You’d NEVER Guess….
….that THIS (picture above) was the ORIGINAL design of the Lam Looking Bazaar! (click image to enlarge)
Thanks to Ruth Rollitt (daughter of the late B M Iversen), we have here the drawing of this famous building. Ruth also had this to say in her email:
The firm of Keys & Dowdeswell left Singapore in the early 30′s in disgrace, after the Board of Architects had found them guilty of professional misconduct and struck them off the register. He took over the jobs that were under construction, but it was not an easy time. My father was 25 years old and for the first time in his life – his own master. He had to pay for the ‘goodwill’ and no longer received a monthly salary. But gradually things started to improve, he got more and more work and by 1932 he was well established, making a name for himself. From this period he really came into his own and started producing work that became landmark buildings.
Ruth also mentioned that her father wrote to his wife, way back in 1931, about this ‘big job’ being a ‘very smart business transaction’.
We are indeed very thankful to Ruth for sharing with us this gem. 
And this was in 1931! Totally visionary.
Wow!
I nearby fell off my high chair there. For a moment I thought the old commander might be pulling our legs!
Except for the pagoda like roof structure this could’ve been a current design for a swanky new office/shopping lot around Bukit Bintang area.
Just put in the Starbucks and Mcdonald’s logo and nobody can be any wiser!
Thanks a gazillion Commander and thanks too to Ruth for her father’s far sighted vision.
Commander, you think we can nominate Mr. BM Iversen for a post humous Datukship? At least a street named after him?
Hi Aaron. i like the idea of naming a street after Iversen….dunno if the State would agree with me though
Felicia,
if Ipohworld can start a petition for naming a street (and/or a Datukship) after Iversen, please let me be the first to sign up.
Hello all, if you go to http://www.ipohworld.org/blog/?p=4446#comment-10561 you will see my comments relating to a the suggested – Jalan Dato’ Iversen!
Given the vision in the drawing (Ruth, thanks very much for sharing it), it’s ironic that some of the comments on the Ipoh Echo article criticize Iversen for imposing Western architecture on Ipoh.
Does anyone know why the building took the form that it eventually did? Who decided to drop the explicitly (or, at least, superficially) Chinese elements?
And Ian, thanks for making available a larger high-resolution version of the image. My tired eyes are grateful to you.
The above design would not look out of place in Shanghai. This was suppose to be the Celestial Hotel, overlooking Kinta River? It’s just bad timing I suppose, as the war was brewing in Europe and even the “‘Grand Hotel” went into financial difficulties and folded during this period! Maybe that was why the owners of the project went for a smaller toned down version.
Good looking design, but only a drawing. Anyone knows why the majestic towers were not constructed?
NCK, welcome to the blog!
yes, good question there…..
Ruth Rollit if you’re reading this, did your late father mention anything about the changes?
Thank you for all the wonderful comments about my fabulous father! I am delighted – especially after some of the dreadful things I read about him on the ipohecho website.
Sorry, I do not know why the original design was changed – remember – B M Iversen was my beloved father – not just an architect. The Lam Looking building was simply always part of my life – and I only found these old photos long after his death in 1976. My aim is now to get his name recognised in the country he loved and did so much for – and now I better hurry before all his buildings are burnt down or demolished!
Ruth, we should be thanking YOU for sharing these photos with us…and also your late father for leaving his ‘mark’ around Ipoh
Hmm, I’m really interested now. Where can I get more information on B M Iversen?