Regent Alfred John Bidwell

Regent Alfred John Bidwell (12 June 1869 – 6 April 1918), also known as R. A. J. Bidwell, was an English-born architect noted for his colonial era buildings in Singapore. His best-known works include the Raffles Hotel and the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall in Singapore and Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Kuala Lumpur.

Early life Regent Alfred John Bidwell was born in 1869. He received his architectural training with Lockyer, Son, & Cox, of London, and he became a member of the Architectural Association, and was placed on the honours list of this institution for design.

Career

Bidwell started work as an assistant to a succession of architects: Crikmay & Son, W. H. Woodroffe of London, and the superintending architect of the London County Council. The building was originally designed by A.C. Norman who drew the ground plan with Bidwell designing the elevation in a Classic Renaissance style. However, the State Engineer of Selangor PWD Charles Edwin Spooner disliked the design, and he instructed Bidwell to rework the building in an Indo-Saracenic or Neo-Mughal on Norman's ground plan. Although the building is formally credited to A.C. Norman (and only his name appears on the foundation stone as the architect), the actual appearance of the building is largely the work of R. A. J. Bidwell with contributions from A. B. Hubback who also worked on the building after Bidwell left. His design for W. Patchitt House at Cluny Road in 1903 started a trend for building such houses.

Bidwell ceased to be a partner of Swan and Maclaren by 1915, but continued to practice for a few more years.

Notable works

Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1897), formally credited to A.C. Norman but much of the design is Bidwell's. Atbara House, Singapore (1898), an early Black and White House Raffles Hotel, Singapore (1899) Goodwood Park Hotel, Singapore (1900) Stamford House, Singapore (1904) Eden Hall, Singapore (1904) Chesed-El Synagogue, Singapore (1905) Singapore Cricket Club (1907), Bidwell designed the extension that projected out from the main clubhouse in two sections facing the pitch. Telephone House, Hill Street (1907), the only building of Bidwell in Singapore designed primarily in the Indo-Saracenic style. Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, Singapore (1909), renovation of Town Hall (Victoria Theatre) to harmonise with Victoria Memorial Hall. Hotel Majapahit, Surabaya, Indonesia (1911) Butterfly House, Singapore (1912)