Penang State Assembly Building

Penang State Assembly Building
Bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri Pulau Pinang
Map
Former namesMagistrate's Courts,
Central Police Station
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeState Legislative Assembly
Architectural styleAnglo-Indian
AddressLight Street,
10200 George Town,
Penang, Malaysia
Town or cityGeorge Town, Penang
CountryMalaysia
Coordinates5°25′10″N 100°20′36″E / 5.419423°N 100.343265°E / 5.419423; 100.343265
Current tenantsGovernment of Penang
Construction started1820s
Renovated1959
Renovation cost$150,000
OwnerGovernment of Penang
TypeCultural
Criteriaii, iii, iv
Designated2008 (32nd session)
Reference no.1223
RegionAsia-Pacific

The Penang State Assembly Building is the home of the Penang State Legislative Assembly. It is located at Light Street in the city of George Town in Penang, Malaysia, within the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site. All State Legislative Assembly proceedings are held within the building.

Built in the 1820s, the Anglo-Indian classical style building originally served as part of George Town's Central Police Station.[1][2][3] It was only in 1959 when the building was converted into the current home of the State Legislative Assembly.[3][4][5]

Architecture

Side view of the building

The Penang State Assembly Building was designed in the Anglo-Indian classical style, and contains elements of classical Greek and Palladian architectures.[6] For instance, the massive white colonnades supporting a large pediment were inspired by ancient Greek temples.

History

The building now known as the Penang State Assembly Building was built sometime in the 1820s, although its exact date of construction has not been determined.[1][2] As with many other buildings of that particular period, this building was constructed by convict labourers sent from India.

Originally, the building was part of George Town's Central Police Station, housing the Recorder's and Magistrate's Courts.[2][3] It was renovated in 1874, while another administrative building was added to the police complex in 1890.[2]

The building retained its judicial function until 1959, when it was finally converted for use by the newly-formed Penang State Legislative Assembly.[4][5] The conversion of the building into the present-day State Assembly Building cost $150,000 (Malaya and British Borneo dollar).[3]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dewan Undangan Negeri, Penang.
  1. ^ a b "Laman Web Dewan Undangan Negeri P.Pinang – Sejarah". dun.penang.gov.my. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Howard Tan, Keith Hockton (2012). Penang: An Inside Guide to Its Historic Homes, Buildings, Monuments and Parks. Petaling Jaya: Malayan Publishing House. ISBN 978-967-415-303-8.
  3. ^ a b c d Langdon, Marcus (2014). A Guide to George Town's Historic Commercial and Civic Precincts. George Town: George Town World Heritage incorporated.
  4. ^ a b "Relocate assembly building, Penang state govt urged". thesundaily.my. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b Shiying, Crystal Chiam. "State assembly needs a new home – Nation | The Star Online". Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Capturing city's beauty on canvas – Community | The Star Online". thestar.com.my. Retrieved 30 April 2017.