Carcosa Seri Negara: Who Really Designed It? Norman, Spooner or Hubback?

Many a time, when writing this tribute to the Hubback Brothers, I feel like a scribe, shrouded with a feathered pen, lamenting in the shadows of lighted candles, catching glimpses of what life must have been like during that particular period. Unfortunately, there are times when I do get extremely frustrated and confused, as there is so much conflicting information on the works of the Hubbacks in Malaya. This is mainly due to poor documentation in Malaya during the late 1800s.

One such example is Carcosa Sri Negara — in today's terms, a reference to two separate, individual properties located within the vicinity of Taman Tasik Perdana. Historically, Carcosa Sri Negara originally began life as:

Carcosa [opened around 1896–1897]: The Official Residence of the Resident General of the Federated Malay States (which would later evolve to be called Governor / British High Commissioner), built specifically for Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham.[1]Wikipedia: Carcosa Seri Negara
King's House [opened 1913]: The Official Guest House of the Governor; after Malaysia's independence in 1957, renamed Istana Tetamu.[2]Wikipedia: Carcosa Seri Negara

Contents: Carcosa & King's House · The Architectural Conundrum · What the Minutes Reveal · The 2025 Restoration

Carcosa mansion in Kuala Lumpur, a colonial-era building with Tudor-style architecture, surrounded by lush greenery. Built in 1896–1897 as the official residence of Sir Frank Swettenham.

Carcosa – Sitting in an English Garden
Its serenity belies the powerful undercurrents of its founding architects.

In 1987, Carcosa was returned to the Government of Malaysia, and in 1989, after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II stayed at Carcosa during the meeting of the Commonwealth nations — Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) — both mansions were administered together, forming what is now called Carcosa Seri Negara.[3]Archipelago Hotels & Resorts (WayBack Machine)

The late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip stayed at Carcosa Seri Negara during the 1989 CHOGM, and the mansions have since hosted numerous VVIPs, including colonial officials and Malayan leaders who met there to draft the Federal Constitution.[4]Straits Times, 25 April 2025; Borneo Bulletin, 31 October 2024

Google Map screenshot showing the locations of Carcosa and Sri Negara (Istana Tetamu) within the Perdana Botanical Gardens, Kuala Lumpur.

Google Map showing the location of Carcosa & Sri Negara [Istana Tetamu] respectively.
This Google snippet and weblinks were accurate when posted on 10 July 2011. Updated for nostalgia.

* contains excerpts and references from Wikipedia.
** contains excerpts and references from Archipelago Hotels & Resorts (Thanks WayBack Machine).

The Architectural Conundrum: Norman, Spooner, or Hubback?

Incidentally, if you were to look up Carcosa in any journals and periodicals, there is a very high probability that the architect credited would be A.C. Norman. In some cases, publications remain impartial and perhaps hint that it was the work of A. C. Norman. So why then did Arthur Benison Hubback submit Carcosa as his work to the R.I.B.A.? And why, in that very same Wikipedia article, does Sir Frank Swettenham, in a letter to the editor of British Malaya dated 1936, only credit C. E. Spooner and A. B. Hubback?

Scan of Sir Frank Swettenham's 1936 letter to the editor of British Malaya, crediting C.E. Spooner and A.B. Hubback for Carcosa, with no mention of A.C. Norman.

The man whom Carcosa was built for, remembers ... where is Norman? Wikipedia article.

This is puzzling, to say the least. Let us take a journey backwards in time. Charles Edwin Spooner arrived in Selangor on November 15, 1891, and assumed charge of the Public Works Department [P.W.D.] under the title State Engineer. He came from Ceylon [Sri Lanka] with thorough knowledge and executive working of the P.W.D. there.

Yes, I always had the suspicion that the 'real' mastermind of buildings around the railways was the elusive C. E. Spooner [you can refer to our article here]. So without a doubt, A. C. Norman and A. B. Hubback would have had to work under C. E. Spooner at that time, making Spooner an extremely influential and powerful man, despite being an engineer, if you were constructing railways and buildings for the British Empire in Selangor during the late 1800s.

Modern scholarship confirms this hierarchy. The Wikipedia entry for Carcosa Seri Negara states that the mansion was "designed by Arthur Benison Hubback under instruction from the State Engineer of Selangor's Public Work Department, Charles Edwin Spooner, and sometimes also credited to Arthur Charles Alfred Norman".[5]Wikipedia: Carcosa Seri Negara The Malay-language Wikipedia elaborates that the building was constructed based on designs by either Hubback or Norman, under Spooner's direction.[6]Wikipedia Bahasa Melayu: Carcosa Seri Negara

According to Dr. A. Ghafar Ahmad's Chronological Biography of Arthur Charles Alfred Norman [A.C. Norman — thank you WayBack Machine], we would like to draw the following comparisons:

It is believed that the design of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, which is of the Moorish architectural style, was very much influenced by the State Engineer Charles Edwin Spooner who had working experience in Ceylon. It was Spooner who suggested that Norman and Bidwell should change the early elevations of the Building from Classic Renaissance to the adaptations of Mahometan style.

Like most of the British colonial buildings, A.C.A. Norman's buildings are essentially hybrids. Moorish influence, Tudor, Neo-Classical and Neo-Gothic are examples of architectural styles introduced by many British architects including A.C.A. Norman. As it was common practice in the PWD in those days, architects were responsible for the design of building plans and elevations (even though they were assisted and supervised by engineers), and thus much of the credit for the design of the buildings was given to A.C.A. Norman. For example, in the design of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, it is likely that there were others including Charles Edwin Spooner as the State Engineer and Director of the PWD; and those who worked under A.C.A. Norman such as R.A.J. Bidwell and A.B. Hubback who had contributed their design ideas, suggestions and even carried out the detail drawings.

So it looks like our suspicions are confirmed. C. E. Spooner was indeed a highly influential person at that time. Once again, why did A.B. Hubback submit Carcosa as his work to the R.I.B.A. [you can refer to the following image here]? Perhaps some clues lie in the Minutes of Selangor, 1895 .......

Page 1 of PWD Minutes No 624/95 A, a colonial administrative document from the Federated Malay States circa 1900, handwritten in cursive script.

PWD Minutes No 624/95 A.
I do hope that is correct. This is what meeting minutes would look like
in the Federated Malaya States circa 1900.

From whom : Resident
Place : Selangor
Date : 17 . 9 . 95

Mr. Hubback to act for Mr. Norman as Architect.
Recommends;
C.S.
Is there any need for such a post? In [C?] Colonies, an architect is only employed by 2 or 3 of the richest & largest.
21.9.1895 Resident. Selangor for further report.

Hon. C.S.,
Personally, I do not think it necessary but the history of Mr. Norman's appointment as "architect" is preordered on 1359/91 - v. para 11 of Mr. Maxewell's Report in that paper.

Page 2 of PWD Minutes No 624/95 A, showing colonial administrative correspondence and handwritten annotations regarding architectural appointments.

Page 2 of PWD Minutes No 624/95 A.
I do hope that is correct.
It took me some time to decipher the handwriting.

I will raise the question of a change in title in 1896, under separate cover, but, in the meanwhile, would recommend that Mr. Hubback, the Chief Draughtsman, should be allowed to act until the end of the current year. A similar arrangement was originally sanctioned on 224/95, in the case of Mr. Bidewell, then Chief Draughtsman. 5.10.1895

The paper referred to (1359/910) is attached. Mr. Maxwell, when Resident, held an enquiry into the P.W.D. & seems to have found it in a very bad state. He recommends getting a competent Engineer to take charge of the Dept. & to reduce Mr. Bellamy who was then the head of Dept & Mr. Norman who was the Asst. Supt. to Asst Supt & Architect Respectively.

Page 3 of PWD Minutes No 624/95 A, continuing the colonial administrative correspondence regarding architectural staffing and titles.

There is an Architect also in Perak, I see. 9.10.1895

Mr. Norman was in 1891 put in charge of the drawing office & of the places being drawn. As there is reason to doubt the experiences of perpetuating the appoint at all, I will not prejudice the decision of that matter by authorising any one to cat as architect to the end of the year & such an authority prejudges the question. 9.10.1895 Resident. Selangor To Note.

Hon. C.S.
Noted.

I will ask that this may be referred to H.E. The Governor to whom I mentioned in person - all in Singapore.

The Title of "Architect" which appears on the Estimates for the current year, cannot be altered until 1896, & it seems scarcely fair that Mr. Hubback, who efficiently discharged the duties of the appoint during the most difficult period of the year - i.e. during the preparation of the Estimates, should not be allowed to act for & draw the available half salary of Mr. Norman, until the end of December as was originally sanctioned for his predecessor, Mr. Bidwell on 244/95.

The alteration of Mr. Norman's title to that of "District Engineer", from the beginning of 1896, has now been conditionally sanctioned on 8078/95. 14.10.1895

Submitted - Not recommended 19.10

C.S.
Is it a mere question of extra salary and, if so, of how much? The title must drop. 18.10.1895

Z.E
Mr. Norman's 1/2 pay is 1500. Mr. Hubback's 810(ab)/difference 700 or under $60 a month.

I can't understand how the preparation of the Estimates can make the Architect's work different [as] it may make calls on a draughtsman's time & Mr. Spooner has reported that with a good draughtsman he can do the work himself. 26.10

C.S.
It seems to me to be a mere question of salary. Let Mr. Hubback draw the available half salary of Architect until 31st Dec 1895, but let the title be dropped. I suppose the auditor will not object.

29.10.1895 Resident Selangor To Note.

Just from the above minutes — which is only three pages long — one can begin to see the complexities in the administration of the British Colony in Malaya. Ah, the refreshing world of politics at work, which is not totally dissimilar to your everyday office politics! Anyhow, it all started with Charles Edwin Spooner's note to the Resident of Selangor on 23 August 1895, which I believe is more legible than the earlier minutes.

PWD Letter No 3486/95, a colonial administrative document in which C.E. Spooner recommends A.B. Hubback for appointment as Acting Architect.

PWD Letter No 3486/95.
And the Masterful Stroke by C.E. Spooner

Could it have been as such? It may be speculative ... but here is what the minutes reveal:

C. E. Spooner had lobbied for A. B. Hubback to be promoted to Acting Architect in August 1895. The legislative council (or resident under advice) agreed that Hubback could draw half salary from A.C. Norman but would not be given the title of Architect as it was not accounted for in 1895's estimates.
Moreover, the title of Architect was only given in the richest and largest of the Colonies under the British Empire.
There could have been early signs of discontentment with Mr. Bellamy and quite possibly A. C. Norman as well.
It is clear that the draughtsman at that time did all the laborious work of the architect without being given the necessary title or pay.

So was it Norman or Hubback in designing Carcosa? Looking at the timeline, if Hubback was really appointed Architect in 1895, there would have been an extremely high possibility that Carcosa would clearly be credited to him, as his later works in Malaya do contain the Tudor style similar to that of Carcosa. It should not be said that by being a draughtsman at that time, he should not get the credit. If that happened, then we would have to review A.C. Norman and R.A.J. Bidwell's works as well. However, to be fair, historically, a draughtsman's job does equate to an architect's job during that period. It was most probably the setback of not being able to obtain the promotion and title of Architect in 1895 that caused A. B. Hubback to only apply for his Fellowship from the R.I.B.A. in 1909, prompting him to pen down Carcosa as part of his contribution to Malaya, which he so rightly deserved.

What do you think?

Latest Developments: The 2025 Restoration

After nearly six years of closure, Carcosa Seri Negara is undergoing a major restoration. In October 2025, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a RM600 million investment by Khazanah Nasional Berhad to restore Carcosa Seri Negara and several other heritage buildings, including six blocks within the Sultan Abdul Samad Building complex.[7]Bernama, 15 October 2025; The Star, 16 October 2025

The restoration, completed in December 2025, focused on preserving the site's architectural character while improving safety, accessibility, and public facilities. A pedestrian bridge linking Seri Negara and Carcosa to the Perdana Botanical Gardens will also be built.[8]Bernama, 15 December 2025; The Star, 15 December 2025 The restored Seri Negara will operate as Galeri Seri Negara, a museum and cultural space.[9]Khazanah Nasional Berhad, 15 December 2025

Prime Minister Anwar described Carcosa Seri Negara as "once regarded as the grandest building, perched on a hill in Kuala Lumpur. It is a symbol of pride and a landmark of Kuala Lumpur because it stands prominently atop that hill."[10]The Star, 16 October 2025

The restoration has not been without controversy, with opposition politicians questioning the alignment of such investment with the mandate of government-linked investment companies. However, Anwar defended the expenditure as a vital investment in national identity and urban renewal.[11]Bernama, 15 October 2025; The Vibes, 15 October 2025

In February 2025, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr. Zaliha Mustafa announced that the restoration would be completed by July 2025, with plans to introduce programmes such as high-tea to introduce the heritage building to foreign delegations during Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship.[12]Bernama, 18 February 2025

Footnotes