The influence of Islamic architecture on the colonial buildings in Malaysia

Words by Zain Abdullah
Photographs by Zain Abdullah unless stated otherwise
flickr.com/photos/mzabdullah  myheritagebuildings.blogspot.my


The Influence Of Islamic Architecture On Colonial
Buildings In Malaysia
 The origin of the Islamic architectural influence
significantly present on many colonial buildings in the
major cities in Malaysia namely Kuala Lumpur, Penang
and Ipoh often becomes a subject of dispute
 Some refer to it as Moorish architecture while others
label it as Mughal/Mogul architecture
 What is actually the correct answer?


The Influence Of Islamic Architecture On Colonial
Buildings In Malaysia
 The correct answer is Mughal architecture or sometimes it is
also spelled as Mogul architecture
 Mughal architecture of India is the chief influence in the Islamic
architectural style on many colonial buildings in Malaysia
 However Mughal architecture is referred to the architectural
style during Mughal Empire that ruled India since 1526 until
1757 when India fell under the British rule
 The Islamic architectural style adopted for the colonial
buildings in then Malaya from the late 19th century was the
Mughal-revival architectural style movement termed as Indo-
Saracenic or it is also called Indo-Gothic or Neo-Mughal or
British Raj
 This architectural style movement was made popular by the
British architects in British India


Mughal architecture
 Mughal architecture
 Mughal architecture is the amalgamation of Islamic, Persian, Turkish and Indian architecture.
 It is a distinctive style developed during the Mughal empire between the 16th and 18th
centuries.
 The Mughals were famous for their wealth and splendour – a fact that is reflected in the
opulence of their architecture
 Most famous Mughal building is the Taj Mahal
 The most significant buildings are forts, palaces, mosques and tombs
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Pictures lifted from wikipedia.org


Moorish architecture
 Moorish architecture
 Islamic architecture was developed in North Africa and south-western Europe,
particularly from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). It was the style of
architecture there during the 8th to the 15th century.
 The most distinct Moorish building is the Mezquita in Cordoba, Spain.
Mezquita in Cordoba, Spain Alhambra, Granada, Andalusia, Spain


Indo-Saracenic architecture
 Indo-Saracenic architecture
 Introduced by the British colonial government and developed by the British architects
since 1870 after the BritishCrown took over the rule from the British East India
Company
 The architectural style is the mixture of the original Mughal architectural elements like
arches, chhatri and onion-shaped domes with traditional British architecture of Gothic
revival,Victorian and Neo-Classical style.
 It is often called “stylistic hybrid” architecture


Brief History of Mughal Empire & Mughal emperors
(1526-1707)
 Babur (Reigned 1526-1530)
 Founder of Mughal Empire after defeating Ibrahim Lodi
 Made a modest beginning of Mughal architecture by building a mosque
 Humayun ( Reigned 1530-1556)
 Babur’s son
 Was once defeated by Ser Shah and lived in exile in Persia for 15 years
 Developed deep understanding and love for Persian culture and instilled it in
his son Akbar (next Mughal emperor) while in exile
 Reconquered Mughal empire and continued the reign until his death
 Akbar ( Reigned 1556-1605)
 Humayun’s son
 Mughal architecture was developed on a massive scale
 The beginning of the glory of Mughal architecture as well as other branches of
art – painting, literature, philosophy etc


(1526-1707)
 Jahangir (Reigned 1605-1628)
 Akbar’s son
 The richest period of Mughal empire - dubbed the age of Mughal splendour
 He lavishly patronized the arts: painting, architecture, philosophy, and literature,
while ignoring military conquest.
 Actively promoted Persian culture because of his Persian Empress, Nur Jahan
 Shah Jahan (Reigned 1628-1658)
 Jahangir's son
 During his reign architecture was characterized by its monumental scale
 The most important architectural change was the use of marble instead of
sandstone
 Shah Jahan’s magnificent architectural achievements are represented by two
important buildings; theTaj Mahal (1630-1653), and the Jama Masjid in Delhi (1648)
 Ousted by his own son, Aurangzeb


(1526-1707)
 Aurangzeb (Reigned 1658-1707)
 Declared his father, Emperor Shah Jahan, incompetent to rule and confined
him at Agra Fort but did not mistreat him. Shah Jahan died in 1666
 Under Aurangzeb the empire was expanded and he ruled over most of
the Indian subcontinent
 A pious muslim but his religious conservatism and intolerance undermined the
stability of Mughal society
 He was a strong and effective ruler, but with his death the great period of the
Mughal Empire came to an end, and central control of the sub-continent
declined rapidly


Brief History of Mughal Empire
(1526-1707)
Babur
• (1526-30)
• Founder of Mughal Empire
• Made the modest
beginning of Mughal
architecture
Humayan
• (1530-1556)
Akbar
• (1556-1605)
• Started building on
massive scale
• Beginning of the great
period of Mughal
architecture
Jahangir
• (1605-28)
• Richest period of
Mughal empire
Shah Jahan
• (1628-1658)
• BuiltTaj Mahal & Jama
Mosque in Delhi
Aurangzeb
• (1658-1707)
• Ousted his father and
confined him in Agra Fort
• Ruled over most of Indian
Subcontinent


The walled city of Fatehpur Sikri – Built by Akbar
Mughal Structure duringAkbar’s reign
The Jama Mosque in Fatehpur Sikri – Built by Akbar Humayun’sTomb – Built by Akbar


Mughal structure during Jahangir’s reign
Itimad-ud-Daula
Completed in 1628 – Built by Jahangir


Mughal structures during Shah Jahan’s reign
Wazir Khan Mosque
Taj Mahal, Agra, India


Red Fort (Delhi Fort), Delhi
Mughal structures during Shah Jahan’s reign
Jama’ Mosque, Delhi


Mughal structures duringAurangzeb’s reign
Badhashi Mosque, Lahore


The end of Mughal Empire great period
 The demise of Aurangzeb ended the great period of Mughal Empire
 Aurangzeb was replaced by his son Bahadur Shah
 After the demise of Bahadur Shah, Mughal Empire sank into chaos
and violent feuds
 Mughal Empire was decentralized and disintegrated when many
territories declared independence
 The British, at first established themselves in India as traders at the
beginning of the 17th century, have developed into a power
through the British East India Company controlling 3 principal ports
of India – Bombay,Calcutta and Madras by the end of the 17th
century.


The British Raj
 BEFORE 1857
 The British started its rule or dominion in India through East India Company
based in Calcutta since 1757.
 Architectural style: the European classical style (incorporating Greek and Roman
Features such as columns, triangular pediments) or Gothic and BritishVictorian
 Applied to the public and other buildings during earlier period of colonial rule to
reflect their self image as the holders of power and status and to distance
themselves from the natives.
 AFTER REVOLTOF 1857
 After the Indian Rebellion of 1857 , the BritishGovernment officially took over the
rule from East India Company in 1858. It marked the beginning of the British Raj
in India.
 In trying to avoid another rebellion and to please the natives, the British decided
to incorporate the India’s glorious past image of Mughal architectural style into
their new buildings by combining it with the elements of BritishVictorian, Neo-
classical and Gothic revival architecture.
 This resulted in the birth of Indo-Saracenic architectural style


 An architectural style movement by British architects in
the late 19th century British India which drew elements
from native Indo-Islamic (Mughal) and Indian
architecture and combined it with the Gothic revival and
Neo-Classical styles favoured inVictorian Britain
 Indo-Saracenic architectural style began in the 1870s and
lasted, despite competing revivalist ideologies, until
Independence in 1947
 The style was adopted mostly for Major government
owned institutional buildings such as administrative and
Collector’s offices, law courts, municipal headquarters,
railway stations and universities.


 The British attempted to strike a balance between keeping the elements of
British architecture and the past image of Mughal/Indian elements.
 “In the public buildings put up by the Raj it was essential always to make
visible Britain’s imperial position as ruler, for these structures were charged
with the explicit purpose of representing empire itself. Since they wanted to
legitimatize their rule, they decided to justify their presence by relating
themselves to the previous rulers, the Mughals.The British deliberately kept
Mughal princes in power so as to not provoke Indian contempt and to further
establish their connection to the Mughals.These princes were a vision of the
future, but the British also needed them to be a representation of the past.
And it worked.”
 “the British sought to incorporate their view of India’s past into their own
building, and so represent Britain’s Raj as legitimately Indian, while at the
same time constructing a modern India of railways, colleges, and law courts”
– Sir Thomas Metcalf (an expert in Indo-Saracenic architecture)


 Not all buildings constructed by the British during British Raj were
designed with Indo-Saracenic architecture though
 Most of the Indo-Saracenic buildings are located in Madras (Chennai)
 According to Dr. Gavin Stamp,T. Roger Smith (architect of European
General Hospital in Bombay) his answer to the question: “What sort of
architecture ought we to employ in India?” was firm: “We ought, like the
Romans and the Mohammedans, to take our national style with us. Our
buildings ought to hold up a high standard of European art.They ought to
be European, both as a rallying point for ourselves, and as raising a
distinctive symbol of our presence to be beheld with respect and even
admiration by the natives of the country".
 And according to Dr. Gavin Stamp, in the ensuing argument William
Emerson, another architect who had designed buildings in India (in Indo-
Saracenic style), begged to differ. He did not think the conquerors should
carry a new style of architecture into the conquered nations; rather, he
thought we should follow the Mohammedans who adapted their style to
Indian conditions.


 The leading Architects of Indo-Saracenic Buildings in India were
 Robert Fellowes Chisholm - Pioneer of Indo-Saracenic architecture and
consulting architect to the government
 JW Brassington – successor to Robert Chisholm as consulting architect
to the government
 Henry Irwin – successor to JW Brassington as consulting architect to
the government
 Major Charles Mant
 William Emerson
 GeorgeWittet
 Frederick W. Stevens


Features of Indo-Saracenic architecture
FEATURES OF
INDO-SARACENIC
ARCHITECTURE
Bulbous (Onion-
Shaped) Dome
Arches
• horseshoe, pointed,
ogee, scalloped,
keyhole
Delicate
Ornamentation
• Nonfigurative
• Quranic script
Chhatri
• Pavillion with
dome
Jharokha
• Overhanging
balcony
Chajja
• overhanging eaves
on large
carved brackets.
Jali
• Perforated stone or
latticed screen
Towers or
minarets
Pinnacles or
spires


Indo-Saracenic buildings
 The Chepauk Palace
 Built in the year 1768 in Chennai and designed by Paul Benfield
 Said to be the first Indo-Saracenic building in modern India. Indo-Saracenic architecture
represents a synthesis of Islamic designs and Indian materials developed by British
architects in India during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
 It is referred to as licentious ‘eclectic” incorporating synthesis of Islamic designs and Indian
elements and motifs.The architectural elements include the cusped arches, domes, spires,
tracery, minarets and stained glass.


Madras High Court | Completed in 1892
Designed by JW Brassington and Henry Irwin
Picture source: thehindu.com


Victoria Memorial Hall
Completed in 1921
Designed byWilliam Emerson
Mayo College
Completed in 1885
Designed by Major Charles Mant


Senate House of University of Madras
Completed in 1879
Designed by Robert Chisholm General Post Office in Chennai (Madras)
Completed in 1879
Designed by Robert Chisholm


Indo-Saracenic architecture in Malaya
 For some strange reasons Indo-Saracenic architecture was exported to then Malaya or
at that time was referred to as FMS (Federated Malay States)
 The likeliest reason was because the natives of Malaya were muslims or dubbed
Mohammedans by the British
 According to JM Gullick in his journal titled Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad it was
William Maxwell (then Resident of Selangor since 1889) who was first instrumental in
introducing Indo-Saracenic architecture to the Federated Malay States (FMS). He
brought in CE Spooner from Ceylon to overhaul PWD as state engineer. Spooner
remained in Malaya until his death in 1909.
 Spooner “didn’t like the design” provided by AC Norman and RAJ Bidwell in Classic
Renaissance for the Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad. He then decided on what he
termed Mahometan (sic) style.The detailed drawing was then done by RAJ Bidwell
and assisted by AB Hubback who also made many alterations and additions.
 JM Gullick also strongly suspected that CE Spooner designed the Bangunan Sultan
Abdul Samad based on the drawing of The Muir College, Allahabad, India designed by
William Emerson published in Building News (British technical journal)


Indo-Saracenic building
Muir College
Completed in 1886
Designed by William Emerson
Pictures lifted from thehindu.com


Indo-Saracenic architecture in Malaya
 According to JM Gullick no explanation was given by Spooner why
he chose “Mahometan style” but JM Gullick believed “there can be
no doubt that he (Spooner) was adopting as his model a style
which British architects had evolved for public buildings in India”.
 Spooner served in Ceylon (1897-92) and he must have been familiar
with Indo-Saracenic style which was widespread especially in
Madras at that time.
 This was also encouraged byW.E.Maxwell as he thought Kuala
Lumpur much needed a prestige as a new capital of FMS.
 Spooner in his opening speech at the opening ceremony of
Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad announced he drew in an able
architect, AB Hubback.
 Later the potent combination of these two capable public servants
that produced a large number of elegant public buildings with Indo-
Saracenic style in Malaya


CE Spooner & AB Hubback
Two gentlemen instrumental in introducing and adopting Mughal/Indo-
Saracenic architectural style for many public buildings in then Malaya


Sultan Abdul Samad Building


 First building designed with Mughal / Indo-
Saracenic style in Malaya
 Built in 1897
 Architect: RAJ Bidwell and AB Hubback
 Earlier design in Neo-Classical by AC Norman
was rejected by CE Spooner as State Engineer
 CE Spooner who served in Sri Lanka before
coming to Selangor preferred Indo-Saracenic
architecture for Malay-Islam majority Malaya
 The clock mechanism was imported from South
Croydon, Surrey in England and manufactured
by Gillett & Johnston (Croydon) Ltd.
 The clock tower was built to replicate the
famous Big Ben of London.
 Its clock chimed for the first time in 1897 to
coincide with QueenVictoria’s Diamond Jubilee
parade.
 Known simply as the GovernmentOffice
 In 1974 it was renamed Bangunan Sultan Abdul
Samad


 Contractor:Towkay Ang Seng
Mooi
 A megaproject back then which
cost $152,000 Straits Dollars
 Once the icon of Malaysian Court
of Law due to some high-profile
cases tried here.The building
became the centre of attention
worldwide
 Featured as the site of Malaysian
court in the 1992 Hong Kong box-
office film, Police Story 3: Super
Cop featuring Jackie Chan and
MichelleYeoh


CityTheatre
 Built in 1902 and completed in 1904
 Architect: AB Hubback
 Architecture: Mughal-eclectic/Indo-
Saracenic
 In 1904, this building originally housed
the Kuala LumpurTown Hall including
the Auditorium, MunicipalOffices and
Sanitary Board which acted like a town
council, each with its own entrance.
 Two imposing porte-cochère, each
with big black dome at the top
 A major fire in 1992 destroyed the
entire interior of the theatre but City
Hall’s designers and builders restored it
soon after


The NationalTextile Museum


The NationalTextile Museum
 Completed in 1905
 First built to accommodate the Federated
Malay States Railways Central Offices
 Located at the Market Street - Damansara
Road junction
 Main features: Alternate red brick facing
and white plaster band on exterior walls,
with cupolas and chatris
 Designed by Arthur Benison Hubback (AB
Hubback) in 1902
Saracenic
 Built by contractor Towkay Ang Seng Mooi
at a cost of $116,122 Straits Dollars
 1917 - 1919: It was occupied by FMS Public
Works Department
 1959 - 1971: First Headquarters of
MalaysianCentral Bank (Bank Negara)
 It currently houses the NationalTextile
Museum


The former General Post Office Building


The former General Post Office Building
 Built to accommodate the General Post
Office
 Located at the Market Street - Jalan Raja
junction
 Architecture: Mughal-eclectic/Indo-Saracenic
 The only Mughal-style building without any
domes
 Featuring rooftop leaf design flat decorative
pediments, chatri pinnacles, polygonal
corner stair towers
 Architect:Arthur Benison Hubback (AB
Hubback) in 1902
 Contract was awarded toTowkay ChooTeck
Lim who unfortunately was unable to deliver
the building.
 Construction was continued by Singaporean
Contractor Messrs.Walter Pallister in August
1904
 Building completed in 1907 at the cost of
$100,000.00 Straits Dollars


Masjid Jamek
 Architecture: Mughal/Indo-Saracenic
 Architect: Arthur Benison Hubback
 Sultan Alauddin Sulaiman Shah laid its
foundation stone on 23 March 1908 and
officially opened it on 23 Dec 1909
 Features: 3 onion-shaped large domes,
2 identical minarets and cinquefoil
arches
 The site was originally muslim
cemetery which was relocated to
Gombak cemetery
 The mosque was unofficially the
Malaysian main mosque before the
status was taken over by the National
Mosque in 1965


The former Session & Magistrate Court Building


The former Session & Magistrate Court Building
 Built in 1910
Saracenic
 Originally housed FMS Survey Department
 Main feature: 400ft (121.9m) long arcade
with two entrances
 At both ends of this building are octagonal
towers topped with onion-shaped domes
 Along the 400ft long arcade are the
distinctive cinquefoil arches that creates a
powerful geometric rhythm along the
street
 Used to house Sessions and Magistrate
Court
 It is now left vacant


The Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station


The Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station
 Station was opened on 1 July 1911
 Hotel operation began on 11 Aug 1911
 450ft x 150ft wide with three railway platforms
 A two-storey station building with mezzanine
and 16 hotel bedrooms on the second floor
 Architecture: Mughal-eclectic/Indo-saracenic
 Architect:AB Hubback
 Cost: $742,980 Straits Dollars (Construction
involved straightening some portions of the
Klang River, building of temporary station and
dismantling the staff quarters and re-erecting
them in Brickfields)
 Voted as one of the 28 most beautiful railway
stations in the world by Architectural Digest
 It now still serves as Kuala Lumpur station for
KTM KomuterTrain


The Old Supreme Court Building


The Old Supreme Court Building
 Built in 1915
 Replaced the old Supreme Court on
Court Hill
 Architecture style: Mughal-
eclectic/Indo-Saracenic
 Contractor:Towkay Ang Seng Mooi
 Cost $208,500 Straits Dollars
 Features: Decorative cupolas with
buttresses


Ubudiah Mosque
 Foundation stone was laid by Sultan Idris
Murshidul'adzam Shah on 26 Sept 1913
 The construction was commissioned on the orders
of the Sultan, who vowed that he would build a
mosque of great beauty as thanksgiving for recovery
from an illness which plagued him in those early
days
 Completed in late 1917
 Cost: $200,000.00 – astronomical figures for a
mosque those days
 Standing on the octagonal base of 96ft in diameter
 Built entirely in concrete and finishing with Italian
marble
 Architecture: Mughal-eclectic/Indo-Saracenic
 Its imposing large golden domes and minarets
create spellbinding sight from near and far
 Considered one of the finest mosques in the East
even in this modern days
 Officially opened by Sultan Abdul Jalil Karamtullah
Shah


KTM Headquarters
 Originally housedThe FMS Railway
AdministrationCentre
 Now occupied by KTM Berhad as its
headquarters
Saracenic
 Constructed byTowkay Chua HuaTong
 Cost: $587,000 Straits Dollars
 It has 3 storeys and was the tallest building
in the FMS
 Main feature: the centre octagonal
cantilever staircase – the only example at
that time was found on the east of Suez


Ipoh Railway Station & Hotel


Ipoh Railway Station & Hotel
 Built in 1914, completed in 1917 (some said
completion was delayed until 1920)
 Architecture: Mughal eclectic/Indo-
Saracenic
 The design concept: a solid Neoclassical
building embodying strict symmetry,
balance and harmony while the façade and
roof design was based on Mughal
architectural style
 Dubbed as theTaj Mahal of Ipoh
 The filming site for the Hollywood 1999
film “Anna and the King” featuring Jodie
Foster and ChowYun Fat
 The automobile guide of 1925 stated that:
“The railway hotel at Ipoh supplies the
best accommodation to be found in Perak,
nice airy rooms, up-to-date sanitary
arrangements, the best of food”.


Federated Malay States Railway Station in Penang


Federated Malay States Railway Station in Penang
 Built in 1907
 Architecture: Mughal eclectic/Indo-Saracenic
 Boasts of uniquely distinct arcades (a structure
composed of a series of arches supported by columns).
 Before Komtar (the state’s administrative and
shopping tower) Wisma Kastam’s clock tower (which
by the way is still ticking with precision) was the tallest
building on the island.
 Back when it was called the Federated Malay States
Railway Station, the station is believed to be the only
one in the world without a rail. Instead of platforms or
trains, it had administrative offices, a ticketing booth
and a first-class Railways Restaurant with Bar and
Grill.
 Passengers bought their tickets at the Penang Railway
Station, walked to the Railway Jetty at the end of the
China Street Ghaut and boarded the Railway Ferry
Streamers to Butterworth to catch the train. Fares to
and from Penang were inclusive of the ferry ride.
 It now houses Royal Custom Department of Malaysia,
Penang branch


References
 Carey, M. (2012). An illustrated history of islamic architecture. Leicestershire: Southwater.
 Gullick, J.M. (1992).The Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad. Journal of the Malaysian Branch of
the Royal Asiatic Society, 65, 27-38.
 Jeyaraj, G. Indo Saracenic Architecture in Channai. Retrieved from
http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/pdfs/seminar_heritage_buildings/Indo_Saracenic_Architect
ure_in_Chennai.pdf
 Maryam Khazaee, NaziatyYaacob, Zakaria Alcheikh Mahmoud Awad, & Zuraini Md Ali.
(2015). Mughal or Moorish architecture: the origins of Malaysian mosques during colonial
periods. Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum., 23 (3): 639 - 654
 Metcalf, T. (2002). An Imperial Vision: Indian Architecture and Britain's Raj. Oxford: Oxford
University Press
 Morris, J., & Winchester, S. (1986). Stones of empire:The buildings of the Raj. Oxford: Oxford
University Press
 Nath, R. (2004). Indigenous characteristics of mughal architecture. New Delhi: Indian History
and Culture Society.
 Stamp, G. (1981). British architecture in India 1857 - 1947. Journal of the Royal Society of Arts,
357-377.
 wikipedia.org

The influence of Islamic architecture on the colonial buildings in Malaysia

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