Kuching Waterfront

The development of the area was to rediscover Kuching's relationship with the riverfront and to unlock its potential as a leisure and recreation resource for the future.

The overall concept took into account the need to provide a mix of community and tourist centered activities while still recognizing the importance of preserving the historical and cultural setting of the area. It was also intended to become the landmark and showpiece of the city. This concept thus influenced everything that the Kuching Waterfront is - the materials used; the structures; the facilities; the artworks; the activities; etc. most of which are unique to the Kuching Waterfront only.

The Sarawak Economic Development Corporation was assigned by the State Government in 1989 to develop the riverfront in time for the State's 30th Anniversary in Malaysia in 1993.

The consultants selected to design the project were a team of local and foreign consultants - Conybeare Morrison and Partners (Australia) and United Consultants (Kuching). Construction by local contractors spanned over a period of 2 and a half year (May 1991 to September 1993).

During this period, the old riverfront characterized by dilapidated godowns and jetties, dirty mud flaps and eroded riverbanks were transformed into a beautiful landscaped and bustling Waterfront. This Metamorphosis has acted as a catalyst to the development and improvement in the adjacent areas in that the ripple of economic revitalization is felt through improved land values, enhanced environment and general amenity throughout the city.

The Kuching Waterfront was officially launched by YAB Chief Minister of Sarawak on September 3, 1993.

http://www.sedctourism.com

maozi wrote:
Oh tat's fun~
I'll write about the oldest church in town, St Tom
Uh... needa go find info first :p

The Sarawak Museum Old Building was built in 1891 and was extended to its present form in 1911. The building was especially built to permanently house and display local native arts and crafts and collections of local animals as mainly encouraged by the famous naturalist, Alfred Wallace, who was then collecting specimens in the country.
Since its inception, the building has undergone several renovations and alterations. It is rectangular, 44� x 160� with walls and pillars of bricks and roof of belian and concrete. It has European architecture of imposing edifice in Queen Anne style (Victorian period). The galleries are lighted by dormer windows on the roof which thus allow a great area of wall space.

webmaster wrote:
Thanks edwin for the input. will definately add that one in

I think i shud head down to the library to start making research.

mochaholic wrote:
The architecture of the Sarawak Museum's Old Wing isn't Queen Anne, it's French, Normandy to be exact. It's modelled after a Normandy (northern France) townhouse.

Built under Rajah Charles. His butler, from Normandy, was the architect of sorts.

There were more dormers on the front façade, three on the left and right side. All except the side dormers survived after the Japanese invasion.

Some of the items in the Sarawak Museum collection is on display in the Wings. There are more, seriously, more, in storage at a safe facility. Heard they're building a proper facility to house the relics in Petra Jaya. Some of the collection is on loan in other museums. I saw pieces on loan from the Sarawak Museum in Auckland and Sydney.

And Queen Anne was the great grandmother (somewhere there) of Queen Victoria of the Victorian period. Sorry for being pedantic with this history lesson.