Malaysian couple's 8-year journey restored a 116-year-old building back to its former glory

The facade of the Kapitan Chung Thye Phin building at Station Road in Ipoh. Photos: Arlene House

To put it simply, the state of dilapidation was palpable – peeling paint, mouldy patches and cracked masonry, with plants peeking out of parapets and exterior cornices.

It was no better inside, with rickety floorboards, damaged roof trusses, musty walls and stained floors.

Located at 18, Station Road in Ipoh, Perak, the Kapitan Chung Thye Phin building is situated in an area once known as the “European District” of Ipoh (due to the many businesses from the continent) that thrived there.

The building’s current owners, Michael Chan and his wife Arlene Loke, had passed by the three-storey structure many times but never really took notice of it until one day when they happened to look at it properly from a road opposite the building.

“We realised then that it was indeed an imposing corner building that stood majestically tall, with parapet walls and covered arched verandahs. Its architectural design, masonry work and intriguing decorative and ornamental elements unfolded when we scrutinised the façade,” recalled Chan, a chartered accountant by profession.

After finding out that the building, which has a 669sq m build-up, was for sale, the couple arranged for a viewing the same day.

Due to the unfavourable conditions inside, they could not access certain sections.

However, what they found in the locked bay area of the building blew them away.

“It was there that we discovered an ornate Victorian-style cast iron spiral staircase. It was love at first sight – an exquisite fitting of the building, locked up and hidden from the public eye for over a century. It was the impetus telling us that we ought to own this building,” shared Chan, who acquired the building, last occupied by a pharmacy, in 2011.

“We did not know of its rich history nor legacy prior to acquiring the building. We have always admired the beautiful colonial buildings and shophouses of Ipoh, attracted to and inspired by their nostalgic charm, built heritage and historical value.

“Given the opportunity, we would like to preserve, restore and save them from being torn down for redevelopment,” said Chan, currently a corporate adviser to private and public-listed companies.

The Kapitan Chung Thye Phin building, also known as Arlene House, exhibits a Victorian-Palladian Neoclassical architectural style.

Start of a long journey

Restoration efforts of the Kapitan Chung Thye Phin building, also known as Arlene House, began in 2012.

However, what Chan did not anticipate was the arduous amount of work that had to be done to restore the building – which is inspired by European architecture – to its former glory.

“We had to carry out substantial research and investigative work, interview people who had knowledge of the building, find descriptions of past activities, and so on.

“We had to analyse and study the damaged, destroyed or missing elements, fixtures and fittings, and design constructions. Those were some of the tedious, time-consuming and ad-hoc work to be performed before we could proceed with restoration efforts,” he said.

Chan and his wife combed through volumes of social history and built heritage books, publications and archives. They visited heritage buildings, landmarks and sites to understand and learn about building preservation and conservation, and appreciate adaptive reuse activities.

The Palladian-style windows are characterised by three elements - a central, round-arch opening and two smaller rectangular openings to the sides.

They also took time to consult building conservation groups, heritage builders and conservation architects.

“Significant records of the commissioning of this building were found in the Twentieth Century Impressions Of British Malaya: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries And Resources published in 1908.

“From our research, we got to know that the building was commissioned in 1905 by Kapitan Chung Thye Phin, a prominent tin miner and the last Chinese Kapitan of Perak and Malaya. The building was his tin headquarters and trading house in Malaya.”

To properly restore the building, Chan felt they had to get to know Chung’s life history to better appreciate the built heritage he had commissioned.

Born in Taiping in 1879, Chung was the fourth and most successful son of prominent Kapitan Chung Keng Quee.

The Kapitan Chung Thye Phin building under construction in 1905.

As he was from a wealthy family, Chung was privileged to travel the world as a teenager. He was fascinated by the canals of Venice, as well as the enchanting ponds and lakes of China.

He was especially inspired by European architecture and design, notably the works of Andrea Palladio, one of the world’s most influential Venetian architects. It was from there that Chung had a dream to own and build a European-style building in Malaya.

Hence, in 1905, he commissioned Scottish architectural firm Stark & McNeil to design a Victorian-Palladian Neoclassical building as his tin business headquarters in Ipoh.

Chung named the building “Phin Kee Chan”, which translates to “Peace Remembrance Store”. Constructed by the best Shanghainese, European and local builders, craftsmen and artisans at that time, the building was one of the most photographed landmarks of Ipoh during its golden years.

A view of Ipoh old town's skyline and buildings from the top floor of the Arlene House.

Place-making venture

Finding the right contractors and materials needed for the restoration work was no easy feat.

“The building was constructed using load-bearing walls, one of the earliest forms of constructions. We had to be extremely careful, patient and mindful in order not to damage the century-old delicate walls and elements,” said Chan.

About 70% of the flooring and 90% of fixtures and fittings, apart from the cast-iron staircase, were built with timber.

“To bring back the nostalgic feel and charm of the building, we had to restore all the missing or damaged timber fixtures and fittings.”

All the original French louvre timber shutters had been replaced with aluminium windows by the previous owner, with only the hardwood window frames remaining.

About 70% of the flooring and 90% of fixtures and fittings at the Kapitan Chung Thye Phin building were built with timber.

“We had to remove all the aluminium windows and designed new timber shutters and casements according to historical images.”

Chan said they also found fanlights (small windows over the top of doors), transoms (strengthening crossbars) and bay window elements, which are common features of Palladian or Venetian windows.

These windows contain three key components – a central, round-arch opening with two smaller rectangular openings to the sides, the latter topped by lintels (a type of beam) and supported by columns.

“This is derived from the ancient Roman triumphal arch, a key element in Palladian architecture style of the renowned Italian-Venetian architect Andrea Palladio.”

Another major discovery was Minton tiles, overlaid by new tiles on the ground floor, originally made in Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England. Minton tiles are encaustic tiles, in which the patterns are created using different colours of clay rather than a glaze.

“Due to the difficulty in removing the top, new tiles without damaging the Minton tiles, we decided to keep and preserve them as they were.”

The Arlene House is currently being used as a gallery-museum called Made In Ipoh.

Chan said they also sourced for and used recycled cengal and merbau hardwood from Perak as well as other states to stay true to the original timber works.

It took them over two years just to restore 99 sets of (external and internal) timber window louvres and casements.

In total, Chan worked with 26 different contractors, installers and suppliers for the various sections and stages of the eight-year project.

“We have restored a significant, historical building and landmark in Ipoh, which is associated with the great tin era of Perak,” said Chan, adding that the building has been listed in the Tin & Heritage Trails map of Ipoh for visitors.

“Many who have come to visit appreciate our labour of love and the passion we have put into this project.”

Currently, the space is being used as a gallery-museum called Made In Ipoh that showcases the stories, life and legacy of the last Kapitan of Malaya and Ipoh, the city that tin built.

“We have also repurposed this building as a place-making venue and community space to support activities that preserve and promote the arts, culture, history and heritage,” said Chan.

In the long run, he hopes to inspire the public and younger generation to value and appreciate built heritage and their historical value.

“Save, preserve and conserve them when you have the opportunity, before they are lost or gone forever.

“Our work is testimonial to how a 116-year-old dilapidated building can be preserved to meet modern-day usage,” he said.