Friday 15 December 2017

The Architecture Of Alor Setar

Alor Setar is the capital of the northern Malaysian state of Kedah. It's a quaint, historic city with some nice patina. There are a handful of colonial era structures to give the place style.

Not colonial. The towering symbol of Alor Setar, a communications monolith, erected in AD 1997. You've got your observation deck, restaurant, nice views of the town and rice paddy fields beyond.


Some government buildings that the Russians could have built, minus the bright finishing of the building on the right.

Malaysia is a mix of ethnicities. Decoration on a Hindu temple built in the Dravidian style commonly found in South India.


Rumah Merdeka, "Independence House." Malaysia's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, would use this house as a base when he was back in his home state of Kedah. Beautiful tile work.

Art Deco movie theater, now a pool hall.


They like their towers in Alor Setar. The Big Clock Tower (is there a Small one?) and Balai Nobat, which stores musical instruments.

An interesting use of concrete block, finished off with the patina left from tropical rains.


More ethnic architecture, Chinese and Muslim influences.

A last tower look, the lighthouse in Chinatown.

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