Galeria Perdana

Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia

When Mahathir Mohamad retired after more than 20 years as Malaysia's Prime Minister he set up a public gallery to display all the gifts he had received while in office. By choosing Langkawi as the site for the gallery (rather than the capital, Kuala Lumpur), he gave the island's tourist economy an enormous boost. The building incorporates both internal and external courtyards. The post-and-beam structure is anchored to the landscape by a solid plinth of rough black Langkawi stone; the tiered roof form, together with the timber latticework and the stained glass on the external walls, reflect local traditions.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture