2. ● Urban Configuration
● Scale, Grid & Grain
● Typologies of Form & Function
● Facade & Materiality
● Public & Private Realms
● Expression Keywords
3. General History
-Not intended to be colonial settlement.
-Francis Light - insufficient resources and manpower.
-Early ethnic settlers brought in.
-Colony status in 1867. Introduction of British Public Works Department.
-Architectural firms brought in to develop into automobile city.
4. Popham’s map of Georgetown in 1798
BRITISH COLONIAL QUARTER
Overseeing economy and the
people
Government
Economy
separated to ensure maximum
economy benefits, prevent
unification of people
1792GEORGETOWN
CHINESE SETTLEMENT
Grid pattern laid out by Francis Light for
easy management
Residential
MALAY SETTLEMENT
Original Malay town (remain unchanged as
British more protective towards Malay
UNDER-DEVELOPED
PADDY FIELD
STUDIES
BOUNDARIES
5. BRITISH
COLONY
QUARTER
AXIAL
GRID
1792 URBAN CONFIGURATION
-Clear axial along Pitt Street
-A horizontal axis (west and east) was stretch out from the axial. Creating a bone-like configuration. The
vertical axis (north and south) then added to form a clean grid form.
-The two configuration eased access between agriculture, trading, and administration.
STUDIES
BOUNDARIES
6. AXIAL
-Axial along Pitt Street form focal point on northern area. Creating emphasis.
-Axial line drawn point to point from British colony quarter to Masjid Kapitan Keling.
-Religious buildings built as a ponder points along street
-Shophouses were built between the ponder points.
7. The secondary axis stretch configuration outward to the west and east area of George Town. Access
towards agriculture area.
8. GRID
-Grid line for ease of management. Similar to ancient chinese city planning. Conducive environment for
Chinese settlers.
Ancient chinese city planning using gird form
configuration and a clear axial.
9. Popham’s map of Georgetown in 1798
CHINESE SETTLEMENT
EMBRACING ‘YANG’
housing faces the sea
TURN AWAY FROM ‘YIN’
housing backed by high lands
Axis - separation between yin and yang
CHINESE CULTURAL ATTRIBUTES
AXIAL CONFIGURATION
AXIAL DEFINING
YIN AND YANG
10. GRID
CONFIGURATION
(BRITISH)
- in a larger scale
compared to chinese
settlement
- emphasize on
hierarchy of social
class
IRREGULAR + LOOSE
GRID (MALAY)
- earliest Malay
settlement in
Georgetown right
after Fort Cornwallis
is built.
- British Colonial
hasn't plan on the
layout
MALAY SETTLEMENT
CONTEXT Urban Configuration
BRITISH COLONIAL
QUARTER
11. (Scene at the harbour of George Town’s - an international port for traders all over the world.)
12. Here and There
quality of thereness is blurred and is within the reach as silhouette of Fort Cornwallis is seen unequivocally, piercing the horizon
line from Masjid Kapitan Keling from the other end.
Focal Point
Fort Cornwallis dominated the North end of road by its juxtaposition of scale. The monumental large structure portrays power and
authority of British Colony, reminding locals who uses the road daily.
Linear Movement
linearity of the wide broad road promotes movement, separating the hectic harbour from the quiet paddy field.
13. Exposure
as local farmers harvest crops, a great expanse of sky complemented with a vast wide paddy field demonstrates a sense of
emptiness. it was their way of welcoming the arrivals and sending the ships off as this picturesque scene changes every day.
14. Enclosure
surrounding of hills complement to Chinese Fengshui where the Chinese community finds harmony as it provides protection and
security.
Close Vista
higher topography bounded the infinity vast flat land with hills and forests landscaped view, defining a clear boundary for the
paddy fields and Malay town.
16. 1881 Urban Configuration
A map of George Town 1883
Form configuration in 1881 transformed into Grid and Irregular form
-Due to the expansion of the city. Main expansion on the reclaimed land waterfront, southern part and
the western part.
-Expansion of the grid form vanished the axial and resulted a more grid configuration.
WATERFRONT
CHINESE CLAN & MUSLIM MOSQUE ENCLAVE
BRITISH COLONY QUARTER
THE SOCIA-CULTURE PRECINCT
17. THE SOCIAL-CULTURAL PRECINCT
-Failure of agriculture used for development of the city expansion.
-Scattered vertical axis added to horizontal axis. Grid line deformed and form a loose grid configuration.
-Shophouses were also built within the grid lines.
1792 1881
18. Waterfront
-Beach Street reclaimed for development of Weld Quay for port expansion.
-Grid line continued from the early shophouses. Access from port to shophouses.
-Scale of grid is larger due to use of warehouses for harbour.
A map of George Town 1883
19. Immediacy
absence of preparation, softening up, railings at the harbour give way to edge of water. the immediate contact of successive tidal
wave with passerby at the walkway created a juxtaposition to give drama and clarity to the landscape, emphasizing on ‘thisness’.
Scale
warehouse build along harbour port is the inherent claim to size that the construction makes to the eye, leaving an impression that
made it seem vaster by the extravagance of robust scale to people who gather there.
20. Hidden Mystery
glimpses of early settlement’s bungalows are caught by pedestrian from alleys between buildings as they walk passed shoplots next
to Beach Street, stirring curiosity and inviting people to discover what’s bounded behind.
Beach Street
21. Beach Street
Human Scale and Intimacy
shoplots flanked on both sides of the well-paved road, creating a pleasing streetscape while injecting life onto the street with
wooden carriage services, business stalls and pedestrian. the double-storey height stood right in front of the people with a sense of
welcoming, inviting them to converse at the five foot walkway and to people across the street.
24. Various architectural style found
along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling
clearly show the footprint of
different ethnicity from past to
present. Difference in scale, grid
and grain shows different
intensity of relationship between
one and other.
25. urban grain
Blue shaded area: course grain
the bigger scale of buildings
Grey shaded area: fine grains
mostly consisted of shophouses which offers
small proximity among the buildings.
26. The Penang High Court had sufficient boundary area - able to add new wing. The opened space of the building
became parking area for the workers and public.
Coarse Grain:
-Most religious buildings, all government buildings.
-Concentrated at the north.
-Large outdoor space.
27. -Public spaces with high intensity contact points were usually located around the religious buildings
-Different experience throughout the journey as pedestrian witness different building scale
Eg: urban-infill temples (Seri Mahamariamman Temple and Kuan Im Teng ) which have different urban design
and set backs which allow the enhancement of visual experiences.
Other religious buildings
28. -Variation for shophouse width according to taxation (built at different times, different social and financial
status, different materials or technologies)
-Taxed according to street frontage: creating motivation to build narrow and deeply.
-Building technology: extent of frontage was affected by the structural span of the timber used.
Fine Grain:
Mostly shophouses
Built by early settlers
Creating small alleys and streets in blocks of shophouses
31. Beach Street:
-Banking & trading area (maritime)
-Include shipping companies, import and
export trade and the wholesalers
32. Residential Quarters:
- Usually live in terraces, shophouse and few
bungalows.
- Streets are relatively narrower, irregularly
aligned and appear to be less formal in their
planning.
33. European commercial premises concentrated
along Beach Street in proximity to the port.
Their residences were located away from the
central business district.
35. British dominated the north due to strategic location
and breeze.
Esplanade was a central part of the local British
lifestyle. Commonly used for social events to show
colonial dominance.
The Esplanade is an open square exclusively for
British use only.
Resemble concept of a square/plaza from European
urban architecture.
36. Pitt Street:
Religious street.
Kapitan system suited immigrants because it
encouraged a local autonomy. Thus the road
become an important axis to the rulers of
Penang as it links directly to the colonial
government
37. Religious Street
Goddess of Mercy Temple
(1800)
Masjid Kaptian Keling
(1900)
St George Church
(1818)
Khoo Khongsi (1851)
Sri Mahamariamman
Temple (1833)
38. Town Development (placement of
religious & institutional buildings):
Impact from cultural practices and
preferences of the different ethnic
groups
39. Chinese Settlements
China Street: main axis
King street: secondary axis.
Early Chinese settlers chose to live within the town
grid and followed as closely as possible their
traditional and cultural orientation.
Encouraged to settle: “ a valuable acquisition” as
they possess different trades.
Due to strong niche in retail trade, Chinese
shophouses had predominated the build-landscape
of inner Georgetown.
40. Indian Settlements
-Indian Muslim community.
-Masjid Kapitan Keling & Sri
Mahamariamman Temple catered to
the Tamil traders and stevedores
originating from South India.
-Settled down in late 1780s
Indian
Settlement
41. Malay Settlements
Muslim business revolves around Pitt
Street and locate their business near the
Kapitan Keling Mosque.
Malay
Settlement
42. Building Layout of Public Buildings
The early buildings were set in large
open spaces or compounds.
Portrays the legacy of the
lifestyle of early entrepreneurs who
accumulated great wealth and left
their marks on society.
For Chinese religious buildings, the
setback provided privacy for the clan
members’ meetings.
Masjid Kapitan
Keling
43. Rows of residential and
shophouses were built on
available land fronting the
street hiding the earlier
buildings and their
compounds.
The clan houses are located
within the walls of the
shophouses which show a
separation of public and
private.
street
44. Religious buildings are built to solidify the existence and identities of a
group to others.
Vernacular shophouses lined along the street also formed ethnic
boundaries psychologically.
46. City Hall (1903)
Edwardian Baroque Architecture
- Typical style of British Empire for public buildings during
Edwardian Era (1901-1910).
Transparency
- Solid and large scale of building decrease transparency. To
show authority of British Empire.
Speed of Movement
- High speed of movement for locals.
- Local pedestrians wouldn’t linger around the area.
- Slow speed of movement for British pedestrians.
- British pedestrians feel comfortable at their territory.
Poetics, Experience
- Numerous columns and solidity of facade displays grandness
of the British in contrast to simple shophouses.
47. - Uniformity and balance shows authority and encourages
the feeling of control and formality
48. - No setback for city hall
- Facing large esplanade: used for military parades and social events for the British only
- To make up for absence of setback, the grandness of both buildings can be seen from the esplanade.
49. High Court (1901) Palladian Architecture
- Often used during the early 20th century for public
buildings.
Transparency
- Solid and large scale of building decrease transparency.
To show authority of British Empire.
Speed of Movement
- High speed of movement.
- Pedestrians wouldn’t linger around the area due to
presence of authority (style and police)
51. St George’s Church (1818)
- Original flat roof converted to gable in 1864 (tropical climate)
- Built by same engineer who designed St George’s Church in Chennai (similar style)
St George’s Church, Chennai
52. Transparency
- Passive facade (no ornamentations) and small scale
does not promote authority.
- Relatively inviting place in contrast with High Court
(opposite).
- At the corner of junction, more exposed to show
transparency.
Speed of Movement
- Low speed of movement.
- Pedestrians respond and engage with building.
Poetics, Experience
- Wide setback places emphasis on the church and
separates it from other buildings showing dominance
(religion).
53. Church of Assumption
(1860)
Transparency
- At the corner of junction, more exposed to show
transparency.
Speed of Movement
- Low speed of movement.
- Pedestrians respond and engage with building.
Poetics, Experience
- Crucifix shaped church with 2 box-shaped bell tower
different from the local surrounding buildings (gabled).
More distinct = dominance
54. -Wide plot & setback
-Show dominance of
religion
-Contrast with adjacent
inferior buildings
55. • Dominant building typology in the Core Zone of
Georgetown
• Introduced in Peninsular Malaysia by Chinese
communities who migrated from Mainland
China in the 1800s
• Earliest Chinese permanent settlers (of Hokkien
descent) were shopkeepers and became the core
of the Straits Chinese or Peranakan Chinese – the
Chinese elite of the Straits Settlements
• The existence of the Chinese communities gave
an aesthetic contribution to development of
shophouses architecture
SHOPHOUSES
56. • Fast: vacant space fronting the row of shophouses
allow for vehicular movement
• Clustering of shophouses closely together creates
a community of commercial activity for ease of
access
SPEED OF MOVEMENT
57. Five foot ways
• Facilitate pedestrian movement and provide direct
access for the publics to the shophouses
• Contributes social interaction between customers
and shopkeepers
• Able to observe and absorb the people and activities
the town provides
SPEED OF MOVEMENT
58. • Shophouses collectively forms a city/townscape – as it has strong links to other shophouses
• This townscape with high density of shophouses and population established distinctive urban fabric –
“Chinatown”
• Existence of these shophouses in Peninsular Malaysia
- symbolises the Chinese as a trading community
- strong entrepreneurial spirit of early migrant communities
POETICS EXPERIENCE
59. • Deep and narrow frontage, facing a street – where
trading items are normally displayed
• Front windows are normally full length from floor to
ceiling
• Bright colours attract attention for businesses in the
shophouses
TRANSPARENCY
60. • Narrow width: due to taxation according to the
width of the front elevation, thus the shophouses
were built as such to minimize tax (between 13’-25’)
• Use of party wall: following building regulations
owing to fire incidents in earlier years
LEGISLATION
62. 1790s-1850s:
Early Penang
Style
1840s-1900s:
Southern
Chinese Eclectic
Style
1890s-1910s:
Early Straits
Eclectic Style
1910s-1930s: Late
Straits Eclectic
Style
1930s-1960s: Art
Deco Style
1950s-1970s:
Early Modernism
Style
Introduction of
five foot
walkways
Materiality of
shophouses were
influenced by
building
regulation in the
1880s
Design, details &
effort to decorate
the façade were
limited to how
much money
owners were
willing to spend
Application of
more colours and
patterns
Simpler style
with vertical
emphasis on the
facade
Influenced by the
modernism
movement and
European style
SHOPHOUSES STYLE TIMELINE
63. • Changes introduced during this period were largely due to the Chinese style
adapting to the Malay region
• Chinese butterfly vent windows: the only overtly
stylistic addition to the facade
• European classical elements: simplified Tuscan/Doric
pilasters and cornice mouldings began to make an
appearance
• Symmetry: key aspect of Chinese design
SOUTHERN CHINESE ECLECTIC STYLE
64. • Lack of rules for façade appearance encouraged builders to curate the development of the style –
dissemination of techniques and styles of building happened organically
• Proportion and growth in height: elongated vertically
and influenced by Classical proportions
• Implement of Classical designs: arched windows and
transoms, classical pilasters, pediments, keystones and
decorative friezes
EARLY STRAITS ECLECTIC STYLE
65. • Façade of shophouses during this period became more elaborate – colours and patterns were thrown
together for maximum visual effect.
• Chinese and Classical style plasterwork: use of floral
plasterwork and other ornate details
• Embellishment of Neoclassical elements: acanthus
leaves, sashes and Doric/Corinthian pilasters became
more prevalent
• Application of Malay designs: application of Malay
geometric and floral pattern work in ceramic tiles that
were laid down on the ground of the walkway in front
of the shophouses
• Use of bright pastel colours: became popular to attract
customers and encourage tourism
LATE STRAITS ECLECTIC STYLE
67. • Streets in Georgetown are traditionally shared spaces,
with changing pattern of activities. These practices,
performances and rituals create the richness of the
culturally eclectic landscape of the historic settlements.
• The network of parks and public open spaces are
interconnected via a landscaped pedestrian network,
prioritizing pedestrians movement in Georgetown,
creating a more comfortable area for pedestrians.
Public Parks and Green spaces
Public Buildings
Tree Lined Pedestrian Priority Streets
Pedestrian Priority Streets
PUBLIC REALM
68. • The Public buildings, open spaces and parks are
mainly located along the primary road.
• The huge setbacks of the public buildings and the wide
road creates a long road with very few stop points,
which makes the road to have faster vehicle and
pedestrian movement. Pedestrian walkway and usable
spaces are built in front of private buildings within the
primary road, to allow for activities and creates
landscaped or usable space.
• The open spaces allows activities and can be a
potential gathering point for people, which may
become a contact point.
Stopping points
Tree Lined Pedestrian Priority Streets
PUBLIC REALM
69. Kuan Im Teng Temple – urban wall
• Facing the primary road, it has a perimeter wall or
structure acting as an urban wall, framing the front
courtyard of the public building, creating a large public
space in front of the building, which is accessible and
encourages people to stay longer within the area and will
be able to engage with the activities in the public space.
• High historical and cultural value to attract local
community to engage in religious activity.
Wide and deep courtyard as a setback which gives a
sense of inviting, allowing religious and cultural
activities, making this public space a high intensity
contact point.
PUBLIC REALM
70. St. George’s Church
• Considered as a significant landmark due to it’s high
column and huge breathing space, which is used as
parking, allowing people to stop by.
• The grand entrance of the facade with minimal enclosure
creates a sense of exclusiveness.
• Religious activity hosted in the building for the public.
PUBLIC REALM
71. Penang Town Hall
• The Esplanade is a waterfront located in the heart of
George Town. Originally it was a large, wide, open and
level area outside the city wall to provide clear fields of fire
for the fortress gun. The cleared field was then later used
as a military parade ground, utilized for cricket matches
and public events during 19th century.
PUBLIC REALM
72. INNER REALM
• An allocated space in Georgetown which allows
locals to expand mostly business oriented
establishment.
• Being the area in between all the other districts,
this living hub becomes a necessary stop for
locals to get around Georgetown, from portside
to living quarters.
• This enforces positive routes and pathing for the
locals, both in term of living and business. Thus
creating movement patterns along the inner
realm of Georgetown.
73. OUTER REALM
• Acts as an outline that focuses on cultural build
up that encage around the living hub in
Georgetown.
• It becomes a perimeter to understand the
existing stopping point’s general vicinity.
• This also helps solidify the conclusion that
throughout the periods that passed in
Georgetown, the planning in which living
accommodation establishments can be placed is
fixed in the inner realm.
74. STOPPING POINTS
• A multitude of stopping points can be found in
the highlighted area.
• Many pathways and movements taken can
illustrate those stopping points.
• The highlighted streets acts as the main primary
street for everyday needs and service of the
locals, making it an ideal stopping point for
locals on the way back from work, passing by or
in its immediate proximity to check for goods.
75. • Invisible Boundary: religious buildings as primary gathering spot for the community
// offer a higher contact intensity compared to the road // contradiction relationship
between one and another // boundary based on the intensifying layers
• Adapting to Control: plot width varies throughout the shop lots area as taxation and
land costs are controlled by government // length of shop lots are often longer than the
width of the shops as loophole for locals or shop owners to avoid extra tax payment
and land costs // sets the tone for the future built environment
• Dominant Rulers: colonial rulers instilling a sense of control to inferiors // large and
elaborate scale of buildings create an overwhelming sense of control and order
towards the local passerby // walking speed is increased as locals do not wish to linger
nearby dominating administrative buildings
• Vibrant Townscapes: serves the interest of cultivating Penang’s cultural diversity // as
a historical site, Penang serves as a vibrant and living ‘museum’ // different ornaments
and carvings from the shophouses shows different vibrancy of identity, enhancing the
rich culture of Penang
• Welcoming Facades: shophouses in the residential area creates a pleasing streetscape
by having a consistent facade design, featuring the five-foot-way that connects to the
front patio of the interior // thus, creating a sense of welcoming to the people on the
street to converse at the continuous walkway
• Frames of Directional Quality: due to the west part of Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling
being in an old development area, the buildings are built in unorganized arrangement
// diversity of road width and random arrangement of coarse and fine grain buildings
blurred the sense of direction on the site // the site consisted of fine grain and coarse
grain which caused many dead end to emerge // the newly developed east part of Jalan
Masjid Kapitan Keling have a clearer sense of direction due to its constant road width
and organized arrangement of fine grain buildings // users are able to frame the street
view from one end to another
Conclusion: Characteristics of Georgetown
• Diversified Typologies: two typologies, organized and eccentric arrangements in the
area // governmental and religious building are in point form, which is more
significant // shophouses are in linear form, which are more identical with each other
// grid pockets, linear arrangement of shophouses arranged like a box with private
area in the center
• Representational Ornamentation: façade ornamentations depict the influence and
affluence of owners // distinct economic disparities between the working class and
business/property owners // significance of levels of wealth and status in the
community at the time // expression of the evolution of the built environment,
economic factors and domestic values of a multi-ethnic community
• Enclosing Edges: higher topography bounded flat paddy field from Eastern part of
Georgetown with hills and forests landscaped view // hills became edges disconnecting
development in Georgetown from other parts of Penang. colonial development leans
towards Western Part of Georgetown (more flat lands) // this clear boundary sets
limitation to the local where the ‘end’ of Georgetown is clearly revealed, confining
their daily activities and depth of views to the surrounding.
• Engagement Pattern: the nodes along the axial of pitt street encourage movement of
users along stretch of the street. The formation of the religious building on the axial
creating a point to point circulation and shophouses as transnational space that
reconnects the layers. On the other hand, the wideness of the street shows more public
realm and walkability quality during the daily activities. // The grid pattern shows the
ease of accessibility and less confusing pattern that enable the sense to engage. Thus,
the simplicity of the pattern transcending into an engagement on the streets.
