KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — Once a colonial administrative building and later home to Malaysia’s highest courts, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad has since taken on another interesting incarnation. 

Overlooking Dataran Merdeka, the building is now a highly sought-after spot for wedding photoshoots and content creators filming Instagram reels.

Constructed in 1897, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad was built with four million bricks sourced from Brickfields and was named after the then ruler of Selangor.

The building recently went through a major restoration under the Warisan KL initiative led by Khazanah Nasional, shortly before it turns 130 years old next year. The goal was simple: to restore the building while retaining as much of its history as possible, from its formative years around 1897 to its time as a functioning court from 1984 to 2003.

However, conserving a more than century-old heritage gem comes with challenges — and surprises.

One of the most fascinating discoveries was an underground tunnel leading to a former courtroom, which is currently occupied by the Royal Selangor Gallery.

Think City’s senior associate in heritage and conservation A’ishah Anam said the tunnel was built when the building went through a major renovation in the 1980s before the courts moved there.