School of Architecture, Building and Design

Architectural Conservation

Tutor: Mr Azim

Group Members:Lee Kai Yung 0318314

Chong Yu Xuan 0317950Loo Yee Pei 0329148

Izzat Abdul Muhaymin Bin Jafri 0319437Anith Syazlin 0325737

Shafereena Isreen Binti Mohamad Ishak 0325915Arvindhan Balasingam 0319753

1.0 Historical Background

1.1 Raja Chulan

1.2 The Abandoned House

2.0 Social Background of Raja Chulan

3.0 Architecture background

4.0 Dilapidation survey

5.0 Proposal of adaptive reuse

5.1 Program

5.2 Spatial planning

5.3 Materiality

Table of Content

a road that has brought much convenience to the people of Kuala Lumpur as it links two busy areas, namely Masjid Jamek and the Golden Triangle.

Renamed after Raja Chulan (formerly was Weld Road) in 1982

Currently (since 1982) named after Raja Sir Chulan, Raja di Hilir Perak, the first Malay unofficial member of the Federal Council (1924–1933);

formerly named after Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld ( 1823 -1891), Governor of the Straits Settlements.

Raja Chulan

DYAM Raja Sir Chulan ibniAlmarhum Sultan Abdullah (Raja Di-Hilir: 1920-1933)

- urged the British to improve the Malay’s people economic standing and their access to employment in the civil service.

- vocal in other matters of British administration of the Malay States

- first Malay ever to be appointed DO location map

1.1 Historical Background Jalan Raja Chulan

O L D M A L A Y A

In the late 1870, European coffee planters in Ceylon left the island to try their luck in Malaya because a fungal disease had decimated their crops.

By 1880, the Honorable R.B. Downall obtained two concessions; 77 hectares (194 acres) on a hillock near the heart of Kuala Lumpur, which he named Weld Hill after the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Frederick Weld.

8 dilapidated heritage buildings

it was built in around 1930 and called the ‘’Serani Row’’ (also known as Eurasian, a landmass consisting of the traditional continents of Asia and Europe)

this colonial building used to be the glamorous residences of the Eurasian community

OLD MALAYA; PAMPAS

little knows about this building, it is however very well possible that one part of this building was once the home of F.B. Hicks( Secretary of the Selangor Planters' Association)

1.2 Historical Background of the Abandoned shophouses

R E L A T I O N THE Façade - they do boast two intricate crests, each bearing the acronym "oEs", a feature vaguely reminiscent of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel's crest in Penang, another one of British colonial area.

Jalan Raja Chulan offers a glimpse into KL’s history. Cityfolks are much used to Jalan Raja Chulan, as thousands ofthem drive past without a second thought to its past orpresent. It is a road that has brought much convenience tothe people of Kuala Lumpur as it links two busy areas,namely Masjid Jamek and the Golden Triangle.

LandmarkMenara KL is easily one of Malaysia’s most recognizableand popular landmarks visible from Jln Raja Chulan.Currently the 18th-tallest freestanding structure in theworld.The Menara KL offers the experience of a revolvingrestaurant on top of the tower, with a 360 degree view ofthe city night sky. It sits atop the Bukit Nanas (PineappleHill) Forest Reserve, the oldest gazetted forest reserve inthe country.The tower’s architectural style reflects Malaysia’s Islamicheritage with walls inscribed with Arabic scripts and floortiles, floral motifs and abstract patterns.

2.0 Social Background of Jalan Raja Chulan

Menara Kuala Lumpur

Economy

Jalan Raja Chulan is one of the most important place inKuala Lumpur because the economy here grow rapidly.This is due to the construction of KL Monorail near thatarea which make the transportation much easier.Examples are Raja Chulan Station and Bukit NanasStation.

The Weld shopping centre, is the most obviousreminder of the street’s previous name.This area is also one of the tourist attraction due to thepresence of KL Tower.Very crowded at both day and night time that lead tothe factor of heavy traffic jam, especially during thepeak hours.

The Weld shopping centre

Raja Chulan Station

The area is very crowded with people, most of themare Malaysian, but a lot of foreigners and touristvisiting the place as wellMost of them came here to work, study and sight see

Nationality

Along the Jalan Raja Chulan itself, there are a lot ofprivate colleges.The presence of these colleges is also the main factorof different nationality mixture.Thus, lead to different language spoken.

Nightclubs are an almost inevitable part of KualaLumpur’s social life.There are quite a few city streets that play host toafter-dark venues that range from custom-builtsuper-clubs to classic pubs with nichesoundtracks.Strategically located between Jalan P.Ramlee andChangkat Bukit Bintang.Jalan Raja Chulan is considered one of the mainroad for nightlife.

The Best Nightlife is placed near Jalan RajaChulan to dance, drink and party are ProvidenceKL , SkyBar, Luna Bar, Sultan Lounge, Heli LoungeBar and Pisco Bar.

Jalan P.Ramlee

Changkat Bukit Bintang

Life Style

3.0 Architecture Style

The old abandoned house structures that located along

Jalan Raja Chulan was built during the colonial era in

1931. This row of abandoned houses is the combinations

of 8 old colonial houses which facing the busy and heavy

traffic road; Jalan Raja Chulan which formerly known as

Weld Road. In addition, this row of abandoned houses

originally known as Serani Row. The two unit which

located on the left and right side (the corner unit)

currently is in a very poor condition which can defined as

completely derelict. The six units that located in between

of the row is vary from abandoned to just habitable. In

olden days, this row of old abandoned houses probable

represented the best and elite accommodation in the city

and formerly home of the Eurasian community

Center Door

Two Storey Building design

Abandoned Houses along Jalan Raja Chulan

3.0 Architecture Style

The colonial architecture was influenced by European

and Chinese which had symmetrical design with a central

entrance. Besides, colonial architecture also had air well

which currently known as courtyard. Colonial

architecture normally designed in 2 storey high. Windows

and ventilators was designed to locate at roof top to

bring in natural ventilation to cool down the interior and

exterior of the building itself.

Air Well/ Courtyard

Windows and Ventilation under roofline

Characteristic of Colonial Architecture in Malaysia

NO AREA BUILDING DEFECT TYPE OF DEFECT SUGGESTED TREATMENT

1 Concrete spalling Concrete spalling can be seen on the walls on the building. Concrete where carbon dioxide reacts to chemical within the concrete. The steel reinforcing bars within the concrete begin to corrode and expand, causing the breakage on the surface.

Concrete spalling treatment In order to effect repairs, spalled concrete must be removed and any exposed steel must either be replaced or cleaned and treated. The area is then repaired to the original concrete profile using cement mortar, epoxy mortar or concrete, depending on the size of the damage and the structural requirements. Cracks are repaired using suitable epoxy resins, social mortars and injection techniques.

2 Concrete wall cracking Diagonal cracks con be seen on the wall of the shophousewhich emanate from the corners, these cracks and other changes in the shape of the wall are called re-entrant cracks and are a form of shrinkage crack. The cause of cracking in concrete wall is due to the foundation experiencing stresses over a long period of time and also the increase in temperature.

Crack injection Epoxies for crack injection are available in a range of viscosities from ultra thin to paste-like(such as the emecole epoxy crack repairs product). To accommodate cracks of different widths. Coles advice is to use whatever viscosity is needed to inject a given crack at pressure less than 40 psi. The wider the crack the thicker the material required.

4.0 Dilapidation Survey

NO AREA BUILDING DEFECT TYPE OF DEFECT SUGGESTED TREATMENT

3 Degrading paint Paint can be seen cracking and flacking off, exposing the previous paint colour as well as the concrete base. This has affected the aesthetic of the shop houses.

Repaint

4 Biological activity The presence of pigeon creates unsanitary conditions on the five footway of the shop houses. The droppings by the pigeons can be found on the floor tiles. Pigeon dropping appears to be the most important source of the disease fungus Cryptococcus neoformans in the environment. The fungus is typically found in accumulations of droppings around roosting and nesting sites. For example attics, cupolas ledges and water towers.

Cleaning

NO AREA BUILDING DEFECT TYPE OF DEFECT SUGGESTED TREATMENT

5 Defective plaster Defective plaster occurs mostly on external walls, column and ceiling of the old buildings. It is mainly due to biological attacks arising out of penetrating rain, water evaporation, condensation process, air pollution, dehydration and thermal stress on old building materials. Prior to being decomposed and broken apart, plastered rendering may become cracked due to either shrinkage or movement in the substrate itself

Crazing is a network of fine cracks, usually in a hexagonal pattern, which measures between 5and 75mm across each hexagon. Craze cracks are usually very fine and shallow and do not extend through the whole depth of the plaster

6 Defective rainwater goodsCommon problems associated with the defective rainwater goods in old building include sagging or missing eaves gutter, corroded or broken galvanized iron down pipes or leaking rainwater heads

Maintenance of gutteringScoop out the rubbish from the guttering using a trowel or a piece of card bent into a scoop within the profile of the gutter. To prevent the downpipe becoming blocked, do not push the rubbish into the top of the downpipe. When you have removed all of the solid rubbish, flush the guttering with water

5.0 Proposal of Adaptive Reuse

Adapted use:

Visitor Centre

After the initial analysis and survey of the site. wenoticed that there is a large amount of European touristaround the area, exploring the desolated houses thatonce stood proudly as houses of the elites. We thendecided that it could be adapted into a visitor centre ofJalan Raja Chulan. Symbolising and introducing the richhistory of the area to visitors. Giving the tourist andvisitors to the area a better understanding and directionof the place. A new landmark for the area that they canpin to their maps.

Example of visitor center in Stockholm Booths, brochures and information counters ready to help guide and navigate the visitors throughout the city

GalleryA quick walkthrough of the history of the place, depicted through pictures, models, videos etc.

Wayang Kulit

Mak Yong

Theatre

The intention of the visitor centre is to provide a uniqueexperience of education and entertainment. The centrewill provide ample information of the historicalbackground Jalan Raja Chulan and further deepen theexperience by providing visitors a chance to re-live thepast of the area. From galleries to an interactive theatreplay that takes you throughout the building.

The interior of row of houses will be modified by firstrestoring to its original state with few spaces connecteddue to its aging and break down of walls, more room forlarger spaces and activities. The first floor will be made toaccommodate a lounge, a gallery hall and a restaurant.

The parts first floor will be restored to its original state, itis to showcase the settings and context the houses theelites live in the past, the other parts will be adapted tooffice and other practical spaces. The first floor is alsowhere the main theatre spaces are.

The theatre is a showcase of the rich history through theform of art and story telling. The play will take placethroughout the building, bringing the visitors toexperience the old historical architecture used by theelites while enjoying a story telling performance thatbrings the history to life

5.1 Programs and activities

Gallery

The ground floor of the centre will mainly contribute as agallery, that briefly explains the culture and history of thearea through exhibits like artwork, sculptures, modelsand pictures. There will also be an area where a videoexplanation will be provided along with seating forvisitors to rest.

Green Pockets

The air wells of the buildings will be converted into smallpockets of garden, as a area isolated from the dust andnoise of the city streets. We intend to create a bufferzone in the concrete jungle of the city, a place where theusers can enjoy a small breath of fresh air.

On the ground floor consist of reception office, gallery,open lounge, multi purpose room and retail. Row of 8unit, few of them are internally connected for larger floorarea and also for ease of movement. The entrance ofeach unit are separated and each unit have its very ownunique display, about history of Jalan Raja Chulan andhistory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Open lounge with airwells are in between spaces and gallery, these act as abuffer zone during visitation.

One unit is dedicated for retail shop and its related to thegallery. This retail shop mainly focusing on local art andcraft and is located at right end of the row, as a ending ofvisiting centre.

5.2 Spatial planning

Reception

Staff Office and Pantry

Gallery

Lounge

Retail

Legend

Ground Floor Plan

On second floor, theatre dominating most of the space.Some spaces wall will be demolish to create more spacesas it will not affect the historical value of the originalbuilding, mainly partition walls. This theatre is capablefor 50 people, consider as a relatively small theatre. Thistheatre theme “Malaysia Culture”, because of its functionas a visitor centre, it is best to showcasing some traditionof Malaysia culture such as various type of dancingperformance and drama. Behind the theatre there will bea back stage including changing area for preparing.

Other spaces will be dedicated for display gallery. Apassage corridor is created to connect every unit on firstfloors. When it lead through spaces. The spatialarrangement on this display gallery is a reflection on keyplan of Kuala Lumpur.

Theatre

Corridor

Gallery

Legend

First Floor Plan

To retain the building’s originality, best way to reflect isthrough original material. The exterior façade will beleave unchanged but with repair work for retaining value.On interior, using characteristic of colonial architectureas theme, heavy brick work through out the wholebuilding. Thick and solid wall as partition andcompartmentalize spaces with a very strong sense ofenclosure. The brickwork is with plaster and paintfinishes to retain it original style. Floor tiles are beingused for entire building as it reflected the original of acolonial residential building, so floors should be wellprotected.

Wall – Brick wall with plaster and paint finishes

Floor – Quarry floor tiles

Countertop – Bricks work with no finishes

Gallery display – Steel frame

Seating (For theatre) – Wooden chair

Stage (For theatre) – Plywood

5.3 Materiality

Gallery space

Floor on lounge Theatre stage