Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Jalan Dewan Bahasa, 50460, Kuala Lumpur / Siti Fatimah Harun ... [et al.]

The privatization agreement to construct a new DBP Headquarters Building was signed on 23 August, 1996 between the Ministry of Education Malaysia on behalf of the government of Malaysia and DBP, and Anjung Bahasa SDN. BHD. (A concessions holding company). Built on the Built-Operate- Transfer concept (BOT), construction works began in 1997 and was completed in 2002. This building consists of three main blocks: the Tower Block, the Podium Block and the Auditorium Block. The Tower Block which is 33 storeys tall, houses the office space and a 3-storey underground parking which can easily accommodate 557 cars. The Podium Block consists of 5 storeys which house among others the Seminar Hall, the Multipurpose Hall, the Writers’ Gallery, the Auditorium Block can accommodate 530 people at the time and is designed to showcase theater production and linguistic, literary and cultural activities in the country. The design of the building is uniquely Malaysian blending traditional Malay roof and podium designs are inspired by the traditional northern Malay house. The exterior of the office block is inspired by the elongated window design found in Malay houses. While a ‘rehal’ (a small reading stand for the Koran) is used as a motif for the roof of the block of the Tower Block, symbolizing Islam, the official religion of the country.