Malayan Classicism

Soon-Tzu Speechley has broken new ground with this detailed and insightful study of classical architecture on the Malay Peninsula. Considering the style in both its colonial and creolized forms, the book adds substantially to the history of classicism, including our understanding of the architecture of the colonial encounter more generally. * G. A. Bremner, University of Edinburgh, UK * Speechley narrates the long pageant of Malayan architectural history, paying simultaneous attention to political and social milieu, architectural professionalism and client aspirations. In his wide-ranging discourse, he reminds us that in provincial capitals of empire, classicism was everywhere, but classical purity was nowhere. Malayan Classicism succeeds in decoding architectural Babel without the usual distortion of cultural bias. For sure, Speechley belongs to a new generation of architectural historians for whom civilisations did not clash but cleverly conversed, competed and collaborated in the making of cities. * Khoo Salma Nasution, Penang Heritage Trust, Malaysia * Soon-Tzu Speechley’s groundbreaking work, Malayan Classicism … offers an in-depth exploration of the architectural evolution in Malaysia and Singapore during the British colonial era, shedding light on the intricate dynamics between colonial impositions and indigenous adaptations … [A]n essential read for anyone interested in the intricate mosaic of Southeast Asian architectural history, offering comprehensive analysis and a compelling narrative that bridges the past with the present. * Fabrications *