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AN INFLUENCE OF COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE TO BUILDING STYLES AND MOTIFS IN COLONIAL CITIES IN MALAYSIA
Abstract
The colonists had adopted their architectural styles in building modified to the climate context (warm and humid climate). These colonial buildings in Malaysia also have combinations of the styles from other cultures such as Indian and Chinese due to migrations and from the local Malay traditions. This paper will discuss about the development of architectural styles that have been experienced in Malaysia since the colonial era. These unique architectural styles and motifs have heritage values, many of which are being conserved until today. Apart from that, we will also look into their influences in a smaller scale as well as in a larger scale – as this has formed an identity for Malaysia's architecture. We have been arguing for some time about the true identity that represents Malaysia's architecture, and this matter has recently become a main factor to consider when deciding the style of architectural decorations to be integrated into building design. On the contrary, there is also an urgent need to develop new appropriate design linked with the past and present. A synchronised awareness by both the architects and the planners of the historical and cultural perspective of a place and its architectural precedence provides a firmer basis in the pursuit to relate new designs with the local technology and sosio-economic development.
... Since this study covers the post-Independence architecture of Malaysia the main focus is on the buildings that were built after 1957. Malaya's independence was declared in 1957, which had an important role in the country's development (Chun and Noordin, 2005). The architecture of Malaysia was also influenced by Malaysia's independence. ...
... The architecture of Malaysia was also influenced by Malaysia's independence. By the time independence was declared, more attention was being paid to development of commercial and administrative sectors, as well as considering the idea of a residential satellite town to support the capital city (Chun and Noordin, 2005). ...
Malaysia is experiencing disappearance of some of its post-independence architecture due to redevelopment. Historical buildings that could have been archived as national heritage have been demolished, tagged for demolition or currently are being demolished. Suleiman Courts, the first high-rise residential buildings in Kuala Lumpur were demolished in 1986. Pekeliling Flats, the first prefabricated low-cost housing in Malaysia and second high-rise residential buildings in Kuala Lumpur are now being demolished. Even the first drive-in restaurant in Malaysia is tagged for demolition regardless of the historical memories for its loyal fans. Other historical buildings are deteriorating in use without considering the importance of preservation. One example is the oldest geology department in Malaysia located in University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, which had a unique method of construction at the time it was built. The building is still in use but has been insensitively modified from its original state. In this situation digital archiving seems to be an alternative that at least keeps the records of a historical building before it is too late. It is important to clarify that digital archiving of architectural heritage is not solely because buildings are being demolished A project 'Malaysia Post-Independence Architecture Atlas' is being carried out by University of Malaya, in collaboration with Multimedia University. This project aims for available data to be digitally captured and archived for future purposes. In the first stage 30 target buildings (selected based on their cultural importance) were successfully archived. The main priority after digital capture was to categorize the collected data in a way that can be used by different audiences. The following is a summary of steps taken in this project by reviewing different aspects of digital archiving of architectural heritage.
... Colonial houses in Malaysia originated from the Anglo-Indian style bungalow built in the early 1800s and later evolved into the bungalows or mansions called 'substantial bungalows' or 'Jawi Peranaka 2 ' houses (Chen, 1990). This Anglo-Indian style bungalow was transformed as the Strait Eclectic style by wealthy Chinese businessmen, who imitated the neo-classical motifs that were popular in Europe (Chun et al., 2005). ...
... 3 Many peninsula Malays are descendants of immigrants from several major ethnic groups of Indonesian people, namely the Acehnese, Minangkabau, the people of Riau, Java, and Bugis (Provencher, 1984). 4 Selecting five houses is a very important starting point for this study, as stated below. First, in previous research by the author (2012), 121 vernacular houses from the 200 houses that currently exist in Kampong Bharu were selected and analyzed. ...
Through colonization and modernization, the British introduced multi-racial immigrants into Malaysia, resulting in a plural society of people with unique social and cultural backgrounds. Kampong Bharu, located in central Kuala Lumpur, came into existence in 1899 as an enclave reserved for Malays only and their various sub-ethnic groups. Over time, urban growth resulted in the settlement losing its agricultural significance, and at present it is a uniquely preserved Malay community. Many vernacular Malay houses that were built in the 1900s still exist in Kampong Bharu. According to previous research by the author (Ju et al., 2012), there were four major types of vernacular houses that existed in Kampong Bharu: traditional vernacular houses type I - Bumbung Panjang, traditional vernacular houses type II - Bumbung Perak, colonial vernacular houses and modern vernacular houses.
The purpose of this paper is to investigate and identify colonial vernacular houses among the four types which originated from the early period of colonization and later evolved into an eclectic style due to the social, ethnic and cultural changes occurring in colonial Malaysia. To achieve this, the paper conducts case studies on five colonial vernacular houses in Kampong Bharu.
... While there is considerable scholarly work on the shop-houses of South and Southeast Asia (Imamuddin et al. 1989;Chun et al. 2005;Phuong and Groves 2010;Su-Jan et al. 2012;Davis 2012) the buildings under discussion here encompass a much denser range of building types. No survey or analysis has been conducted to understand the operation of dense informally mixed buildings such as these. ...
The concept of mixed-use is now well-established as an urban design and planning principle that adds to the vitality, walkability and productivity of the city at neighbourhood scale. There is much less research on the dense and complex vertical mix of functions within buildings. This paper investigates the extremes of informal vertical mixing of functions within buildings in Dhaka, where commercial and retail functions often penetrate to upper floors and where access routes are often mixed with residential functions. A modified form of space syntax analysis is used to analyse and critique the mix of circulation patterns and functions in 15 complex mixed-use buildings. The plans and relational diagrams reveal how different functions are mixed or separated, and the relative spatial depth they penetrate from the street. Five primary circulation diagrams emerge with different degrees of informality in different districts of the city. Under conditions of informal adaptation, vertical functional mix produces benefits in the form of synergies but also problems of privacy and security. To engage effectively planners need a complex understanding of the interrelated spatial, social and economic logics involved.
... Although Malaysia has lots of heritage buildings all over the country, the understanding of heritage building conservation practice is vague and unclear (Hanafi et al., 2018;Harun, 2011;Tan et al., 2016). Even the public attitude towards local heritage building conservation has remained rather dismal (Mohd-Isa et al., 2011) due to rapid modern development with many pre-colonial buildings having been demolished for modern development (Chun et al., 2005;Hanafi et al., 2018;Hasan and Nair, 2017;King, 2008;Mohamed et al., 2000;Tan et al., 2016). Since the 1990s, the Malaysian government, through the Department of National Heritage, has taken several initiatives to protect and conserve Malaysian heritage buildings (Hanafi et al., 2018). ...
Purpose
This article aims to illustrate the influence of the adaptive reuse of historic buildings on tourists’ appreciation and actual visitation.
Design/methodology/approach
This study surveyed the perception of tourists on the adaptive reuse of historic buildings activity in Kuching city, Malaysia, via the causal research design and self-administered questionnaire. Two hundred forty-two respondents participated in this survey.
Findings
This study found that the tourists highly acknowledged the practices of adaptive reuse of the historic buildings. Their positive behaviour is evident when most of the tourists perceived the adaptive reuse of the historic buildings influence their level of appreciation and subsequently translated it into their actual visitation.
Practical implications
Based on these findings, this study proposes that the adaptive reuse of historic buildings be marketed as a heritage tourism product. This promising indication from the tourists will undoubtedly draw several practical implications to the local authority policy on the practices of historic buildings adaptive reuse and how it benefits the heritage tourism development.
Originality/value
This study confirms that adaptive reuse is an excellent initiative as it is not only preserving the historical treasures for future generations but is a catalyst for tourism development and helps to generate income for the community.
... These building types have multiple architectural styles, influenced by different local and international cultures. According to Heritage of Malaysia Trust 1990, these styles are influenced by (Chun & Hasan, 2005): Indian Kingdoms (7th-14th Centuries), Malay Vernacular (pre-15th Century to present), Straits Eclectic (15th Century to mid-20th Century), Chinese Baroque (19th Century to early 20th Century), Chitya Indian Vernacular (15th Century to Mid 20th Century), Colonial (17th Century to mid-20th Century), and Modern (1950s -1980s). Nevertheless, many buildings in GTWHS can be affected by two or more styles of these mentioned. ...
Georgetown street facade contains multiple types of buildings. As they varied between
governmental, office buildings, religious buildings, and shophouses. Most of these buildings have a heritage value according to their building history and architectural features, which has been threatened by many factors related to urban development. One of the most obvious problems that affect the physical appearance of the buildings forming the street façade; is the problem of installing new building services parts to the traditional building. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact of urban development, represented by the new service installments on the street facade character and determine how the effect works on different types of buildings. The method used fo achieving this has been conducted by analyzing the main features of this character, for the traditional building's façade. Then, the paper determines the main modern services installments, those which affect the visual character of the street façade. A graphic analysis has been applied on selected street façades from the Georgetown World Heritage Site (GTWHS). This analysis is applicable only after a visual observation and documentary for buildings' façade in the streets selected. The results are framing the relationship between the compositional properties of the street façade and the negative effects resulted by any
additions related to modern services installed in unplanned methods in these buildings.
... Shophouses traditionally were two-to three-storey high with a business located on the ground floor and the businessmen and their families living upstairs. There were several phases of architectural styles for the shophouses that were influenced by European and Asian designs, emerging from Utilitarian designs to Neo-classical and eventually to the more elaborate Art-Deco buildings (Ho et al., 2005). Other than the majestic private mansions and public buildings from the colonial era, the shophouses, because of their unique character, large numbers and strong ties to the early lifestyles of towns in Malaysia, have attracted much attention for conservation (Fels, 2002). ...
George Town, Penang has more than 200 years of urban history and the largest collection of heritage shophouses in Southeast Asia. These heritage buildings have remained unchanged since the 1800s in spite of the lack of conservation legislation. The objective of this paper is to determine which public policy instruments have been effective in protecting the urban heritage of George Town. In particular, the role played by the Control of Rent Act, 1966, is evaluated. Upon examination of records on property transaction, rent-control records, development applications and demographic trends, no conclusive evidence was found that this Act was instrumental in protecting heritage buildings. Instead it was the unintentional effects of various development policies that saved George Town's urban heritage.
The study discusses the impact of building double brick wall construction on the thermal performance of building façade in Malaysia. The Sunway Hotel, nestled within the heritage city of George Town in Penang, has been selected as a case study. Characterised by its simplicity and mass-produced construction, special attention is given to its double brick wall façade. The study comprises of two parameters for the façade thermal performance measurement on the west wall façade. The first measurement employs systematic calculation of the wall thermal transmittance (U-values) and proceeds with the calculation of the Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV). This calculation is meticulously undertaken to incorporate the previously calculated U-values for both the opaque and transparent elements of the double brick-wall façade unit. Secondly, the study records variations in the façade average external surface temperature using time-sequential thermography from 1200 to 1800 in response to the diurnal variation in solar radiation. Concerning the results of these two analyses, the finding informs the thermal performance of a double brick wall based on the requirement of the local standards MS 1525:14 and energy efficiency in the tropical climate of Malaysia.
It is recognized that the air conditioning system is a major factor that influencing energy
consumption in Malaysia. In fact, residential and non-residential buildings, become a
subject to significant cooling necessities due to the high intensity of heat passing from
building external envelope, the rely on mechanical cooling systems to provide best
indoor condition was directed to increase the energy consumption. Due to this fact,
many designers highlighted the potential influence of courtyards as a natural cooling
technique to enhance indoor comfort for building users and consequently minimize
space-cooling conditioning. This research investigates the courtyard attributes as a
natural cooling technique in tropical climates, to provide indoor thermal condition at
single, double and three-story buildings; furthermore, to achieve low energy office
buildings in Kuala Lumpur and Johor. The research objectives are to investigate the
history of the courtyard in Malaysia, to evaluate indoor environmental conditions at
office buildings and finally to assess, the effectiveness of a courtyard on conserving
energy in office buildings in Malaysia. The research method is a combination of
literature review, environmental measurement, post occupancy evaluation and energy
consumption data. To achieve the first objective of this research previous study assessed
to gain information of the courtyard at vernacular architecture, contemporary vernacular
and modern architecture in Malaysia, it started before independence in 1957 and
transformed through time until the dawn of the new millennium. Furthermore, several
environmental aspects such as air temperatures, relative humidity, and air velocity were
measured using a portable instrument (Lutron LM 8000) and thermal comfort station
(BABUC A). Whereas, the post-occupancy evaluation used to assess the level of indoor
thermal condition at office buildings, at least, the energy data examined through the
electricity bills for the at least one-year period. According to the last findings of this
vi
research, the influence of the courtyard on providing indoor thermal conditions achieved
at single and three storey buildings, while for double storey building the indoor
condition did not comply with ASHRAE- 55 and ISO 7730 standards. For the term low
energy office buildings, the results illustrated that single and double storey office
buildings considered as low energy office buildings, while for three storey office
buildings the amount of energy that used did not comply with MS 1525 standard.
During the Dutch colonialism, Malay Deli Sultanate was dominant and big which now their superiority was destroyed by Social Revolution. At that time, Malay people live in the peak of glory and civilization resulting in their growing culture. The purpose of research is to find the influence of culture in Malay Deli ornaments as a part of Architecture. Data obtained with literatures study and observation. The data was analysed using qualitative method to describe the phenomenon occur between variables. The aim of this research is identifying any culture influences ornaments in architecture. Such as Islam influences Malay ornament on the building and ornament division between the noble and people. The research result is the culture such as language, religion have influence on ornaments in Malay Deli architecture.
This article explores the genetic history of the various sub-populations currently living in Peninsular Malaysia. This region has received multiple waves of migrants like the Orang Asli in prehistoric times and the Chinese, Indians, Europeans and Arabs during historic times. There are three highly distinct lineages that make up the Orang Asli; Semang, Senoi and Proto-Malays. The Semang, who have ‘Negrito’ characteristics, represent the first human settlers in Peninsular Malaysia arriving from about 50,000 ya. The Senoi later migrated from Indochina and are a mix between an Asian Neolithic population and the Semang. These Asian genomes probably came in before Austroasiatic languages arrived between 5,000 and 4000 years ago. Semang and Senoi both now speak Austro-Asiatic languages indicative of cultural diffusion from Senoi to Semang. In contrast, the Proto-Malays who came last to the southern part of this region speak Austronesian language and are Austronesians with some Negrito admixture. It is from this group that the contemporary Malays emerged.
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