[714] Of old facade in Kuala Lumpur
This facade belongs to an old building by the Klang river; behind the Federal High Court, across the river. A local told me that it was erected in the 1950s. When I first saw the facade, I knew immediately that I was going to fall in love with it. I think this is the best shot so far this year.
The photo is cropped version. The original isn't rotated on its origin - the camera's base is aligned properly, parallel to the ground. Yet, the len's plane wasn't parallel to the facade's. So, it created some imbalances and I don't really like it. I tried my best to repair the picture with my limited knowledge but it was too hard. So, I thought, hah, rotate it and problem solved! I also contrasted it to get the colors. The original is here:
It seems that three different companies occupy the building. How do I know? Well, the whole building itself seems to be in three different states - good, bad and kinda okay but could be better. See it yourself.
The three of them, if there are three of them, should work together to restore the building. The building should be protected and made a national treasure or sort. Or at least some fund should be establised to maintain the building. This is even more imperative given that the building stands less then 200 m away from Dataran Merdeka, one of Kuala Lumpur's main gathering places.
The back view is most disheartening.
One thing I hate about Kuala Lumpur is its treatment of the river. If I were one of the earliest planners of Kuala Lumpur, I would have made it compulsory for buildings to face the river. The Gombak and the Klang rivers deserve more respect than they are receiving at the moment. So much aesthetical potential squandered just by disrespecting the rivers!
Lastly, this is another side view of the facade.
That tall building to your right, if you're unfamiliar with the city, is Maybank Tower. It used to be Malaysia's tallest building, or second, before Kuala Lumpur Tower dwarfed everything in Malaysia. I'm not sure if Komtar in Penang is taller than Maybank.
p/s - Malaysia lost to France in a hockey friendly? Hell... Since when France is a hockey nation? This is preposterous!
pp/s - All-England Final - Malaysia versus Denmark. Second set now and looks like a fierce competition. Go Malaysia!
p3/s - I know this is old but I'm beginning to get jealous of gay man. If being gay allows a person to grope a girl's breast and then gets away with it, I want to be gay!
good work! love that school-bus yellow against white.
By Gee, at 22 January, 2006 09:22
Yeah, nice photo. I've always had a thing for old colonial-style architecture as well.
Btw, on that gay thing, omg that is so true. I was out with this whole group of friends where there was a gay guy in it in a girl's house, and when they had to change, us guys all had to get out of the room for a moment except for that gay guy! Lucky bastard! :P
By sigma, at 22 January, 2006 15:58
Hey __earth get on the Flickr, thats very active and creative society. More people deserves to see you photos, these from USA and these from Malaysia, they are really good!
oops almost forgot to say love that first close-up and building is definitely influenced by Dutch neo-baroque architecture.
By boris , at 22 January, 2006 18:21
thanks all for the kind words. on flikr, I don't know. It always takes me some times to upload photo to them. So, =(
By __earth, at 24 January, 2006 07:21
