Hello my loving architecture lovers,
How are you Hivers? I hope you are doing well right now. Two days ago, I mentioned about the architecture of the buildings that were built in the historical Dutch fort located in the Galle area with two contents. Due to the breadth within, I have to publish three articles to cover the architecturally diverse buildings in Galle Fort. However, I am happy from the bottom of my heart to be able to give you an understanding of the importance of a historical place located in Sri Lanka.
In this content I hope to present the architectural features of the buildings at the far end of the Galle Dutch Fort. Two Christian churches have been built in Galle Fort and the church of All Saints was mentioned in the first part. The other church located there is the Dutch Reformed Church. It is said that it was built in August 1755. It appears to be an ancient temple. The upper wall is black because it has not been painted for a long time. Because foreign tourists are more attracted to ancient places, the authority does not try to give a new look. Dutch Reformed Church walls and exteriors are typical of Dutch architecture.
Built in 1832, the oldest library in Sri Lanka is located in Galle Dutch Fort. Because Ceylon was conquered by the British at that time, there was no Dutch architecture to be seen. Currently only members are allowed to enter here. A different shape of wood carving has been used in the front ceiling part. Old tiles are laid on the roof and the entrance door is arranged in the traditional Sinhala style.
I have visited many Buddhist shrines in Sri Lanka and have a lot of knowledge about their architecture. A temple with an architecture that had never been seen before could be seen from the Galle Fort grounds. The entrance gate and other windows of the temple, known as Sri Sudharmalaya, show the features of a Catholic church. It provides a good proof that this temple was built during the Dutch period. A recent coat of paint has given the walls a fresh look. Dagaba shape is carved from the top of the wall. Therefore, the Dutch have allowed Buddhists during the colonial period to worship. The walls are built of black stone, with white stripes drawn on it to create a beautiful shape.
Streets in all parts of Galle Fort are paved with bricks. It is a very attractive city planning method. While using urban development plans, care should be taken to maintain the historical value.
An old Dutch building on Queen Street is now closed. Considerable evidence was seen that a restaurant had been run at that time. As in old Dutch buildings, the windows on the ground floor are circular at the top, while the first floor is rectangular in shape.
Next to it is the Maritime Archeology Museum. These days more foreign tourists come here. Ornamental plants have been planted in front of the museum to give a beautiful city decoration. There are three museums in Galle Fort, the Maritime Archeology Museum being one of them. When I was going to school, the entrance was through the main entrance to the fort. But now it's easier to enter from the top.
Yellow and white are common in Dutch buildings. The building that is the Maritime Archeology Museum is spread over a wide area. At several places, the paint on the walls has come off and turned white. The Maritime Archeology Museum building has amazing architecture. Old town of Galle and ITS Fortifications are shown on a map and a roof has been built to protect them from rain. This map is extremely important because it mentions all the places in Galle Fort.
This is the back side of one of the entrances to the Galle Dutch Fort. Constructed only of black stone, this building is extremely strong. The Maritime Archeology Museum has two floors, Upper and Lower. Features of an old prison can also be seen. The large windows are made of wood. Currently, the windows are not opened.
The placement of the Dutch emblem on the top of the back wall of an entrance gate of the Galle Fort is a good proof that it was their own work. We can also study about it from our history books. We are fortunate to be able to explore the architecture of a foreign nation.
I remember the building in front of the Maritime Archeology Museum because I took some of my wedding photos at this place. This is also an old building. Traditional Dutch architecture and color were seen here.
The expanse and architectural features of the Maritime Archeology Museum can be seen from afar. The way it is built as a fort to protect from wars is amazing. The yellow wall shows elegance. The city decorations are clearly visible throughout the streets. The Galle Municipal Council should be appreciated for keeping it clean without garbage.
The long building used as the Galle High Court is very old. Cases were often heard from here during the Dutch period as well. The old wooden beams and doors are still intact. Small offices of lawyers are available in the area behind the court. This court building has a typical architecture. Not so unique design to see.
Moving further, we saw some spectacular wooden doors. A wooden door was made in an oval shape at the top. Others were usually made in rectangular shape. The balcony area is covered with a wooden fence. Old architecture could be seen in that building as well.
Dutch architectural style was seen in the Galle District Court. Oval door windows can be seen on the ground floor and square shaped balcony windows on the first floor. The open entrance to the Galle District Court has been specially constructed. It is located in a beautiful environment. From this trip, I got to see one of my favorite architectural techniques in the Galle District Court.
This building, which housed the old Dutch hospital, is now used as a retail outlet. There are also several outlets to get food. The old Dutch Hospital also has the same architecture as the Galle District Court.
I did not forget to take photos of the Police Service Training Institute in charge of the Southern District because I saw wonderful construction features. Its front shape is attractive. In this way, the parts of the content containing the architecture of the Galle Dutch Fort end. Temporarily saying goodbye to the idea of joining the experience of another beautiful area.
