Jalan Raja Chulan in Kuala Lumpur has historical significance as it was renamed after an important Malay figure and links busy areas of the city. An abandoned building along the road consisting of 8 shophouses from the 1930s originally housed the Eurasian community. A proposal recommends adapting the building into a visitor center to showcase the culture and history of the area through exhibits, performances, and galleries. This would capitalize on the growing number of visitors in the developing commercial district and create a new landmark.

1. ABANDON HOUSE
JALAN RAJA CHULAN

2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

3. 1.1 Of Jalan Raja Chulan
a road that has brought much convenience to the people of Kuala Lumpur
as it links two busy areas, namely Masjid Jamek and the Golden Triangle.
Renamed after Raja Chulan (formerly was Weld Road) in 1982
Currently (since 1982) named after Raja Sir Chulan, Raja di Hilir Perak, the
first Malay unofficial member of the Federal Council (1924–1933);
formerly named after Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld ( 1823 - 1891), Governor
of the Straits Settlements.
1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Raja Chulan
DYAM Raja Sir Chulan ibni
Almarhum Sultan Abdullah
(Raja Di-Hilir: 1920-1933)
- urged the British to improve
the Malay’s people economic
standing and their access to
employment in the civil service.
- vocal in other matters of British
administration of the Malay
States
- first Malay ever to be appointed
DO
location map

4. O L D M A L A Y A
In the late 1870, European coffee planters in Ceylon left
the island to try their luck in Malaya because a fungal
disease had decimated their crops.
By 1880, the Honorable R.B. Downall obtained two
concessions; 77 hectares (194 acres) on a hillock near
the heart of Kuala Lumpur, which he named Weld Hill
after the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir
Frederick Weld.

5. 8 dilapidated heritage buildings
- it was built in around 1930 and called the ‘’Serani Row’’
(also known as Eurasian, a landmass consisting of the
traditional continents of Asia and Europe)
- this colonial building used to be the glamorous residences
of the Eurasian community
1.2 of ABANDONED SHOPHOUSES
OLD MALAYA; PAMPAS
- little knows about this building, it is however very
well possible that one part of this building was once
the home of F.B. Hicks
( Secretary of the Selangor Planters' Association)

6. R E L A T I O N
THE Façade - they do boast two intricate crests, each bearing
the acronym "oEs", a feature vaguely reminiscent of the
Eastern & Oriental Hotel's crest in Penang, another one of
British colonial area.

7. SOCIAL BACKGROUND

8. Social Background of Jalan Raja Chulan
Jalan Raja Chulan offers glimpses into KL’s history. KUALA Lumpur folk must
be so used to Jalan Raja Chulan that thousands of them drive past without a
second thought to its past or present. It is a road that has brought much
convenience to the people of Kuala Lumpur as it links two busy areas, namely
Masjid Jamek and the Golden Triangle.
• Menara KL is easily one of Malaysia’s most recognizable and popular
landmarks.
• Currently the 18th-tallest freestanding structure in the world.
• Menara KL plays host to a revolving restaurant, Atmosphere 360,
serving local and western cuisine.
• Sitting atop the Bukit Nanas (Pineapple Hill) Forest Reserve.
• The oldest gazetted forest reserve in the country.
• The tower’s architectural style reflects Malaysia’s Islamic heritage
with walls inscribed with Arabic scripts and floor tiles, floral motifs
and abstract patterns.
L A N D M A R K

9. • Jalan Raja Chulan is one of the
most important place in Kuala
Lumpur because the economy here
grow rapidly.
• This is due to the construction of
KL Monorail near that area which
make the transportation much
easier.
• Examples are Raja Chulan Station
and Bukit Nanas Station.
• The Weld shopping centre, is the most obvious reminder of the
street’s previous name.
• This area is also one of the tourist attraction due to the
presence of KL Tower.
• Very crowded at both day and night time that lead to the factor
of heavy traffic jam, especially during the peak hour.
The Weld shopping centre
Raja Chulan Station
E C O N O M Y

10. • This area is very crowded with people.
• Most of them are Malaysian, but a lot of foreigners too.
• Most of them came here to work, study and also as
tourists.
• Along the Jalan Raja Chulan itself, there are a lot of
private colleges.
• The presence of these colleges is also the main factor of
different nationality mixture.
• Thus, lead to different language spoken.
N A T I O N A L I T Y

11. • Nightclubs are an almost inevitable part of
Kuala Lumpur’s social life.
• There are quite a few city streets that play
host to after-dark venues that range from
custom-built super-clubs to classic pubs with
niche soundtracks.
• Strategically located between Jalan P.Ramlee
and Changkat Bukit Bintang.
• Jalan Raja Chulan is considered one of the
main road for nightlife.
• The Best Nightlife place near Jalan Raja Chulan
to dance, drink and party are Providence KL ,
SkyBar, Luna Bar, Sultan Lounge, Heli Lounge Bar
and Pisco Bar.
Jalan P.Ramlee
Changkat Bukit Bintang
L I F E S T Y L E

12. ARCHITECTURAL STYLE

13. a. Built during colonial era , 1931.
b. Facing the busy and heavy traffic road ;
Jalan Raja Chulan.
c. Known as Serani Row
d. Corner unit – poor condition.
e. Six unit in the middle – vary from
abandoned just habitable.
f. During olden days, represented as the
best and elite accommodation in the city
home of the Eurasian Community.
A B A N D O N H O U S E A L O N G J A L A N R A J A C H U L A N

14. a. Influenced by European & Chinese
b. Symmetrical design
c. Central Entrance
d. Air-well / Courtyard
e. 2 storey height
f. Windows & Ventilators
CHARACTERISTIC OF COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE IN MALASIA

15. CHARACTERISTIC OF COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE IN MALASIA

16. DILAPIDATION SURVEY

17. NO AREA BUILDING DEFECT TYPE OF DEFECT SUGGESTED TREATMENT
1 Concrete spalling
Occur on walls, the steel
reinforcing bars within the
concrete begin to corrode
and expand, causing the
breakage on the surface.
Concrete spalling
treatment
In order to effect repairs,
spalled concrete must be
removed and any exposed
steel must either be
replaced or cleaned and
treated.
2 Concrete wall cracking Crack injection
emecole epoxy crack repairs
product

18. NO AREA BUILDING DEFECT TYPE OF DEFECT SUGGESTED TREATMENT
3 Degrading paint
Paint can be seen cracking
and flacking off, exposing
the previous paint colour.
Repaint
4 Biological activity
The fungus is typically
found in accumulations of
droppings around roosting
and nesting sites. For
example attics, cupolas
ledges and water towers.
Cleaning

19. NO AREA BUILDING DEFECT TYPE OF DEFECT SUGGESTED TREATMENT
5 Defective plaster
Defective plaster occurs
mostly on external walls,
column and ceiling of the
old buildings. It is mainly
due to biological attacks
arising out of penetrating
rain, water evaporation,
condensation process, air
pollution, dehydration and
thermal stress on old
building materials.
Crazing is a network of fine
cracks, usually in a
hexagonal pattern, which
measures between 5and
75mm across each
hexagon.
6 Defective rainwater
goods
Common problems
associated with the
defective rainwater goods
in old building include
sagging or missing eaves
gutter, corroded or broken
galvanized iron down pipes
or leaking rainwater heads
Maintenance of
guttering
Scoop out the rubbish from
the guttering using a trowel
or a piece of card bent into
a scoop within the profile
of the gutter.

20. PROPOSAL OF ADAPTIVE REUSE

21. Abandon building
To
Visitor Centre
Symbolising and introducing the rich history of the area to visitors.
Giving the tourist and visitors to the area a better understanding
and direction of the place. A new landmark for the area that they can
pin to their maps.
Development of businesses nearby is rapidly growing, with large
amount of visitor flow through, best to create a visitor centre to
convey information.

22. Programs and activities
Dramas and performance showing multi tradition culture of Malaysia. The theatre is a showcase of the rich history through the form
of art and story telling.
Wayang Kulit Mak Yong
T H E A T R E

23. Programs and activities
This gallery briefly explains the culture and history of the area through exhibits like artwork, sculptures, models and pictures. There
will also be an area where a video explanation will be provided along with seating for visitors to rest.
Antique Display Art display
G A L L E R Y

24. Row of 8 unit, few of them are internally connected
for larger floor area and also for ease of movement.
The entrance of each unit are separated and each
unit have its very own unique display, about history
of Jalan Raja Chulan and history of Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Spatial Planning
Reception
Staff Office and Pantry
Gallery
Lounge
Retail
Legend
Ground Floor Plan

25. This theatre is capable for 50 people, consider
as a relatively small theatre. This theatre
theme “Malaysia Culture”. Other spaces will be
dedicated for display gallery. A passage
corridor is created to connect every unit on
first floors.
Spatial Planning
Theatre
Corridor
Gallery
Legend
First Floor Plan

26. Materiality
Gallery Space
Open lounge Current condition of the building
The exterior façade will be leave unchanged but with
repair work for retaining value. On interior, using
characteristic of colonial architecture as theme, heavy
brick work through out the whole building, this way to
retain the building’s originality.
Wall – Brick wall with plaster
and paint finishes
Floor – Quarry floor tiles
Countertop – Bricks work with no finishes
Gallery display – Steel frame
Seating (For theatre) – Wooden chair
Stage (For theatre) – Plywood