KUALA LUMPUR RAILWAY STATION
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JALAN SULTAN HISHAMUDDIN,
KUALA LUMPUR
AN INTRODUCTION
Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station (Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad, KTMB) was located in Jalan Sultan Hishammuddin. It was completed and start operating on 1st August 1910 and has a Moorish architecture design.
Before the building that we can see today, there was 2 older railway station. The first one was opened at 22nd September 1885. It has connected Bukit Kuda and Kuala Lumpur of 21 miles. Selangor State Government is responsible to paid for the construction fees. The second railway station was built in 1892 at current location but it was declared antiquated 15 years later.
The decision to build a new station was made in late 1906. A.B Hubback was the architect in charged for the designation of KTMB. He took more than 4 months to design the building starting from late 1907 to the fourth month of 1908. The Federated Malay States decided to longer the railway throughout those states and hence KTMB was built. It was the biggest railway station in Kuala Lumpur which consists of railway station, hotel and office. Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is the Peninsular Malaysia’s railway hub for 115 years before taken over by KL Sentral on 15th April 2001.
On its years, KTM KL also faced bad events. During World War II, the north wings of the building had been destroyed because it was bombed. Next, in 1968, the second floor of the building had burnt.
In 1983, Kuala Lumpur railway station was declared as an old and historical monument and protected by law. It had brought up cultural values in Malaysia as it is an interesting building despite showing the variety of community in this country. The station was then renewed in year 1986, windows were replaced with modern counterparts and the facade was refurbished. New facilities and buildings were added such as tourism information counters, air-conditioned waiting halls and snack bars.
HISTORY OF KUALA LUMPUR RAILWAY STATION
Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station (Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad, KTMB) or known as Malayan Railways Limited was first built to transport tin in the era of British colonial. KTMB was previously known as the Federated Malay States Railways (FMRS) and lately as the Malayan Railway Administration (MRA). The name Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) was used until current globalization since the year of 1962. In the year of 1992, KTM organization was corporatized into KTMB but the ownership still sticks to the government.
The Malayan Railway Headquarters Building is classified as a historical building in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. At the beginning, it was used to house the office of the Federated Malay States Railways. However, it became the main administrative office building of KTMB lastly. The location of KTMB is strategic which is beside the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station at Jalan Sultan Hishanuddin. It was owned by KTMB as well as the Federal Government.
The headquater was designed by the same architect of railway station whose named Arthur Benison Hubback. It was first designed in the year of 1913 and the final plan was issued out on 14th May 1914 with an estimation cost of $508,000. The construction began in 1914 and being incharged by Ang Seng Contractor.
In the year of 1914, First World War had happened and interrupted in construction work. The schedule work could not be achieved on time. Finally, it was completed in November 1917 with an increase cost up to $780,422. The North wing of the building had suffered for serious damage twice. First, it was bombed in Second World War. Second, the second floor of the North wing was broken into major fire. In 1986, major renovations were carried out and all the designs and structure still be preserving or maintained. Later, this building was declared as national heritage under National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645) by Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia in 2007.
KTMB was a big compliment to the Railway Station Building across the road and it reflects the crest of the historical development of the Railway in Malaysia. These two buildings include the building for the railway station, hotel and administrative office, which bring up two most beautiful Kuala Lumpur landmarks. Both buildings were built during the peak period of rapid development of the rail transport technology in Malaya.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
The architectural design of the old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is Neo-Mughal architecture and some of the people also known it as Indo-Saracenic. Besides, it also referred to as British Raj architecture. This type of design was come from British India. Indo-Saracenic style started in 1870 and it reached its most advanced state between late 19th century and early 20th century among British architects in British India. The Railway Station boasts domed turrets which look like a mosque rather than a train station with a strong north Indian influence that deemed the trend back in those days.
Originally, Kuala Lumpur Railway Station consists of a main terminal building in front whereas three platforms that serves for four railway lines in back. The major structure of the building has affected by Western and Mughal architectural design. The platforms are covered by large steel-framed shelters and the sides are just surrounded by walls, not connected to the main building. The two underground passageways help to join platforms and main building to each other. A latticed roof is used to support the column and a ticket counter is located at the north end.
As an effort to sculpture a specific architectural identity for Malaya, the British Administration emphasised on the Raj dan Moghul or British Raj style which was imported for the Indian subcontinent in order to reflect the Islamic identity of Malaya.
Kuala Lumpur railway station consists of three parts which are the ticket counter, main hall and the offices. The train sheds were more British like with large glass and iron train sheds like those constructed in England. The shed itself spans 60 feet. Beneath the sheathing of Islamic arches lies a typically formal renaissance plan to adapt to the needs of tropical climate. At the north wing, a three-storey addition was added early, westernized vernacular designs were adopted. The facade of this station is completely plastered and painted in light colours, especially white.
Column
Column is a vertical structural member that transmits the upper structure’s loads to other structural members below in the building. Columns are usually used to support beams or arches on which the upper parts of walls or ceilings. In this project, column is a supporting pillar especially one consisting of a usually round shaft, a capital and a base. For the column in Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, the architect has introduced the Muqarnas column, circular column and square column.
Muqarnas is a primary characteristic of Islamic architecture. It is influenced by the Islamic Architecture as it can be seen in the columns of Granada in Spain, the Alhambra Palace and in Taj Mahal, India. Muqarnas are usually build-up of stone, brick, wood or stucco and clad with tiles or plaster. Muqarnas is an assembly of surface-decorated panels which will combine and fix to the columns when done. It is mainly used for decorative purpose.
Facade Wall
A wall acts as vertical load-bearing member which is one of the most important structures of a building. The main function of the wall is enclosing and dividing the space of the building. Other than that, wall also provides privacy, security and safety from weather including heat, rain and cold. In Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, masonry brick walls are widely used for both external and internal wall.
The external wall of Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is mostly façade wall. A facade is the external appearance of a building and it normally associates with a design element such as place with doors or windows. Generally, facade which suspended to the precast concrete slabs is made up of stainless steel and aluminum. Large arches and doors are used to access into the building through the walls. Steel lintels support the doorways. The finishes of the arch opening are either a triangle or curved voussoirs. The arches at the main entrance of the building are fabricated by a curve voussoirs stone construction.
Arch
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Along the 450ft long structure, variety shapes and sizes of arches included ogee arches, horseshoe arches and keyhole arches can be found. Horseshoe arch also known as Moorish arch is the most figurative arch of Moorish architecture which can be pointed, rounded or lobed form. A series of pointed horseshoe arches and ogee arches are found at the ground floor and the first floor of Kuala Lumpur Railway Station building. Scallop arches on each chhatris are another classic characteristic of Mughal architecture.
Octagonal Tower
Their octagonal tower is the most visible structure of the whole the building. Each octagonal tower which contains staircase and mounted by chhatris is a well-known structure of Mughal architecture in India. Dome is a hemispherical structure; usually build as a ceiling or a roof. Chhatris is a Hindustani word that means a pavilion or kiosk that may stand on its own and widely used in palaces and also forts which will be purely decorative and normally have no utility. There are six chhatris initially; the other two was added later at the corners of the building.
Octagonal Tower
Roof is a structure which located at the top of a building to protect the building from the weather and extreme temperature. It also provides security, privacy and insulation. The platforms of Kuala Lumpur Railway Station are covered by large steel-framed roofs. The roofs were glazed at first, but then they opened partially to allow the escape of smoke from steam locomotives. Later, corrugated roof sheets replaced the glass as roof covering. Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is built according to England’s specification as Malaysia is formerly British colony. England has the iron roof which can withstand snow, so they construct the same roofs according to their specification to this building.
SOCIAL & CULTURAL INFLUENCES
A study of common defect at British Colonial Building, KTM KL was highly influenced by British’s colonialism in the year of 1824 to 1957 (Husaini, M. F., 2010). In order to increase raw materials needed during Industrial Revolution, British expand their empire to ‘Tanah Melayu’ (name of Malaysia in the past). During colonialism, they had left British’s culture and architecture which would be observed from some buildings and these buildings are now well-known as historical places. For example, buildings that contain British’s culture and architecture are Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, Balai Seni Lukis Negara, Ipoh Railway Station, Old City Hall, Jamek Mosque and KTM KL. Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad was designed by A.C Norman and been completed in the year of 1897 while Jamek Mosque was designed by A.B. Hubback and been completed in the year of 1909. These buildings are located just beside KTM KL which designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, a British Architectural Assistant to the Director of Public Works.
ECONOMY
Old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station (KTM KL) was built during the colonialism of British. During that period, England was having revolution of industry. They need a lot of raw material which include tin ore which is highly produced in Tanah Melayu. In order for them to deliver the tin ore to the nearest port, they need an efficient transportation system in Tanah Melayu. Before construction of railway, only horse carriage or other animals’ carriage were introduced. All transportation stuff was slow and may take up to months and years. Hence, British make up their mind and built up Federated Malay States Railway (name of KTM KL during that time). Once after that, tin ore could be delivered to the port easily and effectively in days or even hours.
The first railway construction in England was used to dominate the Industrial Revolution but Tanah Melayu was different. KTM KL was used to boost up the progress of the revolution. After building up railway, train is needed to carry high loads products or materials like tin ore. Mangrove wood is used in mining and train construction. After tin ore, trains also did transportation for rubber and palm oil business. The development of railway system cause changes to the society as existence of rubber farming industry, growth of new cities and opening of placement area.
“Railways were clearly the answer since they provided a means of richening up the territory with all its rich commercial possibilities” said by Dr D.E.K Wijasuriya, The Origin of Railway in Malaya.
ADMINISTRATION
In the year of 1896, four states which are Selangor, Perak, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan were put together to form ‘Negeri-Negeri Melayu Bersekutu’. With this unification, railway system could connect all the states for economy and administration purposes. This would make it easier for British to do their administration duties as all the contract, official letters, announcements, orders or commands and so on could be delivered easily from the headquarters to the entire states easily and immediately.
In order to make the administration tasks easier, Malayan Railway Administration Building was built at the opposite of KTM KL. Distances between both buildings were just a stone throw away which is a walking distance. Hence, there is no worry on the delay of administration task. Everything happened in these 4 states would be under controlled by the admin of British. Malayan Railway Administration Building was designed in early 20th century by the same architect of KTM KL, A. B. Hubback. Thus, some of the design of this building will be alike as railway station. Apart from providing the principal walkways in the building, verandahs give protection against rain and shade the inner section of the building from direct sunlight. The stairways in the towers and the large central staircase are naturally ventilated through various opening in the facade.
TRANSPORTATION
River and sea were the main communication channels in Tanah Melayu before the year of 1885. For land channel, only the train could connect one area to another. Public transportation at that time only consists of carriage like bullock cart. At first, public transport was not so important because at that time, public transport focus only for transportation of food supply such as rice, coffee, oil, charcoal, wood and livestock from farm or producing area to residential houses. Everything is just for domestic purposes. However, during the industrial revolution, there was an increased demand for train to transport all the raw materials to the port to be sent to England. Centers that produced tin ore at that time were Kuala Lumpur, Larut and Lembah Kinta.