The architectural style’s evolution in Malaysia from pre-colonial years through colonial time and later to independence has become one of the great triumph stories for its development in the post-colonial period. Without any doubt, the conquerors in the past had apparently exerted their influences on the architectural development. Besides, Malaysia is a multi racial country with its population consisting of the predominantly Malay population with the Chinese, Indian and other minor races. Consequently, the architectural development of Malaysia is also influenced by these various cultures due to migration of the Chinese and Indian during colonial era. Besides their determination in seeking for political status and economic roles, the immigrant’s culture and customs had given an impact to the local architecture. Many foreign cultural heritages and legacies that existed in colonial time had left significant influences on the country’s cultural development and visibly in the heritage buildings, which remained until today.
Identifications of Architectural Style
According to Heritage of Malaysia Trust (1990), the architectural style of Malaysia has been classified according to the building styles. It consists of influences by the European, Chinese, Malay and Indian sources that were a mixture of various styles modified to the Malaysian environment. These included :-
Indian Kingdoms (7th – 14th Centuries) Malay Vernacular (pre-15th Century to present) Straits Eclectic (15th Century to mid-20th Century) Chinese Baroque (19th Century to early 20th Century) Chitya Indian Vernacular (15th Century to Mid 20th Century) Colonial (17th Century to mid-20th Century) Modern (1950s – 1980s)
Kuala Lumpur Shop houses:
In the 1850s, many Chinese tin miners migrated from Klang to Kuala Lumpur to operate new and larger tin mines under Sultan of Selangor. It was then the beginning of the development of Kuala Lumpur. Gullick (2000) affirmed that they landed at the