HERITAGE CONSERVATION: THEORIES, PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE (ARC61104)
Syarikat Adik Beradik Wah Seng Heritage and Conservation Proposal
Name: Athira Syifa | ID: 0332447 | Tutor: Ms. Delliya Zain
Scope of the Project: ●
This project requires us to prepare a Heritage and Conservation Proposal Report on a given heritage building in Jalan Stesen 1, Klang, Selangor.
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When proposing the report, we were instructed to refer to the ICOMOS Charter — Principles for the Analysis, Conservation and Structural Restoration of Architectural Heritage — 2003 document.
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We were to identify key principles and theories that have shaped the current area and to find out the problems regarding the area of heritage and conservation. Using the data extracted from the allocated building, we were to propose a conservation approach or conclude solution(s) of the external facade and the adjacent surrounding.
Goals and Objectives: Main goal is to conserve the legacy that this shop has achieve throughout its history by preserving the elements that has become a “place” to some locals.
1. The Site
1.1 Location: â—?
Klang:
Figure 1.1
1.2 Historical Background: Klang â—?
Klang: As the Klang river gave life to nearby settlements by providing livelihood to the individuals, business rapidly started to grow. One of the prominent economy was from the tin mining businesses. Because of these industries, the town of Klang had formed and soon the westerns caught their attraction. The attention from the west gave Klang further expansion and thus a variety of architectural styles were introduced to this town. 1.2.1 Events include: 1867 - Klang War 1874 - End of the Klang War 1875 - Warehouse for Raja Abdullah, the ďŹ rst Malay tin mining pioneer 1886 - Completion of Klang Valley Railway 1890 - Completion of Klang Railway Station 1895 - Administrations were formed
1.3 Location: â—?
Jalan Stesen:
Figure 1.3
1.4 Historical Background: Jalan Stesen ●
Jalan Stesen: The site is situated in Jalan Stesen, where it got its name because of its street intersecting with the Klang Railway Station. As response from the construction of the railway station, this has caused an economic growth where aspiring companies and businessmen propose to invest their work in as this railway station became one of the main transportation hub to many, attracting a lot more customers; especially people using the newly built station where they go to work, or go back to their houses. 1.4.1 Events include: 1930 - Civil war between communities, was called the ‘Malay Street’ 1941 - Japanese invasion, was called the ‘Japanese Street’ 1950 - Transformed into a major food street, was called ‘Wai Sek Gai’ 1980 - Completion of the Klang Bridge
1.5 Surrounding Context:
Figure 1.5
1.6 Historical Background: Adik Beradik Wah Seng ●
Adik Beradik Wah Seng: The building we were allocated to is called Syarikat Adik Beradik Wah Seng (Syarikat Wah Seng Brothers). Opened since 1915, this shop sells watches and clocks, and is known for repairing a wide variety of antique clocks that most of the shops in this present day does not offer. 1.6.1 Events include: 1915 - Shop opened by owner’s father 1941 - Owners fled Klang to escape from the Japanese invasion 1945 - Came back to restart their father’s shop 1950s - Because of the food street, their business grew 1963 - They started to repair watches for the Sultan of Selangor 1980 - The completion of the Klang Bridge affected their business 2005 - A fire broke out from the neighbouring shop which affected them
Figure 1.6
1.6.2 Owners: â—?
Adik Beradik Wah Seng: The business is currently managed by Mr. Robert Lee; who came from the third generation. Mr. Lee Lai Choy; who's his uncle, also works with him to manage the store, he is the second generation of the Wah Sang Brothers.
1.6.3 Users: Ever since the 1950s, their business grew as Jalan Stesen became a famous food street, this attracted a lot of customers to their shop, and during those years clocks and wearing analogue watches were a trend in Klang. The construction of the Klang Bridge in 1980 affected their business. A lot of people moved to the new city centre and businesses were neglected in Jalan Stesen and the surrounding streets. Sadly, now most people rarely go to clock repair shops as one reason could be that smart watches are slowly becoming common for users. Thus the business is slowly deteriorating.
1.6.4 Function: Past: At that time in 1930, the shophouse was shared with a noodle factory in the center. In 1945, the shophouse was also shared with a writer, to which the individual took up the right side of the entrance, which was adjacent to the owner’s workspace. Soon a dentistry came in. Current: The first floor is where the business sells clocks and watches, and they also provide repairments for antique clocks which most shops do not these days. Second floor is where the owners stay to rest. Future: When talking about what the future of this business, Robert Lee claimed that he does not have the intention to pass the business down to his children. He proposed to turn this business into a workshop for those individuals who are interested in learning how to fix and repair watches, even gramophones for those who are keen on keeping any antiques. But if the business would take a different turn, then he would consider giving away the building to any tenants with aspiring businesses.
1.6.5 Cultural Context: The shop itself is a rare find in today's society where, watch repairman and technician is slowly become more hard to find within malaysia due to technology advancement. Each timepiece produced by him breathes an certain life into his work, in this small town. As time pass by the shop had slowly became a time capsule storing all the pieces he had possessed. The antiques such as old wooden clocks and furnitures that never been moved for the past decades, as if the store it self had been frozen in time of its height.
1.6.6 Significant Value: The Wah Seng Brothers were known to the local community as ‘THE’ watch shop, where once your watch, clock, or even gramophone is broken, you could just walk to them and have a friendly chat while they fix your broken item. The spirit of the shop still lingers once you look at the entrance where most of the walls are hanged with clocks, and the glass displays exhibits watches. Watching the owners tinker and fix watched takes you back to the 60s, especially glancing at their rustic looking equipments being used by their steady hands. This shop has went through, from a newly rented shop, to the Japanese occupation, to the Sultan’s arrival, to the fire and to the present. Sadly this generation does not use as much analogue watched compared to the past, but we as the future generation must always remember this shop as they were one of the oldest business that helped the growth of the economy, especially for the local community.
2. The Shophouse
2.1 Architecture Style: Characteristics: ● ● ● ●
Figure 2.2 Figure 2.1
Low overall height 2 storeys with very minimal plaster ornamentations Locally sourced construction materials Front windows on the facade are usually made of wood with wooden louvres.
2.2 Elements of a Shophouse:
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Figure 2.3
Comfort, convenience, and practicality to the users living and creating income. They are efficient when it comes to separating business and personal life. Flexible usage of space, as the spaces within time will change depending on the usage and owner. Create a guideline for a successful building design in terms of climate adaption, and user interaction. Provides good ventilation and accessibility to the usage of space.
2.3 Materials and Construction: 2.3.1 Flooring:
Figure 2.4
CONCRETE: Raw concrete ooring can be seen at the front entrance of the shop, integrated as part of the ďŹ ve-foot walkway where the public utilise it. The front shop part is also made of concrete. Concrete is not the main material used as back then using concrete was more expensive, using wood and bricks were used instead.
Figure 2.5
CERAMIC TILES: The ceramic tiles are located in the middle and rear portion of the shophouse. It was used as back then in 1930 the shophouse made a noodle factory in the middle section of the shophouse.
2.3 Materials and Construction: 2.3.2 Walls:
Figure 2.6
CLAY BRICKS: The walls all over the shophouse are load bearing walls. Bricks are covered in cement and paint, they are to protect the users from any strong winds, heat, and rain, and to provide privacy, shelter, and security. Using bricks was common back then as it was the most reliable method of construction in terms of access and price.
Figure 2.7
PAINT: Paint is used as a protective layer for the building from weathering, and also helps to making it waterproof, and increase surface durability.
2.3 Materials and Construction: 2.3.3 Windows:
2.3.4 Columns:
Figure 2.8
LOUVRE WINDOWS: The Wah Seng used louvre windows as the glass is translucent, it provides privacy and allows light to pass through to the interior. The louvre windows also provide ventilation by allowing wind to pass through the slits and this cools down the interior. The slits also provides a subtle lighting to the interior, this increases its ambience.
Figure 2.9
CLAY BRICKS: Columns are seen throughout the shophouse, they are extended all the way to the roof. They are to distribute weight from above to the structural elements below. The use of bricks was implemented for the columns as they were a common material, was relatively cost effective, and they were easy to use.
2.3 Materials and Construction: 2.3.6 Roofing:
2.3.5 Ceiling:
Figure 2.10
Figure 2.11
PLASTERBOARDS: The ceilings for the first and second floors are made of plasterboards as it is one of the most common material for constructing ceilings. It is easy to maintain and install, and durable. The use of the plasterboards helped the shophouse during the 2005 fire tragedy as it withstood the fire, thus preventing more damages from spreading quickly.
CORRUGATED METAL: The roof used corrugated metal, the corrugated surface is designed to let rain water flow and also provides a cooling effect to the interior. The mteal is also has a resistance to rotting, thus is became durable and is easy to maintain. The use of this material gives an advantage to the users as it adapts to Malaysia’s humid climate.
3. Investigation and Diagnosis
3.1 Dilapidation Survey: ELEMENT
CONDITION
ACTION REQUIRED
Dirty Full of dust
Clean Use a water pressure
Worn-out paint
Repaint
Figure 3.1
Ceramic tiles
Figure 3.2
Concrete floor
3.1 Dilapidation Survey: ELEMENT
CONDITION
ACTION REQUIRED
Chipped paint Efflorescence
Repair Repaint
Worn-out Weathered
Replace
Figure 3.3
Interior column
Figure 3.4
Wooden counter
3.1 Dilapidation Survey: ELEMENT
CONDITION
ACTION REQUIRED
Crack
Repair Repaint
Water stains
Clean Repair Repaint
Figure 3.5
Exterior wall
Figure 3.6
Ceiling
3.1 Dilapidation Survey: ELEMENT
CONDITION
ACTION REQUIRED
Chipped paint Efflorescence
Repair Repaint
Rust on wall
Repair Repaint
Figure 3.7
Interior wall
Figure 3.8
Interior walls
3.1 Dilapidation Survey: ELEMENT
CONDITION
ACTION REQUIRED
Rust Worn-out paint
Clean Repair Repaint
Expose on the facade
Hide wire work
Figure 3.9
Shop shutter
Wires
Figure 3.10
3.1 Dilapidation Survey: ELEMENT
CONDITION
ACTION REQUIRED
Chipped paint Efflorescence
Repair Repaint
Detached Bent
Replace Reattach
Figure 3.11
Column
Figure 3.12
Roof tile
3.1 Dilapidation Survey: ELEMENT
CONDITION
ACTION REQUIRED
Chipped paint Efflorescence
Repair Repaint
Detached Bent
Replace Reattach
Figure 3.11
Column
Figure 3.12
Roof tile
3.2 Remedial Measurements: After investigating the defects, it is essential to know the reason for the damage as mentioned by ICOMOS Charter 2003 2.6 Before making a decision on structural intervention it is indispensable to determine first the causes of damage and decay, and then to evaluate the safety level of the structure. Cause of most of the defects were due to the climate, it is constantly hot and humid. Weathering and corrosion of materials will deteriorate the significant elements. Thus frequent maintenance is needed as they lack on it.
When knowing the reason, it will inform us on methods that could prevent the defects as it follows ICOMOS Charter 2003 3.2 The best therapy is preventive maintenance. Trying to prevent or decrease the rate of deterioration will save a lot of time, money, and energy to the users. But when climate plays a role, prevention is might be hard to achieve. Things to consider could include: ● Using a better paint that can withstand weathering. ● Fixing any water leakage to prevent water stains. ● Cleaning the area.
4. Evaluations
4.1 Facade:
● Figure 4.2
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Figure 4.3
Figure 4.4
Figure 4.1
Figure 4.5
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Overall structure is preserved, no major defects eg exposed bricks. Ever since the owners renovate, the fixed the defects caused by the 2005 fire. Over time, the facade was not well maintained thus caused cracks on walls, Chippings of paint, Efflorescence, Roof tile detachment, Poor wiring arrangements. The paint lost its vibrancy from weathering.
4.2 5 Foot Walkway:
● Figure 4.7
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Figure 4.8
Figure 4.9
Figure 4.6
Figure 4.10
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Overall looks more cleaner than the facade, as its covered from the heat and rain. Structure seems well preserved, no major deformation. Some defects like rust from the metal shutters, Chipped paint of columns, Efflorescence, Exposed wires, Worn-out paint of the concrete floor.
4.3 Entrance:
● Figure 4.12
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Figure 4.13
Figure 4.14
Figure 4.11
Figure 4.15
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Overall entrance stricture seems well preserved. Interior looks like its been the same since the 60s. Main problem would be the rust on the wall that is in close proximity to metal, Water stains on ceilings, Chipped of paint, Efflorescence, Worn-out wooden counter.
5. Design Proposal Guideline
5.1 Conservation and Preservation: ● ● ●
To conservation and preserve the Adik Beradik Wah Seng as they have come a long way ever since they first opened in 1915. The shop has been through the Japanese occupation, major street transformations, and visits from the Sultan of Selangor. This business has helped shaped the economy of the present Klang, and as one of the earliest shophouse style that is hard to find today.
5.2 Treatments: Conservations could be carried out by:
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Figure 5.1
Filling up any cracks to restore walls. Removing paint chippings and repainting it. Fixing the roof tiles and consider to replace the material with a stronger resistance to weathering.
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Figure 5.2
Performing a total wire rework to hide exposing wires. Galvanising metals to withstand corrosion and rusting of other materials. Repainting worn-out concrete floors.
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Figure 5.3
Applying a barrier to prevent water stains from appearing. Treating any efflorescence effected elements. Using paint that can help withstand humidity.
5.3 Conclusion: By conserving this shophouse, it informs people about the transformation Klang-- especially Jalan Steten went through from the tin mining industries, up until this day. To some locals, this shophouse has a sense of place for them, when they go inside they are introduced to a variety of clocks hanging on the walls, and displayed on the counter, it gives them a nostalgic feeling of going back to the olden days. It has antique clocks that are not widely available to the public, has stories about them being close to the Sultan. Even if the owners would stop their business, the shophouse could still be preserved as a workshop or museum. It is to be noted that when developing close to a historical area, users must consider how the circulation will be affected. As referred to 1.1 Conservation, reinforcement and restoration of architectural heritage requires a multi-disciplinary approach, from studying about how the Klang Bridge diverted most of the people away from Jalan Stesen, affecting business there.