Photobook Muzium Istana Negara, Balairung Seri

The Royal MuseumPhoto Book

The cityscapes that surround the majestic Royal Museum.

Facade of the Royal Museum

01

Various outdoor decorative elements and vegetation that

adorn the Istana Negara’s surroundings.

Balairung Seri Utama

02

The Royal Museums’ exterior elevations

The main throne hall that is located in the Balairung.

Concrete Jungle Landscape Elements

03 04

Connecting Corridor

The Hallways that provide passage to and fro around

the Royal Museum and Balairung.

The study room located in the King’s suite.

The queen’s bedroom located in the King’s suite.

Study Room

The queen’s washroom located in the King’s suite.

Royal’s Bedroom Queen’s Washroom

05 06 07 08

The King’s washroom located int the King’s suite

The various stairs that are scattered around the Royal

Museum.

King’s Washroom

Decorative Elements that are adorn the various walls,

ceiling and floor.

Decorative Elements

The decorative light fixtures that are located in the main throne hall and the King’s

suite.

Stairs Chandelier

DetailingLocation

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GROUND FLOOR PLAN FIRST FLOOR PLAN

Concrete Jungle

Within the stillness of place, it allows one to engage fully with the deepest of soul into

transforming vision into reality.

Vision Frame

Overviewing the city, his Majesty discerns the future prospect of the country. With his vision, He shaped the future of Malaysia.

Landscape Elements

Shelter hidden in the folds of nature, providing a space for reflection and thought

in the midst of the garden.

Body of Water

Reflect on one’s self to surface into a future with no regrets.

The Royal Garden

A slice of paradise amidst the Royal garden, embraced by hues of scarlet against the verdant backdrop.

RelationsNature and man thrive harmoniously under the careful sight of the glorious king.

A path of man A sight of nature

An epicentre of water

In Islam, all living things comprise of water. Water in Islam is symbolic, representing purification and life. The decorative effect of water is also central to Islamic architecture, which emphasises motion and silence, choreographed under the light.

Fountain

Journeying through thick and thin, unifying causes , bridging the gap

The bridge

Dilapidated and decaying, beauty lies silently with the testimony of time.

Facade of the Royal Museum

Central Focus

A flag that guides a man and a nation

Shifting Facade

Looking at the image shown, there is a clear distinction between the architectural styles of the main palace wing and the Balairung annex. This addition, which shows elements of modernism, is more simplistic and geometrically focused than the main palace - which speaks the

language of British Colonial and Palladian style.

The facade of the Istana Negara’s main wing consists of a perfectly symmetrical

relationship between the elevation and plan, but morphs into a different language.

Partial Facade of the Istana Negara

Balairung Seri Utama

View from The Throne

The throne, also known as the’ SInggahsana’, is located at the crest of the second half of the Balairung. It is the most important part of the entire wing and is the seating place of the King and Queen during official events.

The seating arrangements that face it can hold up to 2000 guests and 1000 guests for a state banquet.

Speakers surrounded the singgahsana to give a complete surround sound

within. Connected to the Press Room and AV Room, the windows can slide open allowing videographers to record

live footages from above.

The Throne

Sitting higher than it’s surrounding, the throne is encased within an upright structure, to symbolise all creations and human brings to constantly remember and respect their creator.

Connecting Corridors

Behind the scenes

Up above encircling the Singgahsana, the Press Room and Audiovisual room can be found. People involved with the media and press will set up their camera equipments in the area. The crew involved with the stage lighting and audiovisual will also monitor the sound and light from the top.

Sky BridgeThe sky bridge bridges between the old and the

new, the occupied and the independent, the tethered and the liberated. Here, Palladian Style,

begins to merge with Modernistic.

Study Room

Family RoomThe family room is designed with British Colonial and Victorian influences. The ambience of the room is opulently

and elegantly decorated to suit the image of His Majesty, balanced in a way that does not compromise the teachings of the prophet which is to not ‘equalise riches with flamboyances”.

Family Room

The Western and English touch in the family room is the most reflective in the use of furnishings. Majority of the furniture used are similar to traditional English noblemen’s furniture, which are elegantly trimmed with curving floral motifs or vectors.

The upholstery, usually consists of pastel pigments, which therefore contrast with the dark tones of wood.

Royal’s Bedroom

Bedroom

The use of British Colonial style in the interior spaces continue from the semi-public spaces to the most private rooms of all- the master suite. A key feature in British Colonial interior architecture is the contrast of the wallpaper to the floorings. Much like the contrast between the furniture,

the wallpapers were usually neutral colours, such as beige, cream, light pink or eggshell, and the floors would be dark woods, such as teak, oak and mahogany.

Royal’s Suite Living Room

The Royal’s Suite’s living room blends seamlessly with the rest of the private quarters, with soft pastel tones and dim lighting. The type of furniture used also remain similar to

the family suite - whereby the frames are heavily garnished and flourished to portray decadence

Queen’s Washroom

Queen’s WashroomCertain rooms within the private quarters followed the rule of

‘duo-compartmentalisation’, which urge male and female Muslims to have a separation between certain degree of lifestyle, including the restrooms of His and Hers Majesty.

King’s Washroom

His Majesty’s Bathroom

Like Her Majesty’s bathroom, the use of marble, mirrors and polished silver conveys ambience of opulence in a place of cleansing and reflection.

Stairs

Garden’s Staircase

The elegant ivory staircase leading from the foyer to the garden creates a sense of grandeur and majesty in even the simplest of everyday actions. Even so, the staircase is relatively simple and low-key, in keeping with

the royal but humble atmosphere of the palace.

Surrounded by greenery, the staircase, though physically broad and large, creates a subconscious sense of intimacy to the user.

Tucked away from sight, this humble concrete staircase surrounded by iron grille, it guides

leads from the balcony to the ground.

The interior of the stairwell is elaborately decorated with draperies and chandeliers, but the windows are reduced to a minimal design, suggesting a new approach in looking towards the world. Stairway

Decorative Elements

Motifs

Throughout the interior of the building, motifs of sinuous curves, floral designs and rococo whiplashes embrace the space with

warmth.

The king’s writing table articulates western influence of Victorian era. The roses adorned white porcelain plates offset with the dark wood table depicts the influences of Western and Oriental at where the nation’s story was written — the table where king writes.

Emblems on furniture

Malaysian’s National Emblem

Malaysia’s National Emblem, also known as the ‘Coat of Arms of Malaysia’ (or ‘Jata

Negara’) consist of a shield being supported by two tigers, topped by a yellow crescent with a 14-pointed ‘federal star’ and a motto

written on a banner, below.

The yellow colour of the crescent and 14-pointed federal star, symbolised the country’s

monarchy.

The crescent also represents Islam as the official religion while the federal star

represents the thirteen states and the Federal Territories of Malaysia.

The motto spells to the phrase “ Unity is Strength’ or ‘ Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu’

Chandelier

ChandeliersWide array of chandeliers sprinkled in

various places among the Balairung’s wing. The use of the chandeliers graces the space with refractions, reflections and

illuminations.

Crystalline chandelier lits the room, with an aura of endless imagination.