JALAN TUN H. S. LEE
Copyright © 2015. All right reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproducedor use in any manner without express written permission of the editor except for the use of brief quotation in a book review. Christine Yeap Zhe Xing Chuah Say Yin Lim Wai Ming Ng Wei Ying Wang Pui Yee
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Asian Architecture (ARC 2234) Project 2: Documentation Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, Kuala Lumpur Taylor’s Lakeside University School of Architecture, Building and Design. (SABD)
CONTENT Introduction Street Map Architecture Architectural Element Culture Human Activity
INTRODUCTION Jalan Tun H.S Lee was formerly known as High Street and was later named as Jalan Bandar. Then, it was renamed in the honour of the first finance minister of Malaysia, Colonel Tun Sir Henry Lee Hau Shik. It is a street of heritage, with pre-war shophouses, Hindu Temple named Sri Maha Mariamman Temple and Chinese temples which consists of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple and Guan Di Temple. Besides, Lee Lam Thye Wet Market is also well preserved despite being in the middle of the busy street.
STREET MAP
SHOPHOUSE
ART DECO
CHINESE ARCHIT
The style of shophouse at Jalan Tun H.S. Lee is first transitional shophouse. These shophouse have simple designs, structures and the elements of the buildings such as windows, doors and vents are usually formed in simple shapes. Besides, traditional shophouses facade ornamentation draws inspiration from the Chinese, Malay and European traditions. European Neo-classical motifs include egg-and-dart moldings and ionic or Corinthian capitals can be seen on decorative pilasters. From the Malay building tradition, elaborate woodwork has been borrowed in the form of carved panels. Fascia boards, louvers, screens and fretwork. Moreover, they are also influenced from Chinese mythological motifs. Finally, there are a variety of colors used in their facade decoration. Traditionally, many shophouses would have been plastered an off-white colour. Other popular early colors were indigo and ochre, given the range of available pigments.
Lee Rubber building is one of the most important Art Deco building in the street. Its feature is showing the common urban art deco building with flat roof that has no cornices and overhang. The discrete horizontal ‘banding’ on the exterior facade and the spandrels in Fauvist colors are the significant of Art Deco building. The windows above the Deco accents are of metal muntins, also in the Deco style. Art Deco spandrels accentuate the space between the top of the window in one story and the sill of the window in the story above. Fluted pilasters halfway up the wall hold up an entablature with fluted rectangular motifs. The narrow windows, considering the full surface of the walls, are characteristic of Art Deco buildings of that era.
Sin Sze Si Ya temple wh Chinese architectural st Kapitan Yap Ah Loy in y that the deities has gui Kuala Lumpur during th 1870-1873. Guan Di Tem known as Kwong Siew Taoist architectural tem Chinese lions as protec defend from negative e pedestals guard at the temple. Moreover, Lee which connects to the P has Chinese influences structure is also preserv
TECTURE
HINDU ARCHITECTURE
hich has significant tyle was founded by year 1864. It is said ided him to defend he civil war dated mple which is also Free School is a mple. Two stone ctive symbols to energy stand on the entrance of the Lam Thye Wet Market Petaling Street and from the design of its ved until today.
The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple built in 1873 is of Dravidian architecture that shows the Hindu architecture. The most important charactertistic is the 5-tiered gopuram (tower). It is the tallest structure in the temple. Besides, it is sculpted with depictions of Hindu gods by artisans from southern India.
ARCHITECTURE
DIVERSITY From Neo-classical, Straits Chinese Eclectic, Art Nouveau to Post Modernism, various architectural styles of the shop houses and commercial buildings graced along Jalan Tun H. S. Lee, forming an architectural and culturally diverse identity. Ng Wei Ying’s Photography
OUTSTANDING The architecture of the building with ribbons of windows running on its facade as well as words written on the horizontal balcony make the building seems old and aging. It stands out at the busy intersection of the street. Lim Wai Ming’s photography
GUAN DI TEMPLE This Taoist architecture style temple is rich with its history and culture. This temple is easily recognized by its bright red façade and colorful use of idols and dragon sculptures. The bronze and gold dragons on the left and right pillars symbolizing protections to the building. Lim Wai Ming’s Photography
GATEAWAY The front entrance of the hawker street features a gateway with red pillars, of which the color symbolize prosperity and good fortune. The Dou Gong design act as an ornament which symbolizes the Chinese architecture construction. Lim Wai Ming’s Photography
INTEGRATION Shop houses with dentils on the pediment show the significant feature of Neo-classical architecture. Lim Wai Ming’s Photography
ABANDONED The eclectics style shophouse was abandoned but still showing the beauty of a mixture of different architecture styles by having plaster arches with central keystones and full length louvered window. Wang Pui Yee’s Photography
HORINZONTALITY AND VERTICALITY A row of narrow windows on the facade of Lee Rubber Building shows the Art Deco Style. Wang Pui Yee’s Photography
REFLECTION Architecture style of a building is a reflection of the history of the building and the place. Wang Pui Yee’s Photography
SEQUENCE The geometric element of the façade is arranged to highlight the verticality and horizontality of the building where elements are parallel to each other. Christine Yeap Zhe Xing’s Photography
ATTENTION GRABBING The gopuram which stands five tiers high and the impressive detailing of Hindu dieties on the façade grab people attention at the first sight. Lim Wai Ming’s Photography
STRENGTH AND POWER The shikhara of the hindu temple is craved delicately with the sculptures of their deities. It is built upwards and together with its distinctive cravings, it ascends up to the sky as a divine and powerful figure in the street. Chuah Say Yin’s Photography
BEIGE WASHED Piercing through the blue sky with its symmetrical facade, the largest Neo-classical influenced building in Jalan Tun H.S. Lee currently houses the Public Bank. Ng Wei Ying’s Photography
ENCAGED Silently withdrawing itself from the pedestrian milled five foot way, this 3 storey Art Deco influenced shop house is inset deeply in between the row of shop houses in Jalan Tun H. S. Lee. Vertical sun shading fins that masked themselves on the facade of the building give off an aloof and intimidating vibe to the pedestrians. Ng Wei Ying’s Photography
FOREIGN Shop houses are influenced by Dutch decorative, for example the Dutch gable wall and rectangular window on the first floor. Christine Yeap Zhe Xing’s Photography
LONELINESS Tall concrete building of postmodernism is soaring up into the dark night sky, which provokes the atmosphere of solemnity and loneliness. Chuah Say Yin’s photography
THE GAP OF TIME Two buildings from different era are positioned directly opposite and communicate with each other. The darkness of the sky that filled up the gap is the metaphor that they are both carrying very different architectural identity of the past, one being an art deco building whereas the other having an egg crate façade. Yet, the ray of light metaphorically connects them together through the stories they went through. Chuah Say Yin’s photography
WAY OF LIFE A murder of crows in city may be unsightly, but with one spreading it’s wings wide and soaring towards the sky celebrates the glory of life and spirit of the streets Ng Wei Ying’s photography
CONTRAST The traditional Chinese temple is sitting side by side to a modern building and showing the contrast of simplicity and complexity. Wang Pui Yee’s photography
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENCE Two distinctive building with very different architecture style is constructed next to each other on the street. One carries the characteristics of being a Chinese temple, whereas the other one is a Neo-classical shop house which reflect the historical colonial era of the country. Chuah Say Yin’s photography
DISTINCTIVE
Two Neo-classical shop houses are distinguished by its color to mark out activity and inactivity. Lim Wai Ming’s Photography
FIVE-FOOT-WAY The set back at the front of the shophouses was not only a sheltered walkway provided to shade the pedestrians, but were often occupied with gunnysacks, goats and cows back in the time. Chuah Say Yin’s photography
ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS
THE HOLE The hole in the roof allows light penetrates in and create a stack effect in the building to bring out smokes. Lim Wai Ming’s Photography
IDENTITY A steel construction of the roof with that of the pattern resembles Dou Gong which was used in the ancient Chinese construction. This is a modern interpretation of the element which tries to remain its Chinese identity. Chuah Say Yin’s photography
INFLUENCES The pattern of the gate for this shophouse shows the architecture in this street was influenced by Chinese in the past whereas the material used shows the European influences. Wang Pui Yee’s photography
BRISE SOLEIL Façade of building being covered up by repeating geometrical designs also serves as a partial shade for inhabitants inside. Lim Wai Ming’s Photography
CARVINGS The detailed cravings of Chinese traditional patterns and floral patterns is done intricately to portray Chinese culture in the temple. Chuah Say Yin’s photography
SHADING DEVICE The building of the 70s was having the trend of using egg crates as the façade of the building which at the same time acts as a shading device. However, this building has combined both the use of egg crates and patterned screening to shade the building in their own way. Chuah Say Yin’s photography
TRADITIONAL SHOPHOUSE Metal collapsible door used in the shop, together with the patterned mosaic tiles covering the floor and arch at each end of the arcade are giving the shop the identity of being an old shophouse. Although the white small tiles on the wall is trying to protect the shop from the age of time, the architecture and design never fail to provoke its aura of being part of the history of the street. Chuah Say Yin’s photography
BREATHING THE BREEZE Chinese ventilation block is serving with practical purposes as well as decorating the building. It is influence from Chinese architectural style and often used in Asian home, especially at humid area. Lim Wai Ming’s Photography
EXISTENCE Transformation on the appearance of material tells the period of time it had gone through to get that texture Christine Yeap Zhe Xing’s photography
MODESTY The dangling coiled incense on the beam strongly suggest the spiritual dwelling of the Guan Di Temple. The wrought iron lattice screen and the column and beam system of the temple exhibit traditional Chinese Architecture elements. Ng Wei Ying’s photography
ENLIGHTENMENT A series of clerestory windows flanked around the main altar hall of the Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. These clerestory windows successfully bring in diffused light which further enhance the spiritual mood of the temple and fulfills the believers who seeks for enlightenment within these walls. Ng Wei Ying’s photography
HISTORY Intricate carvings of abstracted human form were portrays to instruct people in truths of Hindu Buddhist and Jain religions Christine Yeap Zhe Xing’s photography
AISLE OF VIVID COLOURS A series of floral engraved columns flanked along the Mandapa of the Sri Mahamariamman Temple. The floral motifs suggests influence from the Art Nouveau period whereas the vivid use of various colours reflects the Indian culture. Ng Wei Ying’s photography
CARVINGS Indian rock cut architecture are often use in the early cave temples. They are adorned with exquisite nature inspired stone carvings. Christine Yeap Zhe Xing’s photography
HISTORY AND CULTURE The oldest shophouses can be found on the street and dated back to mid-1880s. Wooden and attap traditional houses were rebuilt with bricks by Kapitan Yap Ah Loy as instructed by Frank Swettenham after the massive fire of Kuala Lumpur in 1881. These building carries the identity of the past and reflect the traditional style of colonial era of Malaysia. This type of buildings acquire the name of shophouses, due to the typical lifestyle which the occupants work downstairs and live upstairs. Furthermore, the front of the building is typically set back two to three times its width and this is known as “five foot way”. In the earlier times, these covered walkway was often occupied by cows, goat, and gunnysacks. Whereas the back of the shophouses is left with a lane which was required by town planner for bullock-cart to collect sewerage and access of fire brigade in case of fire. Some of the shophouses have open courtyard that allows ventilation and natural daylighting. Besides, there are also Chinese influences in the street with some of the façade installed with Feng Shui mirrors. Other than that, Bangunan Lee Rubber was once the headquarters of the Japanese Secret Police (Kempeitai) in Kuala Lumpur during world war II. The Sri Mahamariamman Temple is the oldest functioning Hindu temple in Malaysia. The temple was originally sited somewhere near the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and shifted to Jalan Tun H.S. Lee in 1885. The initial attap structure was demolished in 1887 and a brick building was erected in its place. It was demolished to make way for the current temple building which were completed in 1968.
CULTURE
CHINESE Temple is the best place where people can explore Chinese culture and Chinese architecture. Wang Pui Yee’s photography
BELIEFS Traditional beliefs are to be passed down to the younger generation so it does not lose the beauty of it. Christine Yeap Zhe Xing’s photography
WALL SCREENING The dragon, often associated with power and majesty among the Chinese community, is believed to bring magical energy to the people and residents and temples alike. Courage, creativity and success are also believed to be brought by this magical creature. Besides, it symbolizes Guan Gong as a brave and loyal figure. Lim Wai Ming’s photography
RESPECT Bright red coloured cups with auspicious writing used to serve the ancestors instead of using any simple cups. Christine Yeap Zhe Xing’s photography
RELIGION The joss sticks are burning slowly and produce smokes that ascend up to the sky in the open courtyard. It a religion practice to pray using joss sticks in the temple. Chuah Say Yin’s photography
OFFERINGS Burning incense are often seen in the Chinese culture especially during ceremonies. They are religious offerings to the ancestor or deities Christine Yeap Zhe Xing’s photography
SYMBOLISM These vibrant colour flowers represent diversity, liveliness and generosity providing a rich cultural fragrance and value. Christine Yeap Zhe Xing’s photography
CULTURAL HARMONY Different races, cultures and religions were never a problem to achieve harmony here. Wang Pui Yee’s photography
AGING The aged column and letter box shows how old Jalan Tun H. S Lee is. Wang Pui Yee’s photography
AT THE CROSSROADS
Hustle bustle at its peak at the juncture between Jalan Tun H. S. Lee and Petaling Street. It is a union between florist business district and the Chinatown where the locals, tourists and foreign workers loomed around ceaselessly, struggling to make progress against the throngs of vehicles and pedestrians. Ng Wei Ying’s photography
HUMAN ACTIVITY It is visible in Jalan Tun H. S. Lee that some of the shops are still running this old trades. For example, Restaurant Hong Ngek is still running their business although it is almost 80 years now. Besides, the street has been a center for the traditional florists for decades and this business is still continuing until today. Other than that, many are selling flowers along the intersection lane near to the Hindu temple.
HUMAN ACTIVITY
FOOD Sin Kiew Yee is a restaurant which has a long history and many locals and foreigners still eating here today. Wang Pui Yee’s photography
A HOLY UNION The vibrant colours of the Sarees and scattered floral petals celebrates the toast to joy and love of a holy union between a Hindu couple in the Chaitya of the Sri Mahamariamman Temple. Ng Wei Ying’s photography
CRAFT Indian flower garland used in weddings as a medium to secure feelings an emotions like how the thread never leaves the flower. Christine Yeap Zhe Xing’s photography
WISH It is said that by hitting the bell, your wish will come true but you can only hit once. Wang Pui Yee’s Photography
SPIRITUAL RELIEF A believer is seen to be fulfilling his spiritual relief by placing the candle on the candle holder after praying intently at the altar. Ng Wei Ying’’s Photography