Arthur Charles Alfred Norman

Arthur Charles Alfred Norman (1858-1944), often referred to as A.C.A. Norman, was a British architect who was active in Malaya at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of 20th century.^[1]

Malaya

He worked under the auspices of the Malaysian Public Works Department (PWD) between 1893 and 1903 and was responsible for the some of the colony’s most distinguished public buildings. He became a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) on 6 July 1896.^[1]

During his tenure in the Malaysian Public Works Department, he contributed to crafting an eclectic style known as Indo-Saracenic. Prior to the work of Norman and his successor, Arthur Benison Hubback, the onion dome did not exist in the Peninsular Malaysia.^[1]

Norman had hired Arthur Benison Hubback to work in the Malaysian Public Works Department. Buildings designed by the department were often not attributed to a single person, so many buildings attributed to Norman also bore the input of Hubback, and vice versa. Hubback started out as a draftsman and became the department’s lead architect, eclipsing the position previously held by Norman. The lasting legacy of both men is that they introduced to the Malayan peninsula a new architectural vocabulary which is now seen as part of the region’s architectural heritage.

Buildings

During his time of service, Arthur Charles Alfred Norman contributed to the design of some of Malaysia’s iconic buildings. Several of them form the historic core of Kuala Lumpur, grandly lining the perimeter of Independence Square.^[1]

His works include:

• Royal Selangor Club (1884)
• Memorial Tunku Abdul Rahman (1888)
• Victoria Institution (1893)
• St.Mary's Cathedral (1894)
• National Textile Museum (1895)
• Panggung Bandaraya DBKL (1896)
• Sultan Abdul Samad Building (1897)
• Kuala Lumpur Library (1909)

Significance

Arthur Charles Alfred Norman's most significant structure is the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Built between 1894-1897, it is located in front of Independence Square, Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur. For most of the 20th century, it was Malaysia’s most iconic structure.^[2]

Multiple styles can be seen in the eclectic design. In some of its forms and details it relates to Mughal architecture. The colonial refashioning of this historic Indian architecture is often referred to as Indo-Saracenic. Its features include symmetry, domes, and an extensive use of arches, iwans and chattris. Some Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic features are also evident.

Honours

• 1881 Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects^[1]
• 1996 Confirmed by Royal Institute of British Architects to become a Fellow.^[1]
• 1928 Elected as the President of Devon Architectural Society.^[1]

References