Mahkhamah Sesyen dan Majistret, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 2018

[HughieD]

1. The History
Given the grandeur of this building there is a surprising lack of info about it. It makes up cluster of three buildings: the old High Court to the rear, the old town hall (Pangung Bandaraya – now a theatre) to its right and the Mahkhamah Sesyen dan Majistret itself – the former Sessions and Magistrates court facing on to Jalan Tun Perak. To say it is an impressive sight is an understatement with its 120-metre-long colonnade of clover-shaped arches capped off with dramatic black domes atop two octagonal towers at each end of the facade. It was constructed in 1910 and was formerly the Federated Malay States Survey Office. It was also referred to as the Old Survey Department building. The adjoining Old Town Hall was an earlier build from 1904 and housed the British Sanitary Board’s offices. Half of this stands empty with the other half is home to the City Hall Theatre. I can’t seem to find out when it was vacated nor what the plans are for this fantastic Mughal-style building are. However, the new courts building was completed in May 2007, so it is likely to be some time after then.

Picture from 1972:

2018-01-13_11-12-52 by HughieDW, on Flickr

2. The Explore
Not really an explore as such as it was all locked up. More a case of skirting round the perimeter poking my camera in when I could!

3. The Pictures:

The west side looking at the Old Town Hall:

img5052 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Beautifully adorned doorway:

img5022bw by HughieDW, on Flickr

img5020 by HughieDW, on Flickr

…and a window:

img5021 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The corner tower from the inside:

img5051 by HughieDW, on Flickr

…and then the outside:

img5017 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And then looking along the inside of the long façade of the Mahkhamah Sesyen dan Majistret itself:

img5048 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The main entrance:

img5016 by HughieDW, on Flickr

All locked up sadly:

img5027 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Detail of some lovely ironwork:

img5045 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Loving the stairs:

img5028 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Looking into the heart of the building:

img5026 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Yesterday’s news:

img5044 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And some façade it is:

img5043 by HughieDW, on Flickr

img5041bw by HughieDW, on Flickr

img5031 by HughieDW, on Flickr

img5030 by HughieDW, on Flickr

img5029 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And the end tower:

img5015 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And round the side:

img5036 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Oh dear. Security has spotted me!

img5037 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Back of the partially abandoned the old High Court

img5032bw by HughieDW, on Flickr

 

[Sam Haltin]

Now that's quite a building. The only information I can find is on here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuala_Lumpur_Courts_Complex There is information about the structure problems such as flooding and the court house collapsing. I think that its the same one.

 

[HughieD]

Now that's quite a building. The only information I can find is on here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuala_Lumpur_Courts_Complex There is information about the structure problems such as flooding and the court house collapsing. I think that its the same one.

Think you could be right as it is right next to the river. Managed to sneak round the back and get a few more shots:

20180114_183256 by HughieDW, on Flickr

20180114_183130 by HughieDW, on Flickr

20180114_183204 by HughieDW, on Flickr

20180114_183058 by HughieDW, on Flickr

 

[Mikeymutt]

Wow that is cracking hughie
Some fine architecture there and some cracking shots

 

[HughieD]

Wow that is cracking hughie
Some fine architecture there and some cracking shots

Cheers Mikey. Much appreciated. Quite a lot to see out here in KL. Just have to find it for yourself as there's not much of a scene over here. Been a few good days.

 

[Sam Haltin]

I did a little walk around on Google street view and found that the new courthouse is just down the road. But the building design of a lot of Malaysian buildings just about look the same as the old courthouse.

 

[HughieD]

I did a little walk around on Google street view and found that the new courthouse is just down the road. But the building design of a lot of Malaysian buildings just about look the same as the old courthouse.

That's right. There's quite a few buildings in that style in the vicinity. There is the Masjid Jamek mosque and the delightful complex across the river that they have finished refurbing. Let's hope this place gets the same treatment.