SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN

ARCHITECTURE CULTURE & HISTORY 2 [ARC 1323]

Project: Architecture Heritage Building Analysis

Site: Pre-war shop lots at Jalan Raya Timur

Tutor : Ms. Ida

Group Member Student ID

Choo Ai Lin 0317253

Chin Pui Man 0310331

Cheang Eileen 1006A77249

Lim Zhi Hong 0304547

Introduction

The origin name of Klang is from the language Mon-Khymer that is “Klong”. Klong can

be identified as a warehouse because Klang became an important port that has lots of

warehouses. Meanwhile another evidence, “Klang” means “canal” or waterway (Official

Portal Klang Municipal Council [OPKMC],2013). Klang’s history came before Malacca.

Klang is claimed to be one of the oldest city in Malaysia. According to history, Klang was

occupied since 2000 years ago. The first entry on Klang was written starting from the

moments of Klang resurrection that was once was not tied to any area.

Klang from the time it functioned as the principle port of the state of Selangor to the

period when greater Klang and its surrounding territories become a major agricultural

centre. Finally, mention is made of an important development hitherto little known

namely the beginnings of the industrialization in Malaya. The major industries were

located in Klang because of the proximity to Port Swettenham (known as Port Klang).

Figure 1: Jalan Raya Timur shop lots top view. (Google Maps, 2013)

Introduction of Site

The site of study a historical building is pre-war shop lot along Jalan Raya Timur,

situated within close proximity of Klang railway station. Jalan Raya Timur contains 40

shop lots which with different phase and size.(Figure 2) These lots, which were

constructed between year 1930 and 1940, made the area one of the busiest spots in

southern Klang then. The pre-war shop lots are just rows of dilapidated buildings. Due to

the decline of the town’s economy, these lots are now functioning as commercial offices

but many of the lots have been abandoned.

Figure 2 shows the shop lots along Jalan Raya Timur

Architect

This building was completed by WCT Land Development Company. This company

become the fastest growing township in the Klang Corridor and also involved in many

big projects in all over the place. For example, the opening of AEON Bukit Tinggi

Shopping Center and hypermarkets like Tesco and Giant. This has transformed Klang

into a lively royal town with complete facilities and total convenience. BBT has received

a thumping endorsement from Klang residents, going by the strong occupancy rate of

more than 90% for its houses and shops. In addition, the group has since ventured out

of the country with a key project in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. Platinum Plaza- an

architectural and innovative design mixed commercial developments of office towers,

SOHO, Business class Hotel and the largest shopping mall in Vietnam.

Introduction of Chosen Building- Teck Heng Enterprise

This building built by Labur Bina Sdn. Bhd was

a 3m x 7m x 7m height office building. At the

early 1940s, it was a residential building after

the completion of this building. Most of the

Chinese people stayed here having their daily

routines and activities.

After the Chinese family moved away this shop

has become a commercial area. Onion

business was operated. An Indian businessman

took over it and ran his business for 5 years.

Year 1940

Year 1945-1950At year 1951, the onion business had stopped

and failed to operate. The Yap family took over

this building and it became Teck Heng Office

Equipment Sales & Service.

At year 1951-1965, the Company only provided

service and repair works of office equipments

only. Later, the Company started its business and

slowly expanded to provide a full range of repair

services.

After 1965, Teck Heng Enterprise has grown from

strength to strength and is now a well-established

and dynamic organization, specializing in

repairing type writer, office furniture &

workstation, office renovation, blinds, carpet,

safety box, steel cabinet, CCTV, door access

system, office automation, whiteboards, etc.

Concept - Art Deco Style with Early Straits Eclectic Features

Art Deco Style Building

They are usually 2 to 3 storeys high, main entrance in the front, center with symmetric

windows, and optionally, wings on both sides. The front, especially the entrance, may

have columns and decorations. Mostly influenced by European, they geometrically

design their building highlighting vertical and horizontal lines. They also have Shanghai

plaster wall finishing and flagpole and relief writings on the wall.

Teck Heng Enterprise is an Art deco building has the concept of a simple rectilinear line

and its geometry forms. This building is masonry ornamented with rectilinear façade and

geometrically pilasters which are the main characteristic of an art deco building. Besides,

it also maintain some early straits eclectic building features, for example the jack roof

and the five-foot way.

At year 1951, the onion business had stopped

and failed to operate. The Yap family took over

this building and it became Teck Heng Office

Equipment Sales & Service.

At year 1951-1965, the Company only provided

service and repair works of office equipments

only. Later, the Company started its business and

slowly expanded to provide a full range of repair

services.

After 1965, Teck Heng Enterprise has grown from

strength to strength and is now a well-established

and dynamic organization, specializing in

repairing type writer, office furniture &

workstation, office renovation, blinds, carpet,

safety box, steel cabinet, CCTV, door access

system, office automation, whiteboards, etc.

Year 1951 – 2013 (today)

In fact, it has already expanded to include

import and export activities as one of its core

business.

At 1995, the owner retired and passed his

business his elder daughter. Hence, the

business was well-known and continued until

today.

Early Straits Eclectics Style Building

They are also 2 to 3 storeys high, the facades are usually decorative mixture of Malay,

Chinese and European ornaments with light indigo blue, ocre or white colour. The

building material used are timber, clay bricks and lime.

Building Inventory (Art Deco Architecture Features - Teck Heng Enterprise)

Flagpoles

Banding Devices

Main Features of Art Deco Building

Main Features of Early Straits Eclectics Building

Full length louvered windows

Plaster arches and central keystone

Air Vent

Geometric pattern clay floor tiles and granite edge block and step

Sea green glass with metal frame

Shanghai plaster wall finish

Strong horizontal/ vertical lines

Sketch Diagram

Sketch Diagram

Symmetry

- Radial Symmetrical design can be shown from the building

Façade when it is reflected across a plane vertically to create

another instance of itself.

- The whole building was divided into 2 similar parts, showing

the reflection of the vertical symmetry.

Sketch Diagram

Repetitive Form

- The facades are strong metal works with geometrically

rectilinear forms. 

- Above the doors and windows are metal bar which is

repetitive linear form.

Extruded Concrete canopy

- The individual concrete canopy that

used as sunshades above the 1st floor

of the building offsets the wide

banding below.

Extruded concrete canopy

Bright Painted Facade

Art Deco is a style of colours. This office building

was highly coloured. The colour of art deco were

always bright and glossy or pastels and decorated

both interiors and exteriors. Teck Heng Office

Equipment façade was painted with bright orange

colour.

Vertical Banding Device

Art Deco architects sought to emphasize

verticality as a symbol of modernity and

progress. Strong vertical lines dominate the

Teck Heng Building's facade and extend all

the way up to the roof.

Vertical Banded Front Elevation

Plaster Moulding

Unlike in Europe and America where the monumentality of Art Deco was expressed in

sculptured stone, in Malaysia, stone was not readily available and was therefore too

expensive. Local builders looked for a finish that was mode easily available but possessed

the same properties to stone which is Shanghai Plaster, a good, cheap external grade

Early Straits Eclectic Architecture Features - Teck Heng Enterprise

Party wall

- Party walls are typically made of non-

combustible material. Where required by

code, the party wall could be a fire wall.

Party wall can be seen in every

adjoining building.

Plaster Moulding

Plaster Moulding

Unlike in Europe and America where the monumentality of Art Deco was expressed in

sculptured stone, in Malaysia, stone was not readily available and was therefore too

expensive. Local builders looked for a finish that was mode easily available but possessed

the same properties to stone which is Shanghai Plaster, a good, cheap external grade

- Horizontal bands below window and rendered

wall were finished by Shanghai plaster and the

finish was left in beige colour.

Jack Roof

- Usually in Straits Eclectic building,

they always built with a jack roof which

elevated above the main roof.

- This is to ensure hot air to escape and

as well lights to penetrate the upper

floors.

The Five-Foot Way

- First imposed by Sir Stamford Raffles in Singapore in 1822.

- Pedestrian walkways indented into the ground

floor of a building from the road, so that the

overhanging upper floors can provide a cover to

shield pedestrians from the sun and rain.

- This feature can be found in many shop

houses  all over the world, and also in some

office buildings.

- As the ground floor of most buildings are shops

or eating places, the five foot ways can also

function as a corridor for people to window-

shop or stop by for some refreshments.

- As implied by name, five foot ways were

intended to assume a consistent width of

five feet from the absolute front to the wall and

entrance defining the frontal of the inner space,

but the guideline is not necessarily applied

universally, as certain five foot ways are wider

or narrower depending on the age, size and

function of the building.

Section Diagram Of Teck Heng Enterprise

Sketches

Business Area

Five-Foot Way

Building Material Used

Shanghai plaster was used

as the wall finishes

Concrete for the ceiling and

bricks for the wall

Glass panel door with metal

frame for the main entry

Classical wooden stairs

that link to the upper floor

Sea-green glass window with metal

frame which is art deco style

Marseille tiles was used

as the roofing material

Ceiling made from plywoodWall partitions from rigid acoustic wood

Zinc roofing for the kitchen Decorative wood panel door Grill doors for security

Contextual Condition

Before Renovation After Renovation

Before that, door grills was used as a

safety door to provide security hence bring

in natural ventilation and natural lighting

that may save electricity cost.

Nowadays, people prefer to use glass for

their office/ business area. This is to

upgrade the building façade to a modern

and elegant extent while glass may provide

transparency as well as security for the

owner to alert when people pass by.

Timber roof truss was exposed at the

upper floor. Dust and spider webs are

easily trapped onto the joints of the truss.

Plywood is used to cover the truss not only

improve the aesthetic of office, it also helps

to cover up the air condition piping and

fixing hence make the cleaning job easier.

Door made of plywood

that not easy to

maintain because the

wood layer is thin and

not durable.

Door made of hard

wood replaced plywood

door is more durable

and can be easily

maintain.

Before Renovation After Renovation

Terra cotta roof tiles are subject to unequal

shrinkage in burning, which sometimes

causes the pieces to be twisted.

When this is the case great care must be

taken in fixing the blocks, otherwise the

long lines of a building, such as those of

the string-courses or cornices, which are

intended to be straight, are apt to be

uneven, and the faces of blocks are often

"in winding."

Straight and plain column which is not

attractive compare to decorative column

with plaster moulding. Rectilinear façade is

dull compare to an arch entrance that is

more eye catching.

Monier Marseille roof tiles are known as

the interlocking French roof tile that has

an existence of about 100 years in

history. Monier is the first in Asia to

combine two state-of-the-art technologies

(H-Cassette & Gypsum mould) to ensure

the roof tiles are of the highest precision

with the smoothest surface finishing. This

roof tiles are used for most art deco

building.

Curve arch (which

contain impost and

keystone) is used in

Art Deco design to

replace column of

Art Deco which is

straight and does

not support not support much weight as compare to

curve arch. Flat and smooth wall is applied

because it will absorb light and make them

noticeable then they can focus on the

element of the building.

Before Renovation After Renovation

Open space at the back area of upper

floor.

Roofing was added to cover up as the owner

wanted to use this area as a store room

The original building provides concrete

canopy which is art deco style.

The owner removed the canopy because he

wanted to put up his company logo.

Besides, there’s different between two

windows on the building where left side

window have the element of Early Straits

while on the right side, it contains the element

of Art-Deco where it introduces the use of

glass. This changes it made by the owner

because they want to keep it to old style

concept yet do not want lights to emit into

the interior.

Conclusion

In the 1960 and 1970s, shophouses again became the common building idiom,

especially in the central areas of new towns and housing estates. In 1980s, however, the

new found of influence of urban Malaysians sparked a booming car population and a

consequent demand for car parks. Shophouses were replaced by high-rise buildings,

complete with parking bays ad surrounded by roads, which often became ‘islands”,

isolated from adjacent buildings.

In 1980s also marked the appearance of powerful corporation seeking expressions

through their buildings, and these were provided by the construction of high-rises. In the

late 1980s and 1990s, the merits of these isolated building as urban forms, unsupported

by a structured urban framework, began to questioned.

These doubts were paralleled by a surge of interest in conservation and the

environment. The shophouses were seen by conservationists as representing the typical

Malaysian urban form, one that particularly suited the climatic conditions of the country.

Conversely, high-rise was viewed as an anonymous international form common to

every city in the world. There was concern that Malaysian towns were losing their unique

character. Shophouses, which have provided Malaysian streets with a continuous

framework and, occasionally, the frames around town squares were preferred to isolated

high-rises. Hence, the shophouse is seen again in modern guise, housing estates and

new towns built after the 1980s. ( Chen Voon Fee, 1998 )

References

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