Aesthetics, Ruins & Space -- Kellie's Castle

Insight/ feeling
After a little drizzles, sky was cloudy still, a big field presented into our vision, a stream runs across the yellow bridge, and i heard the echo of voices... if it's visitors', or if it's Kellie Smith's, from the mansion half way done. It was supposed to be done while William Kellie Smith's time, for his lover. A symbolic of love, power and wealth. Sorrowfully it couldn't reach its final face, but left unplastered, broken bricks, exposed. If a house could have a suit, it's left uncovered with its line of beauty.
Truthfully, it opened itself to us things of its. True material, workmanship, and it declares itself a piece of broken heart with nothing hidden. It therefore becomes alive. Paradoxically it left unfinished, but it had aesthetically overflowing. Touch it and you will feel the texture, see it as like u had touched it.


Idea/ concept
It was intended to be the hub of social life for the area's wealthy colonial planters and administrators, or a symbol of love to his wife. A grand mansion with a six-storey tower, wine cellar, stately columns. Moorish arches and walls embellished with Greco-Roman designs. There was to be a rooftop courtyard for parties and even an elevator, the first of its kind in the country. It also featured Islamic architectural elements, such as dome-shaped windows. But the building was never to be completed.

Restoration
Kellie's castle had been restored for a memorial of William Kellie Smith of his contribution to Malaya, construction of public road in south Perak, and also the success of rubber plantation. It was an area for wealthy colonial planters and administrators. With also appreciation of its unique architecture at that time, Kellie's castle was restored to the condition it was in when work stopped, so that it look abandoned and incomplete, as it awaiting its mater to return and finish the job.

Beautifulness


Long corridor with moorish arches, cast the shadows when there is sun. Repetitive form creates rhythm, one can feel the volume and distance of this corridor.


Nice scene comes right to the eyes while starring out the window, with the unfinished surface of the room, paradoxically beautiful view outside will be more appreciated.


Party area covered by layer of quarry-faced pvc. However the rooftop left with no railing.



Lift shaft which believed it's 1st in Malaya. However the lift never be existing, this long lift shaft left with a long void, increases the emptyness of the mansion.


Piece and pieces windows adjoined together, it's a piece of beautiful painting. With cut off but continuity of the scene, serenity had been granted for the space.

Imagine

The collonaded corridor will be furnished with elegant lightings, with very nice plaster ceiling, and floor will be finished with pattern tiles, every wall should be painted in white.


Extra information
Kellie's Castle was to surpass his estate bungalow. Seventy tough workers, mostly from Madras, were employed and bricks and marble were imported from India. But during the construction, a mysterious illness had killing many of Smith's workers. The superstitious Smith was told that a temple must be built to appease the gods. He immediately transferred his workers to build a Hindu temple nearby. Work resumed after the temple was completed but the castle was never to be realised. But tragedy happened again. On a visit to Lisbon, at the age of 56, Smith died of pneumonia. His wife, Agnes, sold the estate and with the passing of time, and the end of colonial rule, the castle soon faded into memory. Over the years, the sturdy castle appears to have waged battle against the undergrowth. Although once creepers sprout from its exterior and gnarled tree roots fill the compound, the interior is undamaged. Only the spiders and insects make home of the empty rooms. Despite signs of decay, the castle exudes a certain air of dignity. Moving from room to room, one can imagine the rich furnishings that would have filled the stately structure, had it been completed. As we wander around the castle, there is a eerie feeling of being watched. Sunlight streams through a series of arches on the two main floors, casting ghostly shadows on the verandah running the length of the building. Perhaps, there is some truth to the local legend that the spirit of Old Man Kellie still wanders along the corridors...