Best Project Award for Category [Architectural Conservation]

Kuala Lumpur Creative & Cultural District (KLCCD)

Heritage Preservation Malaysia Programme - HPM

Design Workshop OCT 2019

RUANG by Think City, Kuala Lumpur

Student from University Putra Malaysia (UPM) Faculty of Design and Architecture / Fakulti Rekabentuk dan Senibina (FRSB)

Group Name: Catania

Group Members: Tan Bing Xin, Ang Pei Yee (Serene), Jobel Chua Li Juan, Ong Kang Shon, Poh Su Ann

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Board 1: Masterplan

Given site is within Precinct 1, bearing strong cultural significance since the early days of the formation of Kuala Lumpur. Earliest settlements and shop houses occupy most coverage area of the precinct. Its vast coverage in area and long line through history as residential cum commerce area rendered many hidden gems that ought to be discovered and shone through as part of the precinct’s unique characteristics. The original “open market” and the primary node of the old KL, Medan Pasar, is within this precinct. Central Market is also housed strategically along the ROL within this precinct. Many small hawker’s eats are hidden at the muted and filthy back lanes and many vintage watch and book stores and masked behind shophouses’ dilapidated and unwelcoming facades.

The idea is to revive the intangible values we can find within this precinct by improving way finding. Jalan Tun HS Lee is selected to be the green main spine in the attempt to create a continuity tying the disparate pieces of plots. Street furniture is added along the main spine for rest and relax. Heritage trail is also redefined by rerouting the heavy bus route away from central market area, easing pedestrian traffic. Plazas are placed at the entry points of precinct as a statement to passers-by as they walk and enter into another unique sphere of identity. Important nodes are identified to be improved by architectural manifestation to enhance the overall outlook of the precinct.

Board 2: Transformation of Shophouse

The main and evident issue within this precinct is the underused shophouses. The amount of hollowed out shophouses, especially on the upper storeys are rendering these heritage shophouses to be underutilized, thus run down. At night, it is also unsafe to walk pass the main streets and back lanes due to the lack of life and supporting activities.

The idea is to capitalize on the existing space we have at the shophouses, transforming them to commerce-residential units. It is an attempt of adaptive reuse of the old shophouses, denoting a ground floor which has its maintained usage; for business and commerce while its upper storeys converted into residential usages. A few shophouse units are selected in front of the medan pasar as prototype units.

The entrance of the residences are proposed to be at the backlane, for a frontage of one’s house is one’s assumed responsibilities for maintenance and upkeep. This will inherently improve the overall safety of various access and connections within the entire precinct. The layout of shophouses are proposed in a few modules (as elaborated in diagrams and floor plans) to envision possible alternatives these shophouses can be utilized not only as residential blocks, but additional hostel units to accommodate universities and schools in the vicinity.