Unique Buildings W32.docx

1. Kellie's Castle, Perak 

Kellie's Castle was meant to be a home away from home for Scottish Planter, William Kellie Smith in the 20th century. Construction of this unique castle began in 1915. However, it came to an abrupt halt with Kellie's sudden death in 1926. The solitary castle, looks almost surreal in these wild plantations of Perak, it projects a strong personality and an aura of mystery.

2. The City Hall, Penang 

The Penang Island City Hall was constructed in 1903, and opened in 1906, a few decades after the Town Hall, and was originally called the Municipal Offices building. It holds the distinction as being one of the first buildings in George Town, Penang, to be completely fitted with electric lights and fans. Today it is one of the buildings housing the Municipal Council of Penang Island or Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) and the whitewashed building forms an elegant backdrop to the Esplanade.

3. St. Michael's and All Angles Church, Sandakan 

Designed by New Zealander Mr. B.W. Mountfort, the building was first constructed with belian (ironwood) timber, followed by brick and finally stone, which is said to have from the nearby Buli Sim Sim, while the white stones that adorn the windows and doors are from Hong Kong. The Church avoided major damage during World War II in the 1940s and remains one of the very few stone buildings in the whole of Sabah. The beautiful stained glass windows in the church were donated by Australians to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

4. Ipoh Railway Station 

The Ipoh railway station was initially meant to be a hospital and used before the 20th century as such before being turned into a station. The original completion year of 1917 was delayed for three years due to lack of construction materials as well as high costs during World War I. Designed by Arthur Benison Hubback, it was first constructed and opened in 1935, making it the second concrete station to be constructed in the town

5. Christ Church Melaka 

Christ Church is the oldest functioning Protestant church in Malaysia. Construction began in 1741 on the centennial of the Dutch occupation, and it was completed in 1753. Before this date the Dutch used the old Portuguese church atop St. Paul's hill for their religious services. Christ Church bears all the hallmarks of 18th-century Dutch architecture: a rectangular plan, massive walls, red granite plinths, and Dutch roof tiles.