AN INCREASING number of derelict buildings in the Klang Valley are getting a new lease of life and are being transformed into chic establishments that attract trendy urbanites.
As urban regeneration finally gains traction, these dilapidated structures are having new life breathed into them through adaptive reuse.
“Adaptive reuse” refers to the process of repurposing old buildings for modern needs while retaining their historical value. It is regarded as an effective way to minimise urban sprawl, conserve existing resources and, most importantly, preserve built heritage.
Lately, it has become fashionable for consumers – bloggers and Instagrammers, especially – to spread the word whenever they come across a new place that has been converted from an old factory, house, hostel, brothel ... you name it.
These “rescued” buildings continue to excite people as each of them has not just a rich story to tell, but is an example of creativity in space usage and ingenuity in business management.
New solutions
Chocha Foodstore in Petaling Street is one example.
The shop gives consumers an experience way beyond just the food and coffee it offers. Pushing open a new glass door fashionably fixed onto the original facade, one can almost feel the years that this former brothel has witnessed.
While its spiral staircase, leafy courtyard and old wooden ceiling are a sight to behold, the magic is really in the untouched yellowed tiles and eroded walls. They give off a heady sense of nostalgia.
Best of all, in this fully air-conditioned environment filled with the aroma of coffee, the building’s old features are fused with the modern.
Joining Chocha in an attempt to bring back Petaling Street’s glory days are Merchant’s Lane, Leaf & Co Cafe, and PS150 – all food and beverage (F&B) outlets housed in century-old shophouses.
But the challenges the proprietors take on can be considerable – the high rent from being in a prime location being one.
Architect and conservation activist Teoh Chee Keong lauds Chocha’s solution: the cafe also houses design firms, start-ups, a speakeasy bar and a bicycle workshop, to share out the rent.
“This is creative sustainable living. While sharing out the costs, you also engage like-minded people to build an eco-system together,” he said.
He cited a Japanese example of using a train service to disseminate food vouchers to draw commuters into regenerated areas.
Many shy away from old buildings because of the higher costs involved, and most contractors shun them due to the complexity. Thankfully, designers have found novel ways to address these problems.
Chocha’s designers used the removable “H”-beams to support the structure. Old materials, especially beams and tiles, were salvaged through repositioning. Surfaces were kept raw for that old-school charm. Meshes and wood sheets were among the cheaper materials used, and they still blend in well.
“The building is preserved, and one can still be as creative as desired with the interior. I brought several Singaporean architects here, and they were stunned by the beauty,” Teo said.
He noted that building conservation should be done with sensitivity on a case-by-case basis, with consideration given to site, demography, culture and lifestyle.
“We must respect the area and its people. This is often compromised in developing countries,” he said, citing the Penang and Malacca heritage zones, where buildings are conserved but lose their appeal as locals move out due to rising rent.
He said the best approach would be to care for the buildings while keeping interference minimal.
“Let the ecosystem take shape by itself,” he said.
Passion and commitment
Over at Lorong Raja Chulan, near the foot of KL Tower, a row of almost century-old houses – which once housed colonials, military officers and later Eurasians – have come back to life after years of neglect.
Now one of the hippest dining enclaves in town, it comprises seven eateries with individual concepts but all echoing the heritage of Malaysia.
A complex of F&B destinations, Old Malaya has painstakingly preserve over 80% of the original structure under the stewardship of Datuk Syed Mustaffa Shahabuddin and friend Kana Theva.
It had been Syed Mustaffa’s dream for more than 15 years to save this landmark, and he has more dreams still.
“Our ambition in the future would be to expand the heritage concept across Malaysia. We would like to revive and relive the historical moments through the creation of restaurants and bars in the style of yesteryear,” said Old Malaya public relations officer Wayne Joseph.
The team of architects from Space Fighters even interviewed former residents and visited Badan Warisan before working on Old Malaya. They also felt lucky to have engaged conservation expert Kentsley Construction.
Wooden beams and rafters, louvred windows, door frames, staircases were among the original materials reused, while metal “I”-beams and cornices replicated with fibreglass were used to ensure the structures met modern building safety requirements.
Architect Syakir Mahadzir was grateful that the investors did not mind spending more on the rescue effort.
“It would have saved at least five months if you just demolished them and build new ones. Fortunately, this client shared the architects’ passion to save them,” he said.
Syakir said adaptive reuse efforts could be more widespread in the Klang Valley.
“Old buildings are our history, and demolishing them make us lose touch of who we are. But it has happened too often. Even buildings of historical significance can disappear over the weekend,” he said, citing the Government’s move to revoke the national heritage status for the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) in Jalan Ampang.
Also, he said, conservation should not look only at the “flavour of the day” but also think of the area’s past, present and future. Galle in Sri Lanka, he said, should be emulated as the buildings and the city’s culture are equally treasured.
With Old Malaya, these gems have regained their glitter. However, the nearby Serani Row and several other bungalows are still waiting for takers. But if Old Malaya proves anything, it is that such buildings can be astoundingly charming.
Romantic coexistence
Further away in Bangsar, APW (Art Printing Works) has been attracting the city’s trendy and glitzy with chic cafes, events areas dedicated to art, and work spaces tailored for start-ups.
Only three years ago, the printing plant measuring 6,503 sqm was a picture of stagnation and dilapidation because the business that started in 1952, went on a downward spiral.
The leap of faith to convert the factory required an initial capital outlay of RM400,000. Chief executive officer Ee Soon Wei said he only managed to gain “a bit more breathing space” in the last four months after things started to look up.
Apart from a tight budget, Ee had to fight a host of other issues when he took over the family business. Most of them stemmed from scepticism; also, the printing business still had a 100-strong workforce despite plummeting demand.
“The family was very sentimental about the place, and to be honest, it was a very hard time for me as most did not want to change.
“Unlike many other regeneration efforts which take over empty buildings, we had to deal with the people who were co-existing. How do you fit them into new roles? Will they not feel disengaged?” he asked.
After doing an in-depth case study mapped out against the reality of South-East Asia, the commerce graduate from Melbourne had the print business streamlined. In the process, he found new space in the old warehouse for the new ventures we see today.
“A lot of monuments in South-East Asia are dilapidated. Old trades stagnate and new generations don’t find it sexy to take over them. They were in their prime once, they celebrated a renaissance, what happened? There must have been issues with the leadership, but nobody wants to lose face addressing it,” he added.
The original workforce was repurposed to handle events, logistics and security among other things. There was resistance, but Ee said: “I was also doing the washing and cleaning.”
This silenced the naysayers.
APW also provides allowance for them to dine at the branded restaurants so they wouldn’t feel out of place. All’s well, as testified by the growth of the business.
APW did not face as many architectural issues. Still, a sizeable sum was spent on upgrades for the roofing, washroom and sewerage.
The interior design required just as big a budget. Ee roped in local boutique interior design firms that were equally passionate. But he made sure they worked around the “soul” of the place.
This is why the old printing presses are integrated into the cafes’ decor.
The significance of APW’s success has earned it international exposure, including a presentation at the Harvard Business School.
Asked if he had any advice for others keen on adaptive reuse, Ee said: “It is a romantic notion, very much a love story. In all love stories, you have to stay committed, despite the conflicts you are bound to face.”
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