This document is a literature review submitted by Chia Wee Min for the course Culture & Civilization at the School of Architecture, Building and Design. The review focuses on the architectural details of colonial-era institutional buildings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It provides research on three institutions - Victoria Institution, St. John Institution, and Methodist Boys' School - describing their architectural styles, notable features like clock towers, and detailing elements such as doors, windows, and arches. The review includes images and captions illustrating these architectural details. It aims to introduce readers to the different types of colonial buildings in Kuala Lumpur through a focus on institutional architecture and building elements.

1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT
MARCH INTAKE 2013
NAME: Chia Wee Min
STUDENT ID NO: 0315186
CULTURE & CIVILIZATION (FDES 0815)
Literature Review
Project 3 (Individual Assignment): Art + Architecture + Culture
TITLE: Detail of Building Institution
TUTOR: MISS NORMA
SUBMISSION DATE: 4th FEBRUARY 2014
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2. Table of content
No.
Title
Pages
1
Assignment Brief
3-5
2
Theme and Concept : Bref explanation
6
3
Research : place of interest and chosen places
6-10
4
Image and Caption
11-15
5
Compilation of tutorial updates
16-17
6
Mock up layout
18-20
7
Reference
21
2

3. Assignment Brief
3

4. 4

5. 5

6. Brief Explanation
Theme
The theme that I had chosen is architecture in Kuala Lumpur. Architecture is an art, merged
with science and technology, acquainted with history, nature, and the future. The
architecture of Kuala Lumpur is a blend of old colonial influences, Asian traditions, Malay
Islamic inspirations, modern and post modern. For Kuala Lumpur’s old colonial buildings,
there have different styles of architecture like Grecian-Spanish style, Morish and some of
these colonial buildings are institution.
Concept (Detail of colonial building- Institution)
Malaysia is a country that was colonized by few countries which were Portuguese, Dutch,
British and Japan. These colonists had adopted their architectural styles and bring it in
Malaysia. Hence, Malaysia contains various styles of colonial buildings. Different style of
colonial building gives different details to the building. Details of buildings such as doors,
windows, columns, arches may become the characteristic of the buildings but may also
makes the building unique and different from the other buildings.
For my A5 Coffee Table Booklet, readers will be introduced the details of different types of
colonial buildings and I will be focusing on the institution.
Places of interest
Kuala Lumpur is not only a city which consist just modern buildings and skyscrapers but also
consist of some colonial buildings which are contrast with the contemporary style of
buildings. Among those colonial buildings, some of them are institution. The institutions that
interest me the most are Victoria Institution, St John Institution and Methodist Boys’ School.
These institutions contain different building details that interest me which influence by
different styles of architecture.
1st Victoria Institution
2nd St John Institution
3rd Methodist Boys’ School
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7. Researches
Victoria Institution
Victoria Institution is called “The Victoria Institution” as it is a memorial school to
commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The first block of Victoria Institution
was completed in 1894. The initial enrolment at the V.I started with 115 boys from Primary
One upwards. Then, a variety of school activities designed to give a balanced education was
introduced by the Headmaster of V.I.
In 1899, a two storey building ( block2 )which consist of 6 classrooms on the ground floor
and master’s quarters above them was constructed. In 1903 and 1909, block 3 and block 4
was constructed.
The school tower of Victoria Institution carries the towering strength and majestic looks that
radiates confidence and gives moral support to all Victorians and it is the only school clock
tower in Malaysia. The clock tower has 4 sides and each side consist of a clock.
7

8. Besides the school clock tower, the school hall of Victoria Institution is not just an ordinary
hall, but a historical hall which was previously used for Japanese surrenders.
8

9. St John Institution
SMK St. John ( St. John Institution ) is a secondary school for boys only but also girls for Form
6 only. SMK St. John is located at Jalan Bukit Nanas, surrounded by St. John International
School, St. John Cathedral, Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve and SK Convent Bukit Nanas. SMK St.
John is one of the oldest schools in Kuala Lumpur which started since year 1904 and the
students composition has always been multi ethnic and multi religious.
The students of St. john Institution are known as “ Johannians ” and the girls are known as
“ Eagirls”. The students of St. John are known as Johannians possesses a burning spirit which
is described as a rich blend of love towards the school, great leadership skills, unity, loyalty,
outstanding manners and class.
St John Institution is a nice red and white building with St John clock and a cross at the top
middle part of the building. At the centre of the building, there placed statue of Jean Baptist
De La Salle which consist of La Salle and flanked by 2 children on his right and left side.
Other than that, the white semicircular arches with keystone together with the Corinthian
columns are also the speciality of St John Institution.
9

10. Methodist Boys’ School
MBSKL was founded by Rev. Dr. William T. Kensett, a naval officer of the Royal Navy
battleship HMS Orion. In July 1897, he had the desire to set up a church and school for the
Tamils in Kuala Lumpur and he left the British Navy. A shophouse was soon secured at the
corner of Batu Road and Java Street, and the predominantly Tamil school was named the
Anglo-Tamil School. In 1904, the school moved to its current premises on Petaling Hill and
the Anglo-Tamil School was re-named the Methodist Boys’ School Kuala Lumpur by Rev
William E Horley, the name used until this day.
In its natural geography, Petaling Hill, on which MBS now stands, the school overlooks one
of the oldest business sections of Kuala Lumpur which consists of many of the oldest
Chinese business establishments.
The MBS tower was built by MBSOBA where the MBSKL Bell which is the oldest existing
school bell in Kuala Lumpur was mounted in. Below the tower there is a school hall which
bears the history of the school. The drop arched window and the red classroom door may
become the characteristic of Methodist Boys’ School Building.
School tower
school hall
Red classroom door
drop arched window
10

11. Image and captions
Victoria Institution, with the photo
of Victoria Institution’s symbolic
clock tower draws my first step to
my colonial building institution
journey.
Once I stepped in the main
building of Victoria Institution, I
can see the door which is
entrance of Victoria Institution’s
hall which previously used for
Japanese surrenders.
One of the details of buildings is
door. In Victoria Institution, there
are different types of door and
these doors are the classroom
door which brings the students to
the path of learning.
This is the significant Victoria
institution school tower. It has 4
sides which each side of the
tower is consist of a clock. This
school tower carries the strength
and radiates confidence and gives
moral support to all Victorians.
11

12. The windows of the Victoria
school laboratory, gives a sense
of unity which window is the eyes
of a building.
Window is the opening to the
outside scenery. This allow
student to stop their pace and
enjoy the scenery outside.
Along the building, there are
Along the building, there are
many cross shaped opening
many cross shaped opening
above the window which keeps
above the window which keeps
the classrooms cool so that the
the classrooms cool so that the
student can enjoy studies with a
student can enjoy studies with a
cool and shaded environment.
cool and shaded environment.
St John Institution, my 2nd
institution of my journey. This
is the significant red and white
building to show the speciality
of St John institution of
Romanesque architecture
12

13. The 2nd page for St John
Institution is also a door. It is
the Georgian style with 6 panels
classroom door which leads
students to the path of
education.
Perspective
view
of
the
classroom doors with Georgian
style with the door lock.
The exterior of the St John
Institution buildings is the
combination of semicircular arch
with Corinthian column which
made St John Institution a
magnificent edifice and different
from other colonial building
institution.
Moving to the centre of the
building, there placed the St John
clock and the statue of Jean
Baptist De La Salle which formed
a historical ambience to the
institution.
13

14. The windows for St John
Institution are very much
different
from
the
other
institutions. St John Institution’s
windows are combined with
white arches with keystone
carved with 4 petals flower.
This is the pathway to the main
building. This pathway with
terrazzo carving and St John
Institution’s emblem brings
Johannian
who
possesses
burning spirit o success.
Methodist Boys’ School, the MBS
tower is the significant for
Methodist Boys’ School. This also
draws an end for my journey.
Below the MBS tower there is a
drop arched Georgian door set
back from the arched brick wall
which is the entrance to the
school hall which bears the
important school past.
14

15. The windows of the Methodist
Boys’ School are also different
from the other institution. They
are drop arched window which
the framed windows are
separated into 3 parts.
Along the school, the striking red
Georgian door with transom
above attract my attention. The
red striking classroom door
brings students to the life of
education.
The last part of Methodist Boys’
School which is the MBS tower
where the MBSKL Bell, the oldest
existing school bell in Kuala
Lumpur was mounted in.
15

16. Tutorials update
16

17. 17

18. Mock up layout
18

19. 19

20. 20

21. References
Acoustic Life of Mine A.K.A Hidup Akustika: Victoria Institution - Myths & Mysteries Part 1
[Web log post]. (2009, January). Retrieved from
http://mrchinkay.blogspot.com/2009/01/victoria-institution-myths-mysteries.html
An Influence of Colonial Architecture to Building Styles and Motifs in Colonial Cities in
Malaysia. (2005). Retrieved February 2014, from
http://www.malaysiadesignarchive.org/?p=936
BUILDING DESIGN DETAILS. (2013, January). Retrieved February 3, 2014, from
http://constructiondetails.blogspot.com/
Methodist Boys’ Secondary School Kuala Lumpur » History. (January).
Retrieved February 2014, from http://mbsskl.edu.my/about-us/history
Unofficial homepage of Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur. (2009, October).
Retrieved February 2014, from http://www.oocities.org/athens/delphi/5881/vimain.html
Victoria Institution. (2012). Retrieved February 2014, from http://www.malaysianexplorer.com/victoriaInstitution.html
victoria institution [Web log post]. (2008, July). Retrieved from
http://smkvictoria.blogspot.com/
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