Bubungan Dua Belas, Colonial building in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.
Bubungan Dua Belas is a colonial-era building in Bandar Seri Begawan with twelve prominent roof peaks, blending British architectural style with traditional Malay building techniques. The structure is set at the base of Bukit Subok and now functions as an exhibition space displaying historical materials and artifacts.
The building was constructed in 1906 and served as the residence for British administrators during the colonial period. It was a key location for governance and diplomacy between Brunei and Britain.
The name Bubungan Dua Belas means "Twelve Roofs" in Malay, referring to the roof peaks of the wooden house. It served as the residence of 25 British Residents and High Commissioners until Brunei's independence in 1984, and during the Japanese occupation it was the headquarters of the Japanese garrison commander. Since 1984 it has been used by the Ministry of Culture and Sports.
The building stands on Jalan Residency, about one mile south of central Bandar Seri Begawan, at the foot of the Bukit Subok Forest Reserve Recreational Park. The museum closed for renovations in 2015, with work reported complete in 2022, so check locally whether it has reopened before making the trip.
The name means "House of Twelve Roofs" in Malay. In 2007 Brunei Post issued a commemorative stamp marking the building's centenary, and a 1983 stamp had already honoured Inche Mohamed's earlier consulate house on the Brunei River.
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