MEDAN PASAR
Time and Space
A2 board 3D sketch map
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost;
the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be the blade that was broken,
the crownless again shall be king.” -J.R.R Tolkien
Ch’ng Xing Yue Hiew Yen Nee Lau Ee Tian Liew Hui En Wesley Hew Xin Han
0310425 0314212 0309596 0314920 0307585
Located in the heart of the inner city of Kuala Lumpur Medan Pasar, the centre of the original township previously established by one of the Founding Fathers of Kuala Lumpur, Yap Ah Loy. It was here that the Chinese headman(Kapitan Cina) set up the market place in 1888 that
soon became a bustling place in the late 19th century. Yap had his wooden house on the southern end of the Market Square, along what is now known as Lebuh Pasar Besar.
The ornate Neo-Classical shop houses facing Medan Pasar were the result of context by AB Hubback, the colonial government architect. Unfortunately most of these shop houses are not as well preserved today. Medan Pasar, once a township established by a Founding Father of Kuala Lumpur, Yap Ah Low. A roadway
converted to square with an iconic clock tower placed in the centre of the square. A space where the traditional neo-classical buildings of the past meet the modernized buildings of today. A space where time itself has stood still, preserved for any and all to experience.
SHOPHOUSES
Medan Pasar
Esther Lau
Rings of string, threaded with price tag Hung on the faรงade of the shop house without an order of hierarchy or momentum. Hand drawn paper fastened on the rings of strings , reflects the simple mind set of the owner towards the appeal of the store. Functionality over form mirrors the priority of the store owner.
Hiew Yen Nee
Colour Our Buildings A historical source of nostalgia which creates the context of the building types in Malaysia’s architectural and built environment. They form the bulk of our gazetted conservation buildings. The colour palette of the houses distinguishes each other individual buildings’ personality.
Ch’ng Xing Yue
From These White Walls The vibrant yellow windows of “Kafe Old Market Square” creating contrast with the white Neoclassical walls. The building undergoing renovation shows the dedication of the people to keep the building in pristine state to preserves its heritage.
Liew Hui En
Refurbished Shop Houses Lessen Ambience Its faรงade is filled with the essence of neo-classical and art deco architecture that pleases the aesthetic senses, but the liveliness and desired ambience is lessen through out the years. Date back to
1880s, relocation of the market had decreased the surrounding trading atmosphere of Medan Pasar street drastically since then.
Wesley Hew
Separation of an Entirety The same building, same design, sharing the same space. Architecture built to resemble a whole separated by the plain boundary of different colouration. Each having their own purpose, the exterior remains merely a faรงade indifferent to its function.
BANKS
Medan Pasar
Esther Lau
Of Old and New, Time Stands Still As time stand between the continuity of facades, it displays how time has become the main element within site. Sprouting upwards, empowering the influences of the bank on the site where it all began.
Hiew Yen Nee
Nature and the City Spatial planning of the modern landscaping in front of the modern faรงade of the bank portrays the connectivity of nature and man-made architecture.
Ch’ng Xing Yue
Building Bloom Blocks and blocks of banks towering around the perimeter of Medan Pasar. International style can clearly be seen through the clean and basic forms that emphasize on functionality of the bank buildings.
Liew Hui En
Boast of Mixed Architectural Styles Time was framed through the expression of mixed architectural styles. These combinations creates a sophisticated
determinations of historical heritage and modernity that flourished the doleful city.
Wesley Hew
A Decorated Shed Structures of modern society, financial institutions built high to maximise its usability displaying the exceptional contrast between the shorter existing buildings. Its height exposing its unornamented sides, only a decorated shed meant to be
viewed from the circulation of the square.
CLOCK TOWER
Medan Pasar
Esther Lau
Evolution of time between architectural context
clock
and
As the clock tower stands tall as a foreground. Where the modernity of architecture
background display a juxtaposition.
For the
geometrical form influence of the cubism reflects the aspiration for contemporaneous. Where the pasts’ interpretation of the future grow in the midst of us.
Hiew Yen Nee
An Unseen Solemnity As the centrepiece of the existing element on the site, the clock tower enhances its formidable history background and showing up the strong contrast between modernity of architectural structures and the historical surrounding context.
Liew Hui En
The Fall of Glory Clock tower was built to commemorate the coronation of King George IV with memorial plaques. In contrast, due to intense aversion towards the British,
memorial plaques were removed to erase the
atrocious history and mark an end to British colonization. Today, the
clock tower remains as a landmark of Medan Pasar
providing an
impression of geometrical art and people often associates the street with this icon.
Wesley Hew
Absence of Meaning This single standing clock tower in the center of the square to monumentalise its history. An empty space on all four sides, the missing plaques telling of its past, in all its magnificence has an absence of meaning.
ACTIVITIES
Medan Pasar
Esther Lau
Benches occupied. Laze around on a bench from head to toe. Resort to using his belongings for a state of physical ease and free from constrains, as he utilized it as a headrest. The safety cone that occupies a space, a solitary man ensconce further down seeks for a pause.
Hiew Yen Nee
The Simplicity of Happiness Simplicity is the essence of happiness. True happiness can often be found in the simplest moments - a 3 years old child was entertaining herself by putting her hands to the water flash due to her curiosity with it, finding fun in simple ways makes the happiest days.
Ch’ng Xing Yue
Of Old and Young A young child was dazzled by the water spouting out from the fountain in front of the iconic symbol of Medan Pasar. The clock tower, erected in 1937, to commemorate the coronation of King George IV.
Liew Hui En
Scenes of history and memory Old Market Square previously known as Hokkien street was famous for more dubious activities such as gambling despite the trading activities. Different time shows the different various scenes of the site. Enlisted by the KL rapid as a major bus hub, Medan Pasar has a constant hectic demeanour during rush hours.
Wesley Hew
A Thousand Words As our society progress and changes, trying to chase the idea of simplification. Technology has made everything so simple that we’ve forgotten the joy of the process. One hopes to capture the beauty and sophistication of the past. After all what is a picture worth?
ORNAMENTS
Medan Pasar
Esther Lau
Ornament define as a decorative item used to make something look attractive Beauty is in the eye of a beholder. Beauty lies at the needs to oneself, as it is not an essential. What is the need of oneself? Is it
through exerting one’s individual by setting himself apart from others? By illustrating his individualism through the expression of filling up space with artwork and tiling.
Hiew Yen Nee
National Elegance A purely decorative element in architecture and the decorative arts. The simplicity of it alleviate the beauty of the element. As
the national flower engraved on the surface of the bench represents the identity and pride of the nation.
Ch’ng Xing Yue
Lost and Found The compass reflects the Heritage Trail project initiated by the Government in 2011 has rejuvenated the abandoned Market Square. In hope that the now found Square will not be lost again .
Liew Hui En
Preserve the history of ornaments Conservation of heritage is important, every decorative elements on the neo-classical faรงade portrays a work of art. Manipulation of the colors add unique flavor to the entire street.
Wesley Hew
Unclothed Ornament The simple addition of decorative ornaments to produce the illusion of sophistication on something bare. The illusion is broken by a single missing ornament, an exposed light post stand as a singularity amongst the other embellished posts.
SPACE OF SQUARE
Medan Pasar
Esther Lau
Algorithm of scaffoldings aligned Repetition of scaffoldings structure erected. Where the skeletal structure resides, waiting for an event to happen. Rows of occurrences, arranged for the functions are held weekly, as the square acts as a communal space. Creating interaction between cultural walks.
Hiew Yen Nee
Towards the Space of Linearity A single perspective view of the linear pattern on the square, enlarges the space of the site. The linearity of it shows out
the continuity of the space from beginning to the end which especially focuses on the clock tower in the middle and act as a guide.
Ch’ng Xing Yue
Fraction of Time vs. Decades The crystallized water framed by the camera, capturing the moment
of the iconic clock tower and the fountain at noon. Having stood the test of time, the clock tower has seen the rise and fall of the Market Square from the original banking and shopping hub to its revival as a heritage spot now.
Liew Hui En
Adaptations: changes through time Market square is an European town feature that was brought in through British colonization. Although Medan Pasar no longer plays host to the city’s busiest market it is still buzzling with activities. In the midst of busyness, the street also acts as a gathering place of leisure unlike the its heavily commercialized surroundings.
Wesley Hew
A Space Define Where There Is None The shadows of the structures cast the surface across the square. The silhouette portrays the features,
height and the light pouring through fenestrations and over the rooftops.
PEOPLE
Medan Pasar
Esther Lau
Garments left. Waste left. Unrecognized Beauty Remains left, as the rain drenches the site. Hidden beneath the vegetation used as a mask to conceal the
eye sore. Picturesque image of site ruined, leaving behind the remains of visitor forgotten. The occupants leaves the site leaving no worries behind but orts.
Hiew Yen Nee
Filling In The Spaces The importance of giving people the choice to sit where they want is generally underestimated. When the space works well, it serves as a stage for our public lives. We can judge the accessibility of a place by its connections to its surroundings, both visual and physical.
Ch’ng Xing Yue
Interaction of strangers Two dads, strangers mere minutes ago, brought together by their children who made friends with one another looking pass the boundaries of race and social standing. All on the square in front of the Pacific Express Hotel that stood in the shadow of the old Hong Kong Bank.
Liew Hui En
Progression of life Every walk on Medan Pasar is a reality of the moment. People pass through this street without any engagement to its history. In this modern era, society is ignorant to the past which called as norm to progress through life.
Wesley Hew
Good Old Days As an open space to the public, it sees many faces over the years. The idea of simpler times when people weren't so preoccupied with their hectic lives enough to enjoy what’s around them. A distinction from the site to its surroundings of busy men in suits with fancy cars and technology.
SURROUNDING CONTEXT Medan Pasar
Esther Lau
Divergent between borders. Left or right, the square diverged. Where major circulate leads towards the square. Enforcing interaction within the stretch of routes. As vehicles lack the means of passing through the site, the barriers stand ground as a buffer between spaces.
Hiew Yen Nee
Sense of Tranquility and Serenity The path to site, full of strong communication of historicism. Masjid Jamek is one of the oldest mosque standing in Kuala Lumpur, providing a sense of tranquillity and serenity which heightens the solemn of this building in term of its historical background and influences.
Ch’ng Xing Yue
The everyday traffic Intercrossing of human and motorcyclists cutting through the stream of cars, a common scene in the bustling city center.
Ch’ng Xing Yue
Slowly Forgotten The entrance of Medan Pasar is one of the many bus stops in Kuala Lumpur, with never ending buses that seem to drown the view to and from site. The Art Deco style of OCBC Bank building designed by A. O. Coltman in 1938. Rushing passer-by rarely give a good look at these elegant buildings.
Liew Hui En
Connection of history to geography Klang river flows through Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and to the straits of Malacca. This river contributes in the prevention of flash flooding in Kuala Lumpur that Medan Pasar is situated besides. The Ministry of Federal Territories have a master plan in transforming this into a river of life to express the importance of the potential heritage.
Wesley Hew
Time Waits For No Man Once a place accessible by vehicles, now converted into a public square where all could walked through. A heritage preserved in a city of buildings reaching to the sky. It is as if time itself has halted in this street for any to experience or create an experience.
UNIQUE FEATURES
Medan Pasar
Esther Lau
Decorative piece, nature, waste, clock tower Medan Pasar used to be a space between crossroads. Striving to establish high class attractions to increase tourism revenue and enhance overall appeal of the city, by beautifying Medan Pasar. Enhancing the square, paving it, enriching it, to an appropriate fit.
Hiew Yen Nee
Green Shed Utilising nature as a shading device into the shop houses heightens the relationship of post-modern features and the contemporary elements. By beautifying it with a variety of greenery to fill in the void.
Ch’ng Xing Yue
Directions? Quoting from Hassan Fathi, “To be a stranger in your house is the worst type of stranger.” The rapid development of Kuala Lumpur
has affected the architecture of the city through the globalization of building styles.
Liew Hui En
Uncommon space of a dense city Medan Pasar is a site compact with many different architectural languages. The merging of these languages provides an interconnection of new and old to create an space that provides a mixture of experiences.
Wesley Hew
Elegance Unseen A separation of perspective of the past and the present. The building built to have two aesthetically pleasing faces, now the back becomes but an alley facing away from the eye of many but the observant who are willing to look behind the faรงade.
INTERPRETATION OF SITE Medan Pasar
Esther Lau
A Piece Left Behind The sopping annotated cardboard piece left on the floor, left forgotten. As the writer’s effort of annotation remains, where it was
left damp. In the background, the bus and the surroundings resume their activities. Interpreting the site as it once was flourish with careful detailing, is now being forgotten. Now paved with immigrants.
Hiew Yen Nee
The Junction The apparent of the modernity of the surrounding background heighten the simplicity and historical culture and background of the site. The junction of the road carries out the interaction of the people to the site.
Ch’ng Xing Yue
Concrete Jungle A Heritage Walk meant for its preservation, has lost its way in that the tall massive concrete structure juxtapose the traditional shop houses besides them redefining the context of space but in return losing its identity.
Liew Hui En
Brevity of life As an overview of the development of Medan Pasar through the years, only first hand users can have strong relation to the progression of space. They were the ones who had experienced the glory and fall of Medan Pasar. Their thought about this street remained as a memory that can never be forgotten.
Wesley Hew
What Story Could A Chair Tell? Back when a community would be acquaintances with one another, people would sit at these stores for hours with their friends and families. The shop owner would have sat outside early in the morning awaiting his friends not just his customers. Times have change and so have people as well the role of the spaces. Although the purpose of the square has seen different times, be it good or bad. Change is Inevitable.