Adapting heritage spaces for modern consumers in Malaysia

PRESENT: architecture as expressions of national pride

Since independence, Malaysia has built a new narrative for itself – as one united multi-racial people celebrating the richness and diversity of its culture.

In the 90s, the concept of “Bangsa Malaysia” (literally means Malaysian citizen, regardless of races) was introduced ⁵, and a global Malaysian tourism campaign - “Malaysia, Truly Asia” – was launched ⁶.

Old buildings are preserved to retain Malaysia’s cultural heritage and integrity, and hold on to a sense of history and nostalgia.

With ongoing urbanization, city spaces across Malaysia are rapidly shrinking and becoming rare expensive commodities. Old buildings often have to make way for new ones like malls, offices, schools, etc. to meet modern needs.

Yet in the face of change, many Malaysians also wish to preserve their cultural heritage. As a keeper of cultural identity in the past and a marker of national pride today, heritage spaces are high on the agenda for cultural preservation,

Balancing between its cultural role and current commercial needs, old buildings are being adapted, getting a new lease of life.

Older buildings are rejuvenated through purposeful adaptations. Interiors and exteriors are carefully refurbished, preserving the original architectural and cultural integrity.

Yet whilst the form remains, functions are evolving. Heritage buildings retain their old cultural charms but now function as spaces of commerce and community building. The artful blend of the old and the new offer new and richer experiences that Malaysian consumers increasingly seek.

RUANG

RUANG is a space in an old Art Deco building that has been adapted into a modern day communal space with the flexibility to be transformed for multiple purposes, including workshops, performances, exhibitions, seminars, intimate events and rehearsals ¹¹.

Local residents and regular visitors to the space continue to shape the design of the space, making it more usable for modern day needs ¹².

Since opening, it has received interest from embassies, non-governmental organizations and commercial entities from the world of wellness, film, theater and architecture ¹³. It has breathed new life to the neighborhood of Jalan Hang Kasturi, and make preservation of old buildings viable in a commercial way.

Zhongshan Building

Zhongshan Building is a row of three 4-storey shop houses from 1950s re-invented as a communal arts hub and incubator, where like-minded creatives from eclectic background test ideas, do their business and run creative events ¹⁴.

The buildings were inherited by Liza Ho from her mother in law. In the olden days, it was used to run a frozen food distribution business ¹⁵. The interior of the buildings was since renovated to eliminate inefficient spaces such as unused corridors and corners to make it usable for modern day purpose and context ¹⁶.

Micro Homes at WUF9 Village

Think City and Urbanice Malaysia have come together transforming Medan Pasar (Market Square) in Kuala Lumpur into WUF9 (9th World Urban Forum) Village, an urban experimental space with ideas and innovations of better urban living ¹⁷.

In WUF9 Village, Think City presents a micro home concept and prototype of a size of two car parking spaces that will become the future of an urban village ¹⁸. The prototype will be applied to selected old buildings in the city center in collaboration with the city council – as part of an urban regeneration program ¹⁹.

Shared communal spaces will be built – such as TV room, library, dining areas, park and rooftop garden – to realize the future of urban villages where communal spirit still lives on ²⁰.