Tales of Three Cities - Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

TROPICAL CITIES

Team members: Chia Cheng Wei 0322091Iche Dunstan Omari 0323347Ivan Ling Chyi Rui 0313583Kooi Yong Kai 0323512

Lee Xiang Loon 0322090Lee Zu Jing 0325706Lim Joe Onn 0318679Lo Jia Woei 0318585Pua Kai Jing 0313995

TALES OF 3 CITIESInstructor: Dr Sucharita Srirangam

GEORGETOWN

Capital of PenangPopulation 500,000

One of Malaysia’s oldest cities

Location of Georgetown, Penangin Peninsular Malaysia

HISTORY

Founded by Sir Francis Light in 1786

Expansion from Fort Cornwallis, first permanent built structure of Georgetown

Introduction // Ideas & Theories in Urbanism

Urban morphology climatic design






BUFFERZONE

COREZONE




Georgetown is shaped by its interaction with the rest of the world

Early Shophouse Style 1800 – 1850’sEarly Transitional Style 1840 – 1900’sEarly Straits Eclectic Style 1890 – 1920’sLate Straits Eclectic Style 1920 – 1940’s

Neo-Classical Style - Early 20th centuryArt Deco Style 1930 – 1950’sEarly Modern Style - Post war



HERITAGEtangible

intangible

eclectic

fusion

diverse


TOURISMincome

places to explore

job opportunitiesfor locals

Roles of Organization

Established by the Penang State Government in April 2010 to spearhead effortsto ensure that George Town's legacy will not be lost.


Major Objectives• Identify, Protect & Preserve Built Form of Heritage Sites

• Create a culturally engaging atmosphere

• Successfully implement sustainable tourism


VisionThe convergence of anintelligent and sustainableheritage city that belongs toPenang, Malaysia and allhumanity.


Idealized vs RealityIntroduction // Ideas & Theories in Urbanism

CASE STUDIESNo.1: LEBUH CHULIA


No.2: CLAN JETTIES


No.3: JALAN MASJID KAPITAN KELING


Identify, Protect & Preserve Built Form of

Heritage Sites

Lebuh Chulia

Identify, Protect & Preserve Built Form of Heritage Sites // Ideas & Theories in Urbanism


• One of the oldest streets in George Town

• Stretches across both UNESCO Heritage Buildings Category I and II zones

• Acquired the name by 1798

• Was extended in the late 19th century following extensive land reclamation that results in Chulia Street Ghaut

• The epicentre of budget accommodation in George Town today

• Shophouses on the left side carry odd-number address and even-number address on the right

Photo source: George Town World Heritage Incorporated


Architecture of a Shophouse

• The dominant building type within the Core Zone of George Town is shophouses

• Shophouses can be traced to the Chinese immigrants from southern coastal provinces of China

• Knowledge and methods of building construction adapted to Malaysian urban shophouses

• Blending the influences from the Dutch, Malay and British with own culture to create a unique architecture

Photo source: http://nosurplus.blogspot.my/


Typical Urban Shophouses in George Town

1. Covered five-foot walkways at ground floor level façade

2. Opulent ornamentation on the façade by the use of Chinese and European motifs

3. Profusion of use of tiles, stucco, and timber as materials for construction

4. Shoplot at ground level with storage, backyard, and central air-well for ventilation

5. Bedrooms, living, dining and kitchen at first floor level, capped by a jack roof


1840 – 1850

• Under British ruling, connected walkways to the street edges became restricted

• The guideline was that the measurements had to be at least five foot wide, hence the name five-foot way

• Raffles’ verandah-way regulation was applied since 18th

century to provide pedestrians with a walkway indented into the building ground floor

• Verandah-way to maintain unity and provide an additional room

• Five-foot way was ‘semi-closed’ with bamboo screens to reduce the radiation of the roads from entering the shophouse

• Flat façade and minimal ornamentation

• Shuttered windows

• Built using masonry


Air-well Air-well

Typical Early Transitional Style shophouse section

Diagram visualising the effects of radiation screens

Five-foot way

Recessed area below the first floor of the

building that is designed as public

space.

Air Wells

Long shophouse buildings with two pitched roofs or

more, separated the pitches with an air well, to

allow ventilation and cooling of the spaces

below.

“ “

””

Five-foot

way

– George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI)


1950 – onwards

• Influenced by trends from Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier and Mies Van der Rohe

• Built with reason, form by character and aesthetic quality

• Abstract relationship of solid surfaces

• Design moved away from craftsmanship but local influences maintained to form unique modern style

• Large, clean cut openings and usage of glass windows

• Built using reinforced concrete


Early Transitional Style (1840 – 1850)

• Two storeys building• Introduction of five-foot way• Flat-façade• Minimal ornamentation• Radiation screens• Masonry

Early Modern Style (1950 – onwards)

• Three or more storeys building• Motivated and simple modernist design• Design moved away from craftsmanship• Local influences still used but

transformed into a unique modern style• Reinforced concrete


Urban Morphological of Chulia Street

• Morphology of Chulia Street – physical change and the evolution of the way of life brought upon by modernisation

• Tram tracks have been sealed and Chulia Street has become a busy vehicular passageway connecting JalanPenang to Beach Street

• Modernisation has unavoidably impacted the streetscape character. Roadside parking and modern utilities make up part of the visual character of Chulia Street

Chulia Street looking from the Love Lane junction


Cultural Context On Site From Various Architectural Designs

Cultural effects of traditional architecture

Traditional buildings have divisional usage for either housing or commercial purposes• Division of private and public spacing• Patterns and orientation of applications of various usage

and occupancy • Creation of topology of geometrical local network of

function• Reflection of local site contents and attributes• Monumental represent of origin influences, significance

and importance

Cultural effects of modern/contemporary architecture

The discard and reject of traditional materials usage , exclusion of cultural contents and celebration of modern industrial methods• Concentrated pattern of applications • Simplicity of spacing and circulation• Ease of accessibility and function• Introduction of a new concept and class-less influence

(Top) Chulia Street in the past(Bottom) New buildings and usage in Chulia Street today


• Original traditional buildings in Chulia Street have attributes of historical influences and social order formed by historic events that creates cultural progress of many terms

• Construction and introduction of a modern building design may change the point of view and experience of a person in the terms of site elements

• A visible shift of building’s original attributes • Disrupts the significance and identity of a traditional

shophouse

Construction Of Modern Contemporary Building

Traditional (Low density)

Modern (High density)


• Some shophouses in Chulia Street had been affected by damages from arson, urban decay and during World War 2

• Local site content has been shifted due to the erection of modern and contemporary buildings instead of rebuilding and restoring the original buildings

• Elements of Chulia Street were affected by such buildings due to caused inconveniences and shift in economic and circulation of the site

• Affects the livelihood of the inhabitants

• Construction of new buildings also makes the site adapting to a more commercial economy instead of creating a more socio-economical atmosphere for the inhabitants to inherit their past generation’s heritage

• Hence, creating inconveniences for the locals in their daily commuting around the area also affecting the behaviour of the inhabitants

Depreciation of Traditional Shophouses in Modern Buildings

(Top) Modern hotels constructed in between a row of traditional buildings and symbolise tourism

(Bottom) A row of abandoned shophouses due to loss by effects of new modern businesses


Special Area Plan (SAP) is a plan prepared for the George Town World

Heritage Site (GTWHS) to guide and control

development within the area. The SAP shall acts as a conservation management

plan for GTWHS.

– George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI)

“

”

Photo source: onlypenang.com


Importance of five-foot way in shophouses

Traditional shophouses with semi-public/private transitional zone on both sides of Chulia Street as a:• Partially enclosed space between shop and street• Continuity for human circulation and movement with

shelter from rain• Sunshade space to ground floor• Multi-functional space for roadside small traders• Important feature for urban culture life• Strong urban image

Destruction of five-foot way due to modernisation

• Contemporary development destroys pedestrian walkway connectivity

• Intimacy character of the traditional streetscape destroyed by provision of roads

• Cultural and historical significance of a Chinese shophouse are impacted

• No longer acting as shelter for heat and rain

Five-foot Way Streetscape Introduction Into Urban Fabric


• Development of Chulia Street leads to users using automobiles to travel rather than by foot even for short distances

• Due to lack of provision of five-foot ways in modern buildings

• Other forms of pedestrian facilities available but not comprehensive to link up with others to form a workable system

• Contributes to the lack of communal harmony and social integrity among the residents of Chulia Street

Lack of Five-foot Ways In Modern Buildings

(Top) Sketch visualizing the comparison of the existence of five-foot ways in buildings

(Bottom) Five-foot ways in the past and now


• Bizarre and striking colours • Lost of historical character of shophouse• Not having a design uniformity among shophouses• Attract attention for businesses (bright colours and huge

signage)• Newer and taller buildings acting as a landmark

New Styles of Facades In Modern Buildings

No longer unique and recognizable while also not representing George Town


Height of Infill and New Buildings

Special Area Plan (SAP)’s Permitted Height guideline says:

“Height of compatible infill development is dependent on the

height of the lower adjacent building.”

• New infill buildings did not strictly follow the guidelines

• Hotels and corporate office buildings along Chulia Street such as the Asas Duniabuilding

• Promote tourism rather than considering the needs of locals and urban density increases in these infill

(Top) Asas Dunia office building in Chulia Street(Bottom) Permitted height of infill buildings


Building Sustainability and Elements

Special Area Plan (SAP)’s Permitted Height guideline says:

“Air-well shall bemaintained as part of the design

with flexible roof to allow daylighting and natural ventilation.”

• Newer buildings lack such feature and were not following the guidelines

• Covering or removing the air well, and usage of zinc roof

• Removal of rear courtyards• Heavily depending on electronic and

mechanical ventilation• Hot air stays in the building• Affecting the sustainability and the

surrounding buildings and its elements

Old buildings had the capability for natural ventilation

Newer buildings in some cases affect the capabilities of the surrounding buildings


Preservedshophouses

Preservedshophouses

New, modernshophouse

Newly built shophouses fail to comply with Special Area Plan (SAP) guidelines

Majority of new infill shophouses do not retain the original features of a Early Transitional Style implemented by the British, local authority and GTWHI upon rebuilt.

Discontinuity along the street of Lebuh Chulia


To successfully implement sustainable

tourism

Clan Jetties

To successfully implement sustainable tourism // Ideas & Theories in Urbanism


Waterfront societyHouse on stilts



Ong

Lim

ChewTanLee

Mixed clan

Yeoh

Peng Aun

Koay

Road

Houses

Temple

Land

Sea Sea



The jetties were established at a time when Penang's maritime trade was booming. Chineseimmigrants who came to Penang in the early 19th century worked at the docks as coolies andboat operators ferrying passengers.


Passive design implemented. Gaps between wood planks allow sea breeze into the houses.


What is sustainable tourism?Sustainable tourism is an industry committed tomaking a low impact on the environment and localculture, while helping to generate futureemployment for local people.

The positive of sustainable tourism is to ensure thatdevelopment is a positive experience for localpeople; tourism companies; and touriststhemselves.

Source: World Tourism Organization


Originally Currently

• Water taxis • Tourism

• Trading • Fishing

• Transportation of goods • Festivals

Activities







Koay Jetty


Destroyed by fire!




Mangrove swamp


Sacrificed for low cost flats!


Originally Currently

• 9 jetties • 6 jetties remain

• Mangrove swamp present • Low-cost flats built, destroying green areas

• Houses cater specific clans

• Population consists of all ages

• Trading oriented, each jetty had its own niche and function

• Communities expand naturally

• Houses converted into shops catering tourists

• Senior citizens remain as youngsters move to cities

• Tourism oriented, social sustainability lost

• Low-cost flats create conflict in place making


Create a Culturally Engaging Atmosphere

JALAN MASJID

KAPITAN KELING

Create a culturally engaging atmosphere // Ideas & Theories in Urbanism

JALAN MASJID

KAPITAN KELING

• Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling was historically, rich and varied interactions between communities of different origins, cultural traditions and faiths.

• Used to be the very edge of town, bordered by Light street, Beach street and Chulia street. Now names JalanMasjid Kapitan Keling, names after the Indian Muslim mosque along it, is one of the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site core zone.

• Street wears a European character, followed by Chinese and Indian Muslim, Which are clearly separated by the religious sites on site.


GODDESS OF MERCY TEMPLE (1835)THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF ST GEORGE (1818)

SRI MAHA MARIAMMAN HINDU TEMPLE (1833)

KAPITAN KELING MOSQUE (1801)


KUAN YIN ENCLAVE

• Retail of prayer paraphernalia, idols and charms.

• Chinese vegetarian restaurants.• Activities supporting the temple and its

users.

LITTLE INDIA

• South and Northern Indian Restaurants.• Textiles and related trade.• Worker’s accommodation.• Cultural products and services.

LEBUH ACHEH MOSQUE ENCLAVE

• Activities supporting the temple and its users.

• Residential or Commercial with Residential.

• Compatible arts and culture related activities.

KONGSI ENCLAVE

• Activities supporting the mosque and the Muslim community, preferably Haj related.

MASJID KAPITAN KELING AND GOLD BAZAAR ENCLAVE

• Activities relating to gold and gem trade.

• Indian Muslim restaurants.

• Activities supporting the mosque and the Muslim community services.

SPECIAL ZONE

Zone with highest concentration of OUVs and Category 1 buildings within the WHS. Area warrants strictest form of land use

Source: George Town Special Area Plan


MATRIX OF NON-

PERMISSIBLE

ACTIVITIES

• Special zones have no exceptions for any non-permissible activities.

• However, a budget hotel exists on site.



OPEN SPACE AND LANDSCAPE DESIGNTo make streets pedestrian priority, and to provide adequate public open spaces and connectivity for the comfort of all non private- vehicle user.

SHARED STREETS


ChingayGiant Flag Carrying in December

Tua Peh Kong15th Day of 1st Chinese New Year

End Point

Streets as shared spaces. Practices, performances and rituals create richness of the culturally eclectic landscape of the historic settlements.

Temporary public use of the street should be maintained and encouraged.



EXISTING GREEN/ PUBLIC OPEN SPACE

Series of parks and public open spaces are proposed in addition to existing public open spaces. These proposed network of public open spaces are interconnected via a landscaped pedestrian network.

Well maintained parks and landscaped elements are essential for the livelihood and liveability of George Town. The park offers the residences a space of recreation and leisure, as well as helping to maintain ecological balance and reduce pollution.


Lebuh Carnarvon and JalanMasjid Kapitan Keling, with high volume vehicles, are proposed as tree lined streets with sidewalks for the pdestrian,. As of the printing of this document, the planting of trees on the median Lebuh Carnarvon has been completed.

Pedestrian Priority lanes are built to have streets that promote a safe, comfortable, convenient and barrier free connectivity for all road users with primary consideration for pedestrian.

Hence, it creates a more safer and comfortable walkways for the tourist and local citizen to carry out activities.

Proposals have been suggested to make all roads one way except for Lebuh Chulia and LebuhLight.

Tree Lined Pedestrian Priority Streets

Pedestrian Priority Streets

Two way road

Intro nodes connectivity.



Upgrading and revitalisation of back lanes for pedestrian use, or even commercial use where applicable

BACKLANES WITH ACTIVITIES

LINE CLEAR NASI KANDAR

LORONG PASAR – LORONG CHULIA BACK LANE (UPGRADE)

CHULIA STREET – MUNTRI STREET BACK LANE (NEW)

LEBUH CARNARVON –JALAN PINTAL TALI (UPGRADE)



Chinese temple

Chinese community

Hotel

Indian temple

Indian-Muslim community

Mosque

Muslim community

Community layer

Junctions

Chinese temple

Chinese community

Hotel

Indian temple

Indian-muslim community

Mosque

Muslim community

Public space

Chinese temple

Chinese community

Hotel

Indian temple


Mosque

Muslim community

• To increase green public

open space in the city.

Pedestrian walkway

Chinese temple

Chinese community

Hotel

Indian temple


Mosque

Muslim community

• To have streets that promote a safe, comfortable, convenientand barrier free connectivity for all road users.

Nodes

Chinese temple

Chinese community

Hotel

Indian temple


Mosque

Muslim community

conclusionConclusion // Ideas & Theories in Urbanism

referencesIMAGES

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DOCUMENTS

AJM Planning and Urban Design Group (2011). George Town, Historic Cities of Straits of Malacca: Draft Special Area Plan. Georgetown, Penang: AJM

Den Teuling, M.J. (2009). Rebirth of the Malacca Shophouse: A typological research: Traditional Values in a Contemporary World. Retrieved from Delft University of Technology Repository.

Effect of Culture on Architectural Expression. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-168644

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Yeang, K. (1987). The Tropical Verandah City. Petaling Jaya, Selangor: Longman

Education

Tales of Three Cities - Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia