FMS Railways Central Office, Kuala Lumpur (1905)
The building served as a larger accommodation for the Federated Malay States Railways’ offices at the Market Street-Damansara Road junction (today Leboh Pasar Besar-Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin). It was built on the footprint the previous one-storey Railway Office building c.1895 (designed by ACA Norman). The gate fence of the Nothern Railway Marshalling Yard was built at the same time as part of the complex.
Hubback's Official Post/Role: Federal PWD Assistant Architect
Year Designed: 1902
Construction Period: May 1904 (full swing) - 1905
Contractor: Ang Sing
Construction Cost; $ 116,122 Straits Dollars.
Architectural Style: Mughal Eclectic
Brief Architectural Description: Alternate red brick facing and white plaster band on exterior walls, with Cupolas and Chatris.
Building Occupancy History
1905 to 1917 FMS Railways Central Offices (HQ)
1917 to 1919 FMS Public Works Department
1959 to 1971 1st Headquarters of Bank Negara Malaysia
19XX to 19XX Pusat Karangkraf
2010 to present Muzium Tekstil Negara
Current Name: Muzium Tekstil Negara
Previous Use: Government Administration (Railway Office)
Previous Building Type: Office
Current Use: Museum
Current Builidng Use: Public Assembly
Gazeted as Malaysia's National Heritage List in 2007
Gazzetted Name: Bangunan Kerja Raya (PWD)
Alteration History: The glass annexe extension (new lobby) designed by Design Evolution Architects was completed in 2010. The Nothern Marshalling Yard's Wall was retained to remember the history of the site when the Bank Pertanian was built. Part of it was demolished in 2014 to make way for access to new adjacent hotel development. The portion in front of the Bank Pertanian remains intact.
Measured Drawings:
1. JKR 26 (Muzium Tekstil Negara), 2007 by Fakulti Alam Bina, Universiti Malaya
2. Muzium Tekstil Negara, 2014 by MASSA, Taylor's University
Coordinates: (to be updated)
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Annual Report Federated Malay States 1905
Original document viewed at Arkib Negara Malaysia
Railways.
The new Central Offices at Kuala Lumpur were completed and occupied, the total cost amounting to $116,122. Good progress was made on the construction of the new Central Workshop.
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Malay Mail, 19 May 1905, p2
Our Federal Railway Offices are now completed. They form an imposing pole, and it is cruel of someone to mention that they suggest the idea of a chocolate cake. But then reformers were ever misunderstood.
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Sources
Report
Annual Report Federated Malay States Railways 1905
Articles
Malay Mail, 19 May 1905, p2, Untitled
Measured Drawings
JKR 26 (Muzium Tekstil Negara), 2007 by Fakulti Alam Bina, Universiti Malaya
Muzium Tekstil Negara, 2014 by MASSA, Taylor's Univesity
