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Sultan Abdul Samad Building
 Although
a plaque at the entrance declares AC Norman as the architect, RAJ Bidwell, Chief
Draughtsman, is commonly recognized as carrying out the design. CE Spooner,
State Engineer and Director of the Public Works Department, is credited for
suggesting the use of a 'Mahometan' sic style for the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.
This 'Mahometan' style, also known as 'Neo-Saracenic', came from India where
several major buildings had been built in this style.
Construction began in 1894 and was completed in 1897. It has been noted that
CE Spooner deserved special credit for having completed so important a building
strictly within the amount provided in his original cost of 152,000 Straits
Dollars.
The Sultan Abdul Samad Building was originally known as the new Government Offices
and housed the Public Works Department, the Survey Office, the Treasury, the
Post and Telegraph Offices and some of the departments of the Federated Malay
States.
The largest building of its day, it is constructed entirely of brick, and what
appears to be cream stone is actually plaster covered brick. The front façade
is 137.2m (450 ft) in length with an imposing porch in the centre. The porch
consists of three horseshoe arches, the piers supporting them being nearly 1.2m
(4 ft) in thickness. The 41.2m (135 ft) central tower holds a clock that was
first heard during Queen Victoria's birthday parade in 1897. This is surmounted
by a copper dome that is in turn topped by a copper chatri. Two circular towers,
housing stairways leading to the upper floor, flank the central tower.
When Selangor moved its administrative offices to Shah Alam in 1974, the building
was extensively renovated to house the nation's judiciary.
Click the map below to view a larger version
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Digital Art & Culture Festival 2011,
15 to 17 July 2011 in Suffolk House, Penang
"Warisan Kertas 2011" Exhibition Extended to 30 September 2011
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