World's Largest Palace by a Filipino Architect

Considered by Guinness World Records as the "World's Largest Palace"  with 200,000 square meters of floor space. The Istana Nurul Iman houses the Sultan and the seat of the Brunei government. It is located a few miles south of the country's capital on the banks of the Brunei River.

Riverside of the Brunei River

Leandro V. Locsin, a re-knowned Filipino architect was commissioned to design the massive structure. "Istana Nurul Iman" means Palace of the Light of Faith and its architectural motifs are consistent thereto. The Islamic influences was clearly portrayed in the utilization of golden domes, also, the curved and vaulted roofs gives it a malay distinction. It was completed in 1984 with a staggering bill of around $1.4 Billion USD.

Luxurious living would be an understatement to describe such a habitation with the palace's 1,788 rooms and 257 baths, a banquet hall to accommodate up to 5,000 guests, a mosque accommodating 1,500 people, a 110-car garage housing custom-made Ferraris, Bentleys and Rolls Royces, an air conditioned stable for the Sultan's 200 polo ponies, and 5 swimming pools.

However, accessibility is limited, the palace is not open to the public except on the annual Islamic celebration of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and during the 10 days of the Ramadhan period for the Bertedarus prayer gathering.

The plan was very well-thought of complimenting its size and delivers in its whole totality what really compromises a palace.