European Architecture in Malacca

The city of Malacca was founded ca. 1400 by Iskander Shah, but it belonged to Malays only for a century. From 1511 till 1957 this town was in possession of Europeans. As one of the main ports in the Far East it played a huge role in the international trade – especially in the 16^th and 17^th centuries. There were three periods of European architecture in Malacca: Portuguese (1511–1641), Dutch (1641–1825) and British (1825–1957). In this text we show some examples from the first European foundations till the 20^th century, from the first fortifications and Catholic churches to English bungalows. Nowadays the city is one of the best examples of colonial heritage in Asia (UNESCO World Heritage List from 2008). Also, the recent excavations of fortifications, reconstructions of some bastions, creation of museums dedicated to its foreign pasts, show how this heritage is appreciated by local government.