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TRANSCRIPT
The Kedah State Museum is located only two kilometers from the town centre. The museum is easily accessible as it faces the main road. Masjid Zahir is the state Mosque of Kedah. It sits across the road from the museum, about 1.9 kilometers away.
Alor Setar Tower is one of the main attractions in Kedah. Apart from being a telecommunication tower, it also serves as a tourist
destination. It is located in town, about 5 minutes away from the museum.
The old museum and the new museum are situated side by side. They posssesssimilar features like color and roof type. However, the new museum is bigger andholds more modernist architectural characteristics compared to the old museum.
On the other side of the old museum is the administrative office of the Kedah Branch Persatuan Sejarah Malaysia Cawangan Kedah.
On the far west of the building compound are two traditional Malay houses. Behind the houses is a building with event halls catered specifically to the public.
The roof of the old museum is similar to the new museum. However, the 12-star ornamentation that repeats itself frequently throughout the roofs of the building differenciates it from the other buildings around it.
The portico is supported by 8 tall columns. The portico stands higher than the rest of the building, creating visual heiacy which places emphases on the front of the building. The open spaces allow users to interact with the sur-rounding environment.
A row of 8 timber columns support the verandahs on either side of the buidling. It evokes a sense of depth.
The windows on the first floor are made of louvered glass panels. It allows natural ventilation as well as abundant of natural light to enter.
The windows on the bridge that joins the main building to the sub building are different from the other windows in the building as they are not louvered.
Windows are decked on every elevation of the building and are paired with simple yet abstract ornamentations above and below them.
Timber louvered windows (left) are used on the ground floor. Some windows (right) are merely repeated patterns made of metal. All windows on the ground floor have been sealed since the installation of air condi-
tioning.
The portico houses an arching double staircase that converges midway, and then leads to the entrance on the first floor.
There is a bench on the landing of the staircase for users to sit on while putting on their shoes after exiting the building.
The main entrance to the first floor. Users are required to take off their shoes before entering the office.
Colorful lights are hung along the edges of the roofs as ornamentation. Being round in shape, they complement the pointy fascia board.
Traditional wood carvings are used as ornamentation and are seen mostly underneath the glass louvered windows on the first floor.
Timber strips extend outwards from the middle to form a 12-pointed star. It was believed that this geometrical pattern could drive away evil spirits with its energy.
Triangular timber ornamentations with diamond shapes in between are placed around the building, creating a distinct layer seperating the ground floor from the first floor.
Bronze metalworks are hung on the walls of the first floor. They illustrate the culture and traditional activities of Kedah.