Concubine Lane / Panglima Lane, Ipoh - Case Study (Asian Architecture)

1. ASIAN ARCHITECTURE
(ARC 60403/ ARC2234)
PROJECT 1 : CASE STUDY - ESSAY
NAME ID NUMBER
CHONG CHIN PIN 0319595
ERICA CHIN CHING 0320460
LAI TZEXIUAN 0318056
LIEW MIN YEE 0324525
LOONG BO LIN 0321469
OSCAR WONG 0319674
TAN JINGWEI 0320137

2. Panglima Lane (Past versus Present)
Ipoh was rich with vast resources especially tin. Mine coolies from China were brought in by the
British. Panglima Lane was originally famous for brothels, gambling and opium dens among the
coolies. As time passes, the lane became a place where tycoons kept their concubines or mistress.
In 1892, half of the Ipoh Old Town was engulfed in the Great Fire. The town was rebuilt after
that disaster. The rebuilt region included the Panglima Lane. Panglima Lane is also informally
known as the Second Concubine Lane by the local residents. This lane is located at the capital
(Ipoh) of the Perak state in Malaysia. There are another two lanes that also have similar tales to
tell. They are Hale Lane (First Concubine Lane) and Market Lane (Third Concubine Lane).
There are a few versions where the name of “Second Concubine Lane” came about. One of them
is when the Chinese miner, property owner and friend of E.W Birch, Yau Tet Shin kept his
second wife there while he was completing the development of the New Town in Datoh
Panglima Kinta. It was also rumoured that the houses on the lanes were given away to his three
wives by Yau Tet Shin, and hence the locals named the lanes accordingly.

3. Great Fire 1892 - Image source: ​http://db.ipohworld.org/photo/pdf/3875_wzhem140612.pdf
Fire occurrence were quite often in that area as the houses were made of wood and ​Atap
leaves in the 19th century. Besides that, poor kitchen arrangement and insufficient water supply
caused the fire to occur more often. On the 1st of June 1892, the worst fire broke out and
swallowed half of the town. At that time, there were over 340 houses with the population of
4,000 people in Ipoh Town. History recorded 123 houses were destroyed and damages were
about 80,000 to 100,000 Straits Dollars($). No recorded loss of life was found. The fire incident
was an opportunity for the town planners to rebuild the town in a more orderly grid pattern. It
was the reason why the Panglima Lane existed in such manner up until today. After the
restoration of the town, it attracted a huge number of Chinese miners from China to Ipoh Town,
and eventually it became a trade and social centre. Ipoh was recognised with the title of “City of
Millionaires”. The area began to flourish since then.

4. Building Collapsed in Panglima Lane - Image source: ​Shop, F. (1970, January 01). GUNDAM , KAMEN RIDER , KERORO ,
ULTRAMAN...etc. Retrieved July 01, 2017, from http://fancygiftshop.blogspot.my/2011/09/ipoh-building-collapsed-old-town-pekan.html
Another event that happened in these recent years was that there were signs where the
heritage buildings of this lane collapsed. This can be traced back to December 2010, pieces from
front upper floor and roof tiles fell down. No one was hurt in this incident. Things got worse
when the upper walls of another two units collapsed at 10.45 on the night of September 7th,
2011. Fortunately, there was not a single person passing at that time. The cause for the building
to collapse was due to the decayed wooden beam. The falling debris damaged the building
directly opposite them. The State Government and the City Council, MBI announced that
Panglima Lane as one of the best attraction in Ipoh just before it collapsed.
Instead of preserving the building from being rot, the street is paved with granite and the
storm water drains are concealed in an effort by the government to upgrade the area. After the
unfortunate event happened, the government decided to revoke the upgrading plan. The Local
Government Committee, Datuk Dr. Mah Hang Soon gave an immediate notice to the owners of
the shophouses which were deemed dangerous. At that moment, Panglima Lane was vulnerable
to demolition as the result from threatening the safety of the public. In order to save the heritage
from being demolish, an ad-hoc committee of the affected owners was formed. They met the

5. local authorities such as the MBI, JKR and State Government. The State claimed that they would
provide some financial help to the committee. The lane was restored as much as we can see
today. Both events happened in the past and present gave more essence to this historical
Panglima Lane.
Past society. Image source (Left) :
http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/forum/showcase/general-showcase/97499-panglima-lane-ipoh
Present society. Image Source (Right): Chong Chin Pin
Culture of a place is a reflection of its society. The culture of Panglima Lane is
fascinating and captivating. It tells us about the people of the place, their lifestyle and their
beliefs. By observing the culture of the lane gave us a fair idea about the traditions and practices
that are still followed by the locals. The locals have a fairly high standard of living and are quite
well-off in addition to being friendly towards tourists and polite. Communication with the older
people, though, might be a little difficult as they mostly speak their Chinese dialects. The
younger generation is educated in the English language, is more approachable. In olden days, ​i​t
was a society where everyone knows each other well, a community where strong emphasis on
human touch and connections. ​The past occupants used to hang their laundry including
underwear overhead, ​propped up from one window ledge to another, where the strong
connection of neighbourhood built from. Young children would run down the street, or squat in a

6. corner playing simple games like hopscotch, five-stone, spinning tops and marbles. ​Since
undergoing rehabilitation and revitalisation by the new generation of owners, Panglima Lane is
now a mixture of the old and the new, with young tenants offering a good range of knick knacks,
adjacent to eateries. The combination of very old building and colourful modern goods sold
might be visual pollution, but see everything in the good will, it prove that the history is real.
Panglima Lane has seen a revival of sorts as the area is now bustling with activity. As a popular
tourist spot, the lane is seeing an influx of visitors with the setting up of several souvenir shops
and eateries there now.
Traditional trades in the past. Image Source (Left): S. (n.d.). Retrieved July 01, 2017, from
http://sini.com.my/business/lgmtravelDetailview/1000005267
Present business. Image Source (Right): Chong Chin Pin
Traditional trades are fast disappearing. Back in the days when Ipoh was known for its
tin-mining, it was also known for its authenticity in crafts. However, as time passed and
technology became the norm, these crafts dwindled along with most of our appreciation towards
them. ​During the tin-mining days, the Panglima Lane was where the people from the mines came
to look for prostitutes and opium. Over time, it became the place where tycoons would deposit
their concubines. These girls existed solely to give rich men worldly pleasures were cloistered
away from sight down this lane, visited discreetly. ​After ages, the houses are in stages of

7. disrepair and neglect. Some houses are overtaken by vegetation. With the financial aids from the
State, half a million Ringgit is being pumped to spiff up Concubine Lane. The narrow alley is a
major attraction known for its heritage value, which has been turned into a mini Jonker Street.
However, the oldest and most famous kopitiam, Thean Chun Coffee Shop, where people like to
go for breakfast also can be found along Panglima Lane. The decor includes throwbacks to the
country's British colonial history, with heavy wooden tables topped with slabs of marble, the
walls around us lined with mirrors. Locals know this spot as "The House of Mirrors". It is a
small but bustling eatery, a cacophony of locals and tourists noisily slurping up bowls of noodles
and chattering over heaped plates of satay sticks. Moreover, in this alley, there is a Chinese
eatery called Wong Koh Kee has been been serving Cantonese-style dishes more than 100 years
such as stir-fried watercress with roast pork. Mr Wong Ying Hoong, 60, the grandson of the
original shop owner from which its name is derived, has helmed the restaurant for the past 40
years. ​It is a tourists' attraction with renovated old shops from British colonial times. Although
the shops had been restored as earlier, this short lane is getting a bit commercial now and the
meaning of the memory lane could be shattered. Almost all the old houses of Chinese style have
been renovated. There are not much traditional trades left along the lane as it had been replaced
with some nice and hipster cafes such as Plan B which opened among the old-styled coffee shops
and restaurants with the combination of nostalgic and modern architecture. Other than that, some
interesting souvenir shops, antique, craft and art workshops are also bringing into Panglima Lane
to attract the tourists.

8. Types of architectural style in Ipoh. Image source:​The Architectural Styles of Heritage Shophouses’ Building Facade in Ipoh, Perak. (2016,
November). Retrieved June 23, 2017, from
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/314091980_The_Architectural_Styles_of_Heritage_Shophouses%27_Building_Facade_in_Ipoh_Perak
Eclectic Style, significant semicircular fanlight windows. Image Source (Left):Erica Chin Ching
Modern Style, steel frame facade.Image Source (Right): Tan Jingwei
There are various architectural shophouse building facades in Ipoh. Those facades dated
back to 19th century (1800s) up until today. Those facades styles influenced by the British
Colonial included Transitional, Eclectic, Neoclassical, Art Deco, Early Modern and Modern. By
analysing their significant architectural elements, we were able to identify a few facades along
the Panglima Lane. They were Eclectic Style and Modern Style. Simple ornamentations can be
found on the walls in Eclectic Style shophouses along this alley. Another characteristics of this

9. style is the three full length windows with louvered top are usually on the upper storey facade of
the shophouses. Notable semicircular fanlight windows of Eclectic Style can be found on the
shophouse on Panglima Lane. There is a Modern hipster style cafe(Plan B) which originally an
old furniture warehouse coexisted along the traditional shophouses at Panglima Lane. They
renovated the warehouse into a nostalgic and yet modern architecture. Compare to the Eclectic
Style, Modern Style has simple geometric forms with glass curtain wall. Steel frame doors and
windows were installed. Unlike Eclectic Style, Modern Style does not use decorative
ornamentation as part of the design elements. Even though both architectural styles are very
contrasting, they exist in such a harmonious way. This makes Panglima Lane stands out even
more as a historical alley in Malaysia.
In brief, we can conclude that Panglima Lane is indeed an exotic and intriguing heritage
walk embellished with historical events. What makes this narrow alley distinctive is the history
that affects the local sociocultural, traditional trades and the architectural shophouses. Most of
Chinese was brought in to work as tin miners in 1800s and make the 70 percent of the Ipoh
population in the present-day. The traditional trades were also based on the businesses by the
Chinese tycoons in late 19th century. Today, the alley becomes one the famous heritage walk
with local crafts and food businesses. By preserving the traces of British Colonial architectural
style, it makes Panglima Lane becomes one of the most desirable place-to-go in Malaysia.

10. References
Ipoh's Concubine Lane - Where Historical Structures Meet Hipster Culture. (n.d.). Retrieved June 23, 2017, from
http://www.eastasy.com/article/malaysia/ipohs-concubine-lane-where-historical-
structures-meet-hipster-culture
The Concubine Lanes of Ipoh. (2016, August 09). Retrieved June 23, 2017, from
http://alwaystravelicious.com/2016/08/09/concubine-lane-ipoh/
Once upon a time, a concubine. (2012, July 23). Retrieved June 23, 2017, from
https://footfringe.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/once-upon-a-time-a-concubine/
Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog. (n.d.). Retrieved June 23, 2017, from
http://www.j2kfm.com/plan-b-ipoh-old-town/
S. (n.d.). Ipoh World. Retrieved June 23, 2017, from http://db.ipohworld.org/view/id/1619
From Emily To You. (n.d.). Retrieved June 23, 2017, from http://www.emily2u.com/market-lane-
second-concubine-lane-ipoh-old-town/
Historical Concubine Lane In Old Town Of Ipoh 怡保有个美丽的传说, 已有百年历史的二奶巷. (n.d.). Retrieved
June 23, 2017, from http://www.jenniferteophotography.com/thats-life-blog/historical-
concubine-lane-in-old-town-of-ipoh
Ipoh heritage trail: This town is made for walking. (2013, November 28). Retrieved June 23, 2017, from
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/eat-drink/article/ipoh-heritage-trail-this-town-is-made-
for-walking
The Architectural Styles of Heritage Shophouses’ Building Facade in Ipoh, Perak. (2016, November). Retrieved
June 23, 2017, from
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/314091980_The_Architectural_Styles_of_Heritage_Shophouses%27_Build
ing_Facade_in_Ipoh_Perak
Advancing Panglima Lane​(2011, October 14). Retrieved June 23, 2017, from
https://perakheritage.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/advancing-panglima-lane/
Panglima Lane is Falling Down (2011, September 8). Retrieved on June 22, 2017, from
http://www.ipohecho.com.my/v2/2011/09/08/panglima-lane-is-falling-down-2/
Shop, F. (1970, January 01). GUNDAM , KAMEN RIDER , KERORO , ULTRAMAN...etc. Retrieved July 01, 2017,
from http://fancygiftshop.blogspot.my/2011/09/ipoh-building-collapsed-old-town-pekan.html
http://db.ipohworld.org/photo/pdf/3875_wzhem140612.pdf
S. (n.d.). Retrieved July 01, 2017, from http://sini.com.my/business/lgmtravelDetailview/1000005267