The 4th item in this series from NST Series The Old & The New

A unique blend of styles

ONE of the first things you notice about Masjid Kampung Kling in Malacca is its roof.

Instead of a traditional dome, its roof is three-tiered, with distinctly curved eaves that are definitely Oriental in nature.

Built in 1748 during the Dutch occupation, it is one of the oldest mosques in the country.

Located in Malacca’s busy Jalan Tukang Emas, the mosque is one of the must-visit places in the city.

Another interesting architectural feature is the minaret, which was built entirely of masonry in contrast to the timber mosque building. Some people think it looks like a Chinese pagoda.

Chinese ceramic tiles adorn the roof, the floor and the lower walls of the mosque.

Then there are the European touches like the rendered plaster on the internal masonry walls, and the Portuguese and British glazed tiles on the walls of the main prayer hall.

The different styles found in this mosque here speak of the many influences in early Malacca, which was a major trading port from the 14th to the 18th century.

In 1868, a high wall was built to protect the mosque and its minaret from the street.

Today, not much seems to have changed except for the cars which have replaced the rickshaws (above picture taken in the early 1930s) on the street.