ing room, a taxidermists workshop, a long storeroom (82 ft. 9 in. long by 19 ft.in. wide), a tanning room, an air-conditioning plant room, a labora- tory and technical workshops and two darkrooms.
The principle exhibition rooms are on the first floor which also contains the main public entrance to the building, approached from outside by an imposing flight of steps faced with
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attractive mosaic tiles presented by Mr. Aw Cheng Chye of Singapore. The main entrance entrance gives access to the grand main hall of the museum occupying the 'crosspiece' of the building and providing an exhibi- tion space of 59 ft. 6 in, by 51 ft. 6in. To the left of the main entrance is a small bookstall and opposite, at the other end of the hall, the grand staircase, an unusual feature of which and one typical of the building
The precast concrete window panels above the main door. The precast concrete screens, can also be seen.
with its emphasis on Malayan motifs is the use of wooden struts curved after the fashion of Malay parangs, to line the banisters. The floor of this grand main hall is set with fine blue mosaic tiles, specially designed and manufactured for the museum in Pakistan as a generous gift from the Pakistan Government.
The long east and west wings on the first floor are utilised as exhibition galleries. Each of these is 154ft. 14in. long by 60ft. 9in. wide. The west wing is utilised as a ceremonial gallery and contains full-sized tableaux of a Perak Malay Royal Wedding, Ma Yong Manora. a shadow play theatre, Chinese Jion dances. а Chinese theatre, a classical Indian dance and displays of shadow play figures from Malaya, Thailand, Indonesia and China. There are also Dioramas of three different Malay dances and of Kedah Nobat, Kelantan Malay top spinning, and Negeri Sembilan Silat. as well as displays of antique furni- ture and musical instruments.
The east gallery is used for displays relating to Malayan prehistory, his- tory, aborigines, Malayan crafts and weapons and elaborate displays of the rubber and tin industries as well as fishing and forestry.
Constructional Details
The building has a reinforced con- crete framework infilled with 9-in.- thick exterior and 4-in.-thick interior walls. External wall finishing is of artificial stone rendering. The floors. apart from that in the grand main hall, are generally of reinforced- concrete cement finish.
Originally it was proposed that the roof (part of which is in traditional double-roof style) should consist of wooden shingles, but, in the interests of durability, it was finally decided to use Langley glazed brown pantiles.
The timber used in the building. carvings and other decorations is generally local in origin and includes chengal (used for all woodcarvings), balau and teak.
Murals
The design provided for two large murals on the exterior front walls of the two wings and in the completed building, these enormous and striking
THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER-VOLUME 19, NUMBER 2