Regent Alfred John Bidwell was born in 1869. He received his architectural training with Lockyer, Son, & Cox, of London, and he became a member of the Architectural Association, and was placed on the honours list of this institution for design.[1]
Career
Sultan Abdul Samad Building, first major work by Bidwell
Bidwell started work as an assistant to a succession of architects: Crikmay & Son, W. H. Woodroffe of London, and the superintending architect of the London County Council.[1] In 1893 Bidwell left England to go to Malaya after he was nominated for appointment by Sir Charles Gregory to work for the Public Works Department (PWD) of Selangor.
Bidwell was involved in the design of Kuala Lumpur's public buildings and other works, the most important of which is the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.[2] The building was originally designed by A.C. Norman who drew the ground plan with Bidwell designing the elevation in a Classic Renaissance style. However, the State Engineer of Selangor PWD Charles Edwin Spooner disliked the design, and he instructed Bidwell to rework the building in an Indo-Saracenic or Neo-Mughal on Norman's ground plan.[3] Although the building is formally credited to A.C. Norman (and only his name appears on the foundation stone as the architect), the actual appearance of the building is largely the work of R. A. J. Bidwell with contributions from A. B. Hubback who also worked on the building after Bidwell left.[2]
In April 1895, Bidwell resigned from the Selangor PWD to join Swan and Maclaren in Singapore. He became a partner of the firm in 1899,[2] and Bidwell designed most of the buildings by Swan and Maclaren during his time at the firm. In 1903 he was elected a fellow of the Surveyors' Institute.[1]
Bidwell designed some of the most significant colonial-era buildings of Singapore such as the Raffles Hotel.
He also helped develop a style of building termed Black and White House which is an adaptation of the traditional English homes that show influences from the Tudorbethan style and Arts and Crafts movement to suit a tropical environment.[4] His design for W. Patchitt House at Cluny Road in 1903 started a trend for building such houses.[5]
Bidwell ceased to be a partner of Swan and Maclaren by 1915, but continued to practice for a few more years.[2] He died on 6 April 1918 in Tanjong Katong after a period of illness.[6]
^ abcWright, Arnold (1908). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company, limited. p. 627.
^ abcdGullick, J.M. (1992). "The Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad". Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 65 (1): 27–38. JSTOR 41493197.
^. Pusat Pengajian Seni, Universiti Sains Malaysia. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
^Maxime Pilon, Danièle Weiler (16 May 2012). The French in Singapore: An Illustrated History (1819-today). Editions Didier Millet. pp. 139–140. ISBN978-9814260442.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
^Metcalf, Thomas R. (24 April 2007). Imperial Connections: India in the Indian Ocean Arena, 1860-1920. University of California Press. pp. 60–61. ISBN9780520258051.
^Peterson, Jane A (11 September 2014). "A Slice of British Colonialism in Singapore". The New York Times.
^Jane Beamish; Jane Ferguson (1 December 1985). A History of Singapore Architecture: The Making of a City. Graham Brash (Pte.) Ltd. pp. 90–91. ISBN978-9971947972.
^Jane Beamish; Jane Ferguson (1 December 1985). A History of Singapore Architecture: The Making of a City. Graham Brash (Pte.) Ltd. pp. 91–92. ISBN978-9971947972.
^Susan Tsang (2008). Discover Singapore: The City's History & Culture Redefined. Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd. p. 202. ISBN978-9812613653.
^"Butterfly House : general view". National Library Board Singapore.
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January 06, 2023
regent, alfred, john, bidwell, bidwell, english, born, architect, noted, colonial, buildings, singapore, best, known, works, include, raffles, hotel, victoria, theatre, concert, hall, singapore, sultan, abdul, samad, building, kuala, lumpur, bidwell, born, 186. Regent Alfred John Bidwell or R A J Bidwell was an English born architect noted for his colonial era buildings in Singapore His best known works include the Raffles Hotel and the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall in Singapore and Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Kuala Lumpur Regent Alfred John Bidwell R A J Bidwell BornRegent Alfred John Bidwell 1869 06 12 12 June 1869Died6 April 1918 1918 04 06 aged 48 Tanjong Katong SingaporeNationalityBritishOccupationArchitectSpouseEdith Allen d 1944 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Work in Singapore 3 Notable works 4 ReferencesEarly life EditRegent Alfred John Bidwell was born in 1869 He received his architectural training with Lockyer Son amp Cox of London and he became a member of the Architectural Association and was placed on the honours list of this institution for design 1 Career Edit Sultan Abdul Samad Building first major work by Bidwell Bidwell started work as an assistant to a succession of architects Crikmay amp Son W H Woodroffe of London and the superintending architect of the London County Council 1 In 1893 Bidwell left England to go to Malaya after he was nominated for appointment by Sir Charles Gregory to work for the Public Works Department PWD of Selangor Bidwell was involved in the design of Kuala Lumpur s public buildings and other works the most important of which is the Sultan Abdul Samad Building 2 The building was originally designed by A C Norman who drew the ground plan with Bidwell designing the elevation in a Classic Renaissance style However the State Engineer of Selangor PWD Charles Edwin Spooner disliked the design and he instructed Bidwell to rework the building in an Indo Saracenic or Neo Mughal on Norman s ground plan 3 Although the building is formally credited to A C Norman and only his name appears on the foundation stone as the architect the actual appearance of the building is largely the work of R A J Bidwell with contributions from A B Hubback who also worked on the building after Bidwell left 2 Work in Singapore Edit Raffles Hotel In April 1895 Bidwell resigned from the Selangor PWD to join Swan and Maclaren in Singapore He became a partner of the firm in 1899 2 and Bidwell designed most of the buildings by Swan and Maclaren during his time at the firm In 1903 he was elected a fellow of the Surveyors Institute 1 Bidwell designed some of the most significant colonial era buildings of Singapore such as the Raffles Hotel He also helped develop a style of building termed Black and White House which is an adaptation of the traditional English homes that show influences from the Tudorbethan style and Arts and Crafts movement to suit a tropical environment 4 His design for W Patchitt House at Cluny Road in 1903 started a trend for building such houses 5 Bidwell ceased to be a partner of Swan and Maclaren by 1915 but continued to practice for a few more years 2 He died on 6 April 1918 in Tanjong Katong after a period of illness 6 Tower Block of the Goodwood Park HotelNotable works Edit Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall Sultan Abdul Samad Building Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 1897 formally credited to A C Norman but much of the design is Bidwell s Atbara House Singapore 1898 an early Black and White House 7 Raffles Hotel Singapore 1899 Goodwood Park Hotel Singapore 1900 Stamford House Singapore 1904 Oriental Telephone and Telegraph offices 1904 the only building of Bidwell in Singapore designed primarily in the Indo Saracenic style 8 Eden Hall Singapore 1904 9 Chesed El Synagogue Singapore 1905 Singapore Cricket Club 1907 Bidwell designed the extension that projected out from the main clubhouse in two sections facing the pitch 10 Telephone House Robinson Road 1907 opposite Lau Pa Sat 11 currently SO Sofitel Singapore hotel Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall Singapore 1909 renovation of Town Hall Victoria Theatre to harmonise with Victoria Memorial Hall 12 Hotel Majapahit Surabaya Indonesia 1911 Butterfly House Singapore 1912 13 References Edit a b c Wright Arnold 1908 Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya its history people commerce industries and resources Lloyd s Greater Britain Publishing Company limited p 627 a b c d Gullick J M 1992 The Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 65 1 27 38 JSTOR 41493197 Sultan Abdul Samad Building Pusat Pengajian Seni Universiti Sains Malaysia Archived from the original on 11 July 2015 Retrieved 21 July 2016 Maxime Pilon Daniele Weiler 16 May 2012 The French in Singapore An Illustrated History 1819 today Editions Didier Millet pp 139 140 ISBN 978 9814260442 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint uses authors parameter link Black and White Houses in Singapore Roots Death of Mr R A J Bidwell The Straits Times 8 April 1918 p 8 Atbara House Remember Singapore Metcalf Thomas R 24 April 2007 Imperial Connections India in the Indian Ocean Arena 1860 1920 University of California Press pp 60 61 ISBN 9780520258051 Peterson Jane A 11 September 2014 A Slice of British Colonialism in Singapore The New York Times Jane Beamish Jane Ferguson 1 December 1985 A History of Singapore Architecture The Making of a City Graham Brash Pte Ltd pp 90 91 ISBN 978 9971947972 Jane Beamish Jane Ferguson 1 December 1985 A History of Singapore Architecture The Making of a City Graham Brash Pte Ltd pp 91 92 ISBN 978 9971947972 Susan Tsang 2008 Discover Singapore The City s History amp Culture Redefined Marshall Cavendish International Asia Pte Ltd p 202 ISBN 978 9812613653 Butterfly House general view National Library Board Singapore Wikimedia Commons has media related to Regent Alfred John Bidwell Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Regent Alfred John Bidwell amp oldid 1099335523, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
