Architecture of Penang
The architecture of Penang reflects the 171 years of British presence on the island, coalescing with local,
Colonial style
Fort Cornwallis, built by Francis Light as a defensive measure when he first gained possession of Penang island, is the oldest British structure in Penang.[3] Located where the Esplanade now stands and where he first landed on the island, it was originally built of wood and was subsequently replaced by brick.
The architecture of the Suffolk House is of the
Other distinguished buildings from the colonial period include the
Chinese influence
Nouveau riche Chinese millionaires of the time built themselves stately mansions along the famed Millionaires' Row of Northam Road (now Sultan Ahmad Shah Road). One of the most famous of them still standing today is the Yeap mansion Homestead, resplendent in white. The holiday palace of the Sultan of Kedah, Istana Kedah is also located on the same stretch.
Other influences
Indian Muslims made their mark in the Kapitan Keling Mosque located on its namesake road.
The Siamese and Burmese community of Penang built their imposing temples which portray architectural traditions of their two home nations. Three of the most famous examples are the
Protection
Penang has been submitting to list George Town on the
George Town and Malacca have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West in the Straits of Malacca. The influences of Asia and Europe have endowed the towns with a specific multicultural heritage that is both tangible and intangible. With its government buildings, churches, squares and fortifications, Malacca demonstrates the early stages of this history originating in the 15th-century Malay sultanate and the Portuguese and Dutch periods beginning in the early 16th century. Featuring residential and commercial buildings, George Town represents the British era from the end of the 18th century. The two towns constitute a unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.[5]
See also
- Kong Hock Keong, Snake Temple & Eng Chuan Tong)
- City Hall, Penang
- List of tallest buildings in Penang Island
- Penang Bridge
References
- ^ "Tourism Penang". Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
...one of the largest collections of 19th, and early 20th century buildings in Southeast Asia.
- ^ "The end for straits house ?". NST Online. Archived from the original on September 21, 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ "Historic George Town". Archived from the original on 26 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
...the oldest surviving structure in Penang.
- ^ "Malacca, Penang asked to resubmit heritage site applications to Unesco". The Star. 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ "Eight new sites, from the Straits of Malacca, to Papua New Guinea and San Marino, added to UNESCO's World Heritage List". UNESCO. 2008-07-07. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-07.