SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN

FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT

MARCH INTAKE 2013

NAME: Chia Wee Min

STUDENT ID NO: 0315186

CULTURE & CIVILIZATION (FDES 0815)

Literature Review

Project 3 (Individual Assignment): Art + Architecture + Culture

TITLE: Detail of Building Institution

TUTOR: MISS NORMA

SUBMISSION DATE: 4th FEBRUARY 2014

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Table of content

No. Title Pages

1 Assignment Brief 3-5

2 Theme and Concept : Bref explanation 6

3 Research : place of interest and chosen places 6-10

4 Image and Caption 11-15

5 Compilation of tutorial updates 16-17

6 Mock up layout 18-20

7 Reference 21

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Assignment Brief

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Brief Explanation

Theme

The theme that I had chosen is architecture in Kuala Lumpur. Architecture is an art, merged with science and technology, acquainted with history, nature, and the future. The architecture of Kuala Lumpur is a blend of old colonial influences, Asian traditions, Malay Islamic inspirations, modern and post modern. For Kuala Lumpur’s old colonial buildings, there have different styles of architecture like Grecian-Spanish style, Morish and some of these colonial buildings are institution.

Concept (Detail of colonial building- Institution)

Malaysia is a country that was colonized by few countries which were Portuguese, Dutch, British and Japan. These colonists had adopted their architectural styles and bring it in Malaysia. Hence, Malaysia contains various styles of colonial buildings. Different style of colonial building gives different details to the building. Details of buildings such as doors, windows, columns, arches may become the characteristic of the buildings but may also makes the building unique and different from the other buildings.

For my A5 Coffee Table Booklet, readers will be introduced the details of different types of colonial buildings and I will be focusing on the institution.

Places of interest

Kuala Lumpur is not only a city which consist just modern buildings and skyscrapers but also consist of some colonial buildings which are contrast with the contemporary style of buildings. Among those colonial buildings, some of them are institution. The institutions that interest me the most are Victoria Institution, St John Institution and Methodist Boys’ School. These institutions contain different building details that interest me which influence by different styles of architecture.

1st Victoria Institution

2nd St John Institution

3rd Methodist Boys’ School

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Researches

Victoria Institution

Victoria Institution is called “The Victoria Institution” as it is a memorial school to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The first block of Victoria Institution was completed in 1894. The initial enrolment at the V.I started with 115 boys from Primary One upwards. Then, a variety of school activities designed to give a balanced education was introduced by the Headmaster of V.I.

In 1899, a two storey building ( block2 )which consist of 6 classrooms on the ground floor and master’s quarters above them was constructed. In 1903 and 1909, block 3 and block 4 was constructed.

The school tower of Victoria Institution carries the towering strength and majestic looks that radiates confidence and gives moral support to all Victorians and it is the only school clock tower in Malaysia. The clock tower has 4 sides and each side consist of a clock.

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Besides the school clock tower, the school hall of Victoria Institution is not just an ordinary hall, but a historical hall which was previously used for Japanese surrenders.

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St John Institution

SMK St. John ( St. John Institution ) is a secondary school for boys only but also girls for Form 6 only. SMK St. John is located at Jalan Bukit Nanas, surrounded by St. John International School, St. John Cathedral, Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve and SK Convent Bukit Nanas. SMK St. John is one of the oldest schools in Kuala Lumpur which started since year 1904 and the students composition has always been multi ethnic and multi religious.

The students of St. john Institution are known as “ Johannians ” and the girls are known as “ Eagirls”. The students of St. John are known as Johannians possesses a burning spirit which is described as a rich blend of love towards the school, great leadership skills, unity, loyalty, outstanding manners and class.

St John Institution is a nice red and white building with St John clock and a cross at the top middle part of the building. At the centre of the building, there placed statue of Jean Baptist De La Salle which consist of La Salle and flanked by 2 children on his right and left side.

Other than that, the white semicircular arches with keystone together with the Corinthian columns are also the speciality of St John Institution.

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Methodist Boys’ School

MBSKL was founded by Rev. Dr. William T. Kensett, a naval officer of the Royal Navy battleship HMS Orion. In July 1897, he had the desire to set up a church and school for the Tamils in Kuala Lumpur and he left the British Navy. A shophouse was soon secured at the corner of Batu Road and Java Street, and the predominantly Tamil school was named the Anglo-Tamil School. In 1904, the school moved to its current premises on Petaling Hill and the Anglo-Tamil School was re-named the Methodist Boys’ School Kuala Lumpur by Rev William E Horley, the name used until this day.

In its natural geography, Petaling Hill, on which MBS now stands, the school overlooks one of the oldest business sections of Kuala Lumpur which consists of many of the oldest Chinese business establishments.

The MBS tower was built by MBSOBA where the MBSKL Bell which is the oldest existing school bell in Kuala Lumpur was mounted in. Below the tower there is a school hall which bears the history of the school. The drop arched window and the red classroom door may become the characteristic of Methodist Boys’ School Building.

School tower school hall

Red classroom door drop arched window

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Image and captions

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Victoria Institution, with the photo of Victoria Institution’s symbolic clock tower draws my first step to my colonial building institution journey.

Once I stepped in the main building of Victoria Institution, I can see the door which is entrance of Victoria Institution’s hall which previously used for Japanese surrenders.

One of the details of buildings is door. In Victoria Institution, there are different types of door and these doors are the classroom door which brings the students to the path of learning.

This is the significant Victoria institution school tower. It has 4 sides which each side of the tower is consist of a clock. This school tower carries the strength and radiates confidence and gives moral support to all Victorians.

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Window is the opening to the outside scenery. This allow student to stop their pace and enjoy the scenery outside.

Along the building, there are many cross shaped opening above the window which keeps the classrooms cool so that the student can enjoy studies with a cool and shaded environment.

Along the building, there are many cross shaped opening above the window which keeps the classrooms cool so that the student can enjoy studies with a cool and shaded environment.

Along the building, there are many cross shaped opening above the window which keeps the classrooms cool so that the student can enjoy studies with a cool and shaded environment.

Along the building, there are many cross shaped opening above the window which keeps the classrooms cool so that the student can enjoy studies with a cool and shaded environment.

St John Institution, my 2nd

institution of my journey. This is the significant red and white building to show the speciality of St John institution of Romanesque architecture

The windows of the Victoria school laboratory, gives a sense of unity which window is the eyes of a building.

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The 2nd page for St John Institution is also a door. It is the Georgian style with 6 panels classroom door which leads students to the path of education.

Perspective view of the classroom doors with Georgian style with the door lock.

The exterior of the St John Institution buildings is the combination of semicircular arch with Corinthian column which made St John Institution a magnificent edifice and different from other colonial building institution.

Moving to the centre of the building, there placed the St John clock and the statue of Jean Baptist De La Salle which formed a historical ambience to the institution.

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This is the pathway to the main building. This pathway with terrazzo carving and St John Institution’s emblem brings Johannian who possesses burning spirit o success.

Methodist Boys’ School, the MBS tower is the significant for Methodist Boys’ School. This also draws an end for my journey.

Below the MBS tower there is a drop arched Georgian door set back from the arched brick wall which is the entrance to the school hall which bears the important school past.

The windows for St John Institution are very much different from the other institutions. St John Institution’s windows are combined with white arches with keystone carved with 4 petals flower.

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Along the school, the striking red Georgian door with transom above attract my attention. The red striking classroom door brings students to the life of education.

The last part of Methodist Boys’ School which is the MBS tower where the MBSKL Bell, the oldest existing school bell in Kuala Lumpur was mounted in.

The windows of the Methodist Boys’ School are also different from the other institution. They are drop arched window which the framed windows are separated into 3 parts.

Tutorials update

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Mock up layout

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References

Acoustic Life of Mine A.K.A Hidup Akustika: Victoria Institution - Myths & Mysteries Part 1 [Web log post]. (2009, January). Retrieved from http://mrchinkay.blogspot.com/2009/01/victoria-institution-myths-mysteries.html

An Influence of Colonial Architecture to Building Styles and Motifs in Colonial Cities in Malaysia. (2005). Retrieved February 2014, from http://www.malaysiadesignarchive.org/?p=936

BUILDING DESIGN DETAILS. (2013, January). Retrieved February 3, 2014, from http://constructiondetails.blogspot.com/

Methodist Boys’ Secondary School Kuala Lumpur » History. (January). Retrieved February 2014, from http://mbsskl.edu.my/about-us/history

Unofficial homepage of Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur. (2009, October). Retrieved February 2014, from http://www.oocities.org/athens/delphi/5881/vimain.html

Victoria Institution. (2012). Retrieved February 2014, from http://www.malaysian-explorer.com/victoriaInstitution.html

victoria institution [Web log post]. (2008, July). Retrieved from http://smkvictoria.blogspot.com/

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