Istana Nurul Iman
| Istana Nurul Iman | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Brunei's Islamic and Malay |
| Town or city | Bandar Seri Begawan |
| Country | Brunei |
| Completed | 1984 |
| Cost | US$ 1.5 Billion (BN$ 5 Billion) |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Malay and Islam |
| Floor count | Approximate 17 include underground floors |
| Floor area | 2,152,782 square feet (200,000 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Leandro V. Locsin and Khuan Chew |
The Istana Nurul Iman (Jawi: ايستان نورول ايمان; English: The Light of Faith Palace) is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and the seat of the Brunei government. The palace is located on a leafy, riverside sprawl of hills on the banks of the Brunei River, a few kilometers south of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's capital city. The palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality.
The name "Istana Nurul Iman" is taken from Malay Istana and Arabic Nur-ol Imaan and means Palace of the Light of Faith. It was designed by the Filipino Visayan architect Leandro V. Locsin, who utilized the architectural motif of golden domes and vaulted roofs to echo Brunei's Islamic and Malay influences. The interior of the palace was designed by Khuan Chew, Design Principal of KCA International, whose other works include the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. Construction was handled by Ayala International, a Filipino construction firm, and completed in 1984 at a total cost of around US$1.4 billion.
Upon completion, Istana Nurul Iman became the largest residential palace in the world and the largest single-family residence ever built.
The palace contains 1,788 rooms, which includes 257 bathrooms, a banquet hall that can be expanded to accommodate up to 5,000 guests, a mosque accommodating 1,500 people. The palace also includes a 110-car garage, an air conditioned stable for the Sultan's 200 polo ponies, and 5 swimming pools. In total, Istana Nurul Iman contains 2,152,782 square feet (200,000 m²) of floorspace.
Because of its massive size, Istana Nurul Iman makes use of 564 chandeliers, 51,000 light bulbs, 44 stairwells, and 18 elevators.
The Sultan takes his official audiences at the palace. The palace is also used for all the State functions of the government of Brunei. In addition, the palace houses the prime minister's office, and serves as the seat of the Brunei government.
...
Wikipedia