Evolution of A Type; A Case Study of Station Buildings in West Coastline, Malaysia During the British Era (1885-1957)

Abstract

The British intervention in Malaya resulted in the development of the railways as urgency of the expanding tin and rubber industries. This paper attempted to emphasize on the evolution of the station buildings’ plan types and its train-sheds. Railways were the pioneers of modern transportation introduced by the British in 1885 in Malaya. Although the terrain was the main difficulties in railway developments, they managed to connect the lines through West Coast and East Coast lines until Singapore on the southern part and Bangkok on the northern part in the year 1931. Case studies have been conducted and the analysis on plan type evolution will be made between the station buildings in Malaysia in parallel with station buildings around the world during that time. Together with the growth of railway, the city blooms where it allows road constructions and buildings with different functions such as administrative buildings, railway station buildings and others started to fill major urban places.