ISTANA FLINSTONES

The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, is a long-time admirer of the American animated television series The Flintstones. His fondness for the show is reflected in the design of Istana Mersing—often informally referred to as “Istana Flintstones”—a palace whose architecture resembles the prehistoric-style home depicted in the series. The building features rounded, organic forms and brightly coloured exterior surfaces, attracting both local and international visitors who frequently stop to view and photograph it. Complementing the palace’s distinctive design is a life-sized, fully functional replica of Fred Flintstone’s car. The replica includes a working engine, faux-wood details, and stone-textured wheels, closely replicating the vehicle from the cartoon.