EIGHT fire-damaged heritage shophouses in Lebuh Aceh, Penang, are set for a new lease of life under a RM10mil project to transform them into a centre for culture, arts and creative economy while preserving George Town’s living heritage.
Dubbed the Cultural Heritage Hub (CH2), the project was launched in conjunction with the 18th anniversary of George Town’s inscription as a Unesco World Heritage Site and is expected to take two to three years to complete.
George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee said the project was not merely about restoring old buildings, but ensuring George Town’s heritage remained relevant through its people.
She said heritage enclaves should not become hollow attractions for tourists, stressing that the city’s identity was rooted in the daily lives, memories and traditions of its residents and traditional artisans.
“Our goal is to help the younger generation find a market-viable pathway through cultural heritage, giving them hope to stay and thrive in the old neighbourhoods.
“We want our residents to be more than just background figures. They should have the dignity, pride and agency to interpret and shape their own heritage,” she said at the site.
Ang also appealed to the private sector to support the initiative, saying at least RM10mil was needed to restore the buildings and develop the hub.
She said companies could contribute through sponsorships, creative economy programmes and cross-industry collaborations.
Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the project reflected the state government’s commitment to safeguarding heritage through collaboration with GTWHI and Lim Kongsi.
He said the eight buildings, which were damaged in a 2015 fire, had been leased to GTWHI under a 30-year agreement for restoration and adaptive reuse.
“We want to transform these buildings into a cultural space for interaction, heritage, arts and the creative economy.
“It will become another landmark that reflects our commitment to conserving, protecting and promoting George Town’s heritage values,” he said.
Wong said the project would strengthen the area’s cultural identity by complementing its commercial activities with spaces dedicated to arts, heritage and community engagement.
He also said Penang had gazetted 50 items as state heritage this year, the first since the enactment of the state heritage legislation, comprising 28 heritage foods, 15 heritage sites and seven elements of intangible cultural heritage.
The eight premises in Lebuh Aceh comprise seven Early Penang-style shophouses and one Southern Chinese Eclectic-style building.
They are Category II heritage buildings within the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2008.
Today, the heritage site encompasses more than 5,000 historic buildings and is protected through a 109.38ha Core Zone and a surrounding 150.04ha Buffer Zone, where development is carefully regulated to preserve its historic character.
