An exhibition and seminar on Architectural Heritage Hospitals was held on the 13th of October 2009 at the lobby and Senate Hall, Administrative Building, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.  It was officiated by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Students Affairs), Professor Dr Mohd Tajuddin bin Ninggal.

The exhibition featured findings of studies by a group of 58 third year Bachelor of Architecture students and 6 lecturers headed by Dr Raja Nafida bte Raja Shahminan.  Thirteen hospital buildings in Johor and Selangor were studied.  These buildings owned by the Ministry of Health were chosen for their historical and architectural value and a majority is over 50 years old.

Among them are:

  • Administrative and Clinical Buildings, Sultanah Aminah Hospital, Johor Bahru, Johor
  • Adminstrative Building and Complex for Occupational Therapy, Permai Hospital, Tampoi
  • Rural Clinic, Permas, Kukup
  • Grisek Health Clinic, Pagoh
  • Wards 1 and 2, Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital, Muar
  • Maternity ward, Tangkak Hospital
  • Administrative Building and Quarters for Leprosy Patients, Leprosy Hospital Tampoi
  • Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes at Sungai Buluh National Centre for Leprosy Control, Selangor
  • Mosque at Sungai Buluh National Centre for Leprosy Control, Selangor.

The exhibition and seminar was held to disclose findings of studies undertaken over a period of 6 months on the history and architecture of the above hospital buildings.  There has never been an intensive study done on these buildings before.  Documentation of the history and architecture of these buildings is a conservation effort by the Centre for Malay Architectural Studies/Pusat Kajian Alam Bina Melayu (KALAM) and will be historical evidence and reference of their existence.

The government in its efforts to upgrade the quality of health care in the country has built new and sophisticated hospitals however old hospital buildings with historical and architectural value should not be neglected.  The history and architecture of these old hospital buildings unless recorded will never be known because they were not designed as hospitals but were used as hospitals due to the need at the time.

The study is part of an annual programme since 1975 and is a joint effort between architecture students and KALAM, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. The Centre for Malay Architectural Studies/Pusat Kajian Alam Bina Melayu (KALAM) has successfully undertaken studies on and documented the history and architecture of over 400 buildings in Malaysia and Thailand.

 

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