{"id":1809,"date":"2024-07-16T16:39:27","date_gmt":"2024-07-16T08:39:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paparazzi.com.my\/?p=1809"},"modified":"2024-07-16T16:39:27","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T08:39:27","slug":"turning-ancient-mansions-into-modern-architectural-gems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paparazzi.com.my\/newthemepaparazzi\/2024\/07\/16\/turning-ancient-mansions-into-modern-architectural-gems\/","title":{"rendered":"Turning Ancient Mansions Into Modern Architectural Gems"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Turning Ancient Mansions Into Modern Architectural Gems<\/h2>\n

Gravely neglected buildings experience a new lease of life under the hands of architectural maestro Hau Woon San, who has devoted his life to restoring ancient mansions and turning them into modern-day gems.<\/p>\n

BY YVONNE YOONG<\/p>\n

To some, architecture is a profession. However for Hau Woon San, Founder & Managing Partner of Idea Workshop Sdn Bhd, architecture is his high calling in life. Seasoned in turning ancient mansions into architectural gems, his is the unenviable lot of late nights and endless hours of trying to figure out how to turn dilapidated buildings into gems that are relevant in the context of modern-day life.<\/p>\n

This priceless calling knows no bounds for this restless bachelor who is no stranger to building in tough soil and during hard times. In fact, for this restorative architect who pursued his studies in Singapore & the US, finding this life calling came about as a twist of fate during the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was when all projects came into abrupt halt, and I had to bitterly accept a substantial pay cut in order to keep the office afloat,\u201d he reminisces.<\/p>\n

However, it was during one such \u201cfrustrated\u201d gathering and drinking session that his friend proposed that they should transform his grandfather\u2019s shop situated on Riverside Road into a backpacker\u2019s joint. And, just like that — on an impromptu decision, with just a shoestring budget, the team cleared the clutter in the shop and discovered a small courtyard with a well which the team turned into a courtyard garden in order to promote natural ventilation into the space.<\/p>\n

Paint, being the cheapest building material, was then, \u201cemployed fearlessly throughout\u201d the shop\u2019s interiors. Recycling existing furniture from the 30s placed inside the shop inevitably led to the emergence of an eclectic theme alongside the \u201cfree-wheeling world\u201d with music playing from the CDs from a previous era.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe actually named it as \u2018Loony Planet\u2019, taking a swipe at the famous travel guide book \u2018Lonely Planet\u2019,\u201d he shared with a laugh.<\/p>\n

And, the rest as they say, is history as the restored place instantly became the hotspot for backpackers visiting historic Malacca. This successful venture eventually led Loony Planet to become the prelude and eye-opener to the immense potential of \u201cgravely neglected heritage buildings of a previous era\u201d in Melaka.<\/p>\n

Having practiced architecture for some 28 years now, Hau, armed with a Bachelor of Architecture, admits that his craft is not for the faint-hearted and hence, there is no simple categorisation for what he does.<\/p>\n

Reasoning that one should not be boxed into somewhat \u201csimplistic categorisation\u201d, he believes that like all things human, \u201ccomplexities and contradictions\u201d are inherent. Therefore, one would do immeasurably well to \u201chumbly listen to the voices of the past\u201d to uncover what Heidegger terms as the \u201cforgetting of being\u201d.<\/p>\n

When it touches upon the subject of what he considers to be a success in the restoration and refurbishment of old buildings into modern gems, he reasons there is always \u201cthe good, the bad and the ugly\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe future will be the judge. We shall however, remain vigilant in maintaining our sobriety,\u201d he stated in all seriousness.<\/p>\n

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Transforming Six Shophouses Into Liumen<\/h2>\n

The task of transforming Liu Men, translated to mean \u201cSix Doors\u201d from the original outlay of six units of double-storey dilapidated shop houses dating back to 1939 into a boutique hotel was certainly no mean feat. The rave reviews received concerning this photogenic hotel is testament to the success of the restoration and re-adaptive reuse of the six shop lots. The grafting of the \u201cnew into the old, by way of a void in the glass atrium\u201d included at the event space was an unexpected but creatively ingenious way of re-interpreting and seamlessly connecting the space.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the roof over the attic space was also shortened to create an opening to encompass the sky balcony area to usher in natural light and ventilation to the otherwise dark interior.<\/p>\n

The original \u201csomewhat simplified version of the Art Deco fa\u00e7ade\u201d situated on Temple Street (Jalan Tokong) which is situated diametrically opposite the Cheng Hoon Teng (the oldest Temple in Malaysia, built around 1673) was evident in the layout design of the shop houses.<\/p>\n

The extension carried out at the rear portion of the buildings which was then merged with the existing front fa\u00e7ade to make up the layout scheme of the unique boutique hotel. The connection between the original frontage and the \u201cnew rear\u201d was also conceived as a void represented by a gothic-like atrium which was translated into the main event space bathed in natural light.<\/p>\n

Essentially, the rooms were designed in such a manner that all the bathrooms are bathed in natural illumination amid good ventilation. The circulation spirals around the atrium which is also anchored by an ornate spiral staircase. A total of 30 guest rooms were created in this space despite the limitation in height (12 metres to the roof ridge spanning 3 storeys). This is also seen in light of preserving the front portion of the two-storey structure with the exception of additional attic rooms included those situated beneath the roof. The roof over the attic space was also shortened to create an aperture to embrace the sky balcony which also ushers in natural light and ventilation to an otherwise dark interior.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe worked with RDM Design on the interiors where every detail — from railing, finishes to light fittings were carefully studied and selected with the aim of reintroducing art deco elements (into the space),\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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Peranakan Mansion<\/h2>\n

Peranakan Mansion, on the other hand, was intentionally approached in a \u201cnon -design\u201d manner to respect its stature as a \u201cwell-preserved heritage building\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides erecting a double-storey structure at the rear portion to house the utilitarian functions of a restaurant (including the kitchen, restrooms and storeroom), the fitting of relevant furniture was also done to recreate a glorious interior of an ancestral mansion,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n

Subtle lighting design was added to illuminate the space. Meanwhile, both courtyards were covered with a glass canopy while still allowing for a stacking effect via the side perforated screens.<\/p>\n

The ground floor serves to house the open dining spaces. Meanwhile, the first floor house three VIP dining rooms.<\/p>\n

Baba House<\/h2>\n

One of the most fascinating projects undertaken by Hau lies with the legacy of the Baba House spanning a long and arduous journey of almost six years in converting four separate heritage buildings of different eras into a comprehensive and cohesive boutique hotel.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis proves that \u2018design\u2019 is a continuous and endless search of meaning and definition translated into functionality married into the context of modern-day relevance.<\/p>\n

The subsequent acquisition of the next door building (having yet another distinctive character with the set-back from the street), further complicated the situation he said.<\/p>\n

The predetermined programmatic functions and circulations were entirely thrown into disarray; forcing one to re-imagine the juxtaposition of different possibilities as reflected in the \u201cbuilt versus unbuilt\u201d versions.<\/p>\n

The primary focus has been the process of \u201chollowing-out\u201d of the existing building blocks to the \u201ccreation\u201d of mini pockets of air wells — while ushering in natural light, ventilation and greenery to all 100 rooms.<\/p>\n

Such \u201ctedious articulations involving structural and material manipulations and alteration\u201d comprise the major factor employed during the construction period.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is also a purposed orchestration of rhythmic progression from dimness to lightness, crossing from rooms through a myriad of intersecting corridors and on to the existing main courtyards; where the water pond is reflecting the clouds in the sky,\u201d he reflected.<\/p>\n

Essentially, the \u201carchitectural promenade\u201d culimates on the roof top garden and pond. The dome pinnacle of the \u201cChee Clan Mansion\u201d can thus be seen to embrace the horizon of the Straits of Malacca in all its glory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Turning Ancient Mansions Into Modern Architectural Gems Gravely neglected buildings experience a new lease of life under the hands of architectural maestro Hau Woon San, who has devoted his life to restoring ancient mansions and turning them into modern-day gems….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1761,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-places"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paparazzi.com.my\/newthemepaparazzi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1809","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paparazzi.com.my\/newthemepaparazzi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paparazzi.com.my\/newthemepaparazzi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paparazzi.com.my\/newthemepaparazzi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paparazzi.com.my\/newthemepaparazzi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1809"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paparazzi.com.my\/newthemepaparazzi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1809\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paparazzi.com.my\/newthemepaparazzi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paparazzi.com.my\/newthemepaparazzi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paparazzi.com.my\/newthemepaparazzi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paparazzi.com.my\/newthemepaparazzi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}