building has no official purpose, but remains an important backdrop for Malaysians celebrating National Day and New Year’s Day. It was refurbished in 2012, when colour-changing LEDs were installed and a new coat of paint was given to give the building a fresh look.
Fun fact: On selected days, the road in front of this building will be closed to allow visitors to enjoy the night scenery of the premise.
Istana Lama Seri Menanti
While it is not currently open to the public due to repairs and upgrading works, Istana Lama Seri Menanti is expected to reopen its doors to the public sometime in 2020.
Located in Negeri Sembilan, this palace was home to the royal family a long time ago. It was constructed entirely of wood and held together with wooden pegs, without the use of nails.
Standing at20 metres tall, this palace features Minangkabau influence in terms of architecture. There are 99 columns that support the main structure, each representing an officer of the palace, or Hulubalang. Four additional columns in the centre represent the four senior officials of the palace, or Orang Empat Istana.
Fun fact: The Istana Lama was built as a replacement for Istana Pulih, which was burnt down early in the 20th century. It was converted into a royal museum in 1992 and is designated as a national heritage site.
While these landmarks are in different states and feature remarkable designs, they have something in common – they have been given a new lease at life thanks to refurbishment, conservation efforts and more importantly, a new coat of paint.
In this regard, Dulux Paints and Coatings is at the forefront of providing exterior paint that not only serve to protect these buildings against the weather, but help to preserve the outlook of these iconic landmarks for future generations.
For more information, visit Dulux website page at https://www.dulux.com.my/en or reach out their colour expert for further assistance.
