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K U A L A LU M P U R
Present city skyline of Kuala Lumpur – 2015.
Panoramic view of Kuala Lumpur in 1884.
Kuala Lumpur – the capital of Malaysia. The city is located in west-central
Peninsular (West) Malaysia, midway along the west coast tin and rubber
belt and about 25 miles (40 km) east of its ocean port, Port Kelang, on
the Strait of Malacca. It is the country’s largest urban area and its
cultural, commercial, and transportation centre.
MODERNIZATION OF MALAYSIA
The maritime trade and exchanges with Arabs, Chinese, and Indians
served as a momentum that initiated changes in Malay Peninsula from
about the 5th century. Due to active economic trades that centered on
coastal kampong (village), these traditional villages were later developed
into the early towns in Malaysia. The major towns are Melaka, Alor Setar
on the west coast, and Johor Bahru to the south. Kota Bharu, Kuala
Terengganu and Pekan are on the east coast of the peninsular. The main
physical features of early towns were the istana (palace), the mosque and
a market. However, those early towns still had rural images and can be
considered as big villages.
ESTABLISHMENT OF EARLY TOWN
The three western colonial powers; the Portuguese from 1511, the Dutch
from 1641 and the British from 1824 ruled the country consecutively.
Throughout the colonial period, the fabrics and shapes of the town had
gradually been changed. Well-aligned streets, town squares, shophouses,
churches, bungalows, monastery, hospitals, palaces and administrative
buildings were introduced. The colonial power has changed the style of
architecture and its decorative elements that resulted in the earlier
established town such as Melaka became an exhibition of various
architectural styles of the colonialist.
2

S E N T U L
If there's one defining trait of Sentul today, it is the graceful juxtaposition of old
and new. Next to the gleaming edifices that house condominiums, offices and
other businesses are old-fashioned shophouses selling anything from flowers to
food to football boots.
Sentul was founded in the late 1800s when the first Malayan railway line opened
between Taiping and Port Weld (now known as Kuala Sepetang), creating a need
for a centrally located railway workshop. . Sentul Works, as the railway workshop
was then called, was one of the finest integrated and most complete engineering
workshops in the country. The workshop elevated Sentul's prominence overnight
and grew the community that comprised largely of its railway workers and their
families who resided in the neighbouring quarters. Their daily lives were dictated
by the routine of the railway system and gave Sentul a strong sense of identity.
According to YTL's senior architect Geoff Low, since Sentul was once KTM
reserve land,it is dotted with several century-old buildings that are remnants of
its railway history. Many of these buildings have been saved and restored - the
KL Performing Arts Centre, for example - and the masterplan is constantly being
adjusted to accommodate the adaptive reuse of each building. But Low is firm
about one thing-only buildings with architectural merit are saved and restored.
For example, the old building that housed the station will be torn down.
Century-old buildings are found in every corner of the historical Sentul. .
The redesigned Sentul Komuter Station as the start of YTL’s ongoing
development which is rapidly changing the Sentul landscape. 3

The way Sentul has been revived in recent times is thanks to a
regeneration exercise carried out by YTL Land & Development, which
includes the full spectrum of amenities required of a modem-day
township -residential, commercial, retail properties and transportation.
The excerpt above was extracted from (2010, August 9). The Edge, p. 1.
While life for the residents of this historic railway town may have
changed for better or worse since the days of Sentul Works, Joseph
says the place holds a special place in many people’s hearts.
“I like the new Sentul,” muses Joseph. “Where else can you see a guy
stringing garlands of jasmine in front of his flower shop, with a string of
new condos behind him? It’s like the town has come alive again.”
Property Manager, Joseph, 65.
The excerpt above was extracted from Sentul, a Historical Railway
Town. (2010, September 10). The Star.
“A shiny new KTM Komuter
gracefully slides on the track nearby
where noisy, cheerful steam engines
once did.
This old railway town has so much
history, yet seems so prepared to
trundle into the future.
4

H I S T O R Y O F
T H E S H O P H O U S E
I N K U A L A L U M P U R
In the 1850s, many Chinese tin miners migrated from Klang to Kuala
Lumpur to operate new and larger tin mines under Sultan of Selangor. It
was then the beginning of the development of Kuala Lumpur. Gullick
(2000) affirmed that they landed at the joining of Sungai Lumpur (now
Gombak) and Sungai Klang and established tin mines at Ampang.
Though the shophouse form was developed in Malacca, Penang and
Singapore by the early 19th century, shophouses were only introduced
in Kuala Lumpur during 1884.
The shophouse is a unique urban housing form found in Southeast
Asian historic cities. The definition of shophouse is a narrow, small
scale terraced structure that provides business for a ground floor and
residential purpose for an upper floor.
The Kuala Lumpur shophouses styles are similar to the styles that
are current in Europe. According to the classification of Idid (1996) and
Heritage of Malaysia Trust (1990), in this general eclectic style attributed
to colonialism, several building periods can be identified as below:-
“Life in a shop house can never have been,
for most people, anything but a congested
and insanitary struggle to survive,
But perhaps the chief reason for the shop
house’s rapidly diminishing numbers is
pressure from modern commercial
development.
’’
5

i. Pre 1884 – These shophouses were simple attap huts introduced by Chinese merchants to service the tin miners.
ii. Post 1884 – The façade of the shophouses developed according to style in Europe but the basic plan was not modified.
This variation in façade treatment included:
1. Early Shophouse Style
The earliest form of a shophouse was documented in 1840 and it was a bare bones, no-frills affair. They had 2 storeys, a five-foot way on the first
floor, wooden jalousie (shuttered) windows, and clay-tiled roofs. Materials used for the construction were most likely locally sourced. Add the
cheap labour into the mix and you’d have a pretty cheap yet decent abode.
2. Transitional Style
Fast forward a few decades to the early 1900s and the first generation of immigrants have more or less settled here. They yearned to build more
permanent, substantial homes for themselves. Shophouses became taller, more brightly coloured, and began to see more facade ornamentation
like decorative panels and carvings, although they were still relatively simple and restrained.
This style made a comeback in the late 1930s, possibly in response to the dire economic slump that was the Great Depression.
3. Late Shophouse Style
At the same time, shophouses began to acquire a classical taste, with window vents and carvings that would not look out of place in Greece.
Plaster was also used extensively to create super lavish ornaments like garlands and floral motifs.
Early Chinese merchants very cleverly zhng their houses to incorporate local influences like auspicious animal and floral motifs, giving them a
distinctively schizophrenic look which came to be known as Singapore Eclectic.
.
6

Kuala Lumpur in transition (1884) attap shanties in the foreground and brick
buildings behind with the wall of jungle in the background
The first shophouses built in brick, sited in Old Market Square,
and built by Yap Ah Loy,
4. Art Deco Style
By the mid 1900s, modern advances in technology in the world as well as post war economy started to exert influence on shophouse architecture.
As the world was introduced to airliners, ships, and motorcars, shophouses also began to reflect the wonders of the Machine Age.
The organically inspired ornamentation of the earlier periods was discarded in favour of more streamlined designs, curved corners and strong
horizontal lines. Geometric shapes, zigzag roofs and flagpoles were also common.
5. Modern Style
Geometric designs continued into the post-war period. By then, shophouses took on a more functional design. Air vents, for example, took on
functional as well as decorative purposes. Modern materials were used – concrete for the walls, and steel for the windows. The roofs of modern
shophouses also tended to be flat.
7

Early style shop houses - along Erskine Road, Singapore. Late shop house style - corner of Pertain Road, Singapore.
Art Deco shophouse - Dong Ya Building at Keong Saik Road. Modern shophouse block along Horne Road.
5 types of shophouses in S’pore that you definitely didn’t know of. (2015, February 23). Retrieved November 14, 2015, from http://mothership.sg/2015/02/5-types-of-
shophouses-in-spore-that-you-definitely-didnt-know-of/ 8

C A S E S T U D I E S
I . M O D E R N I S M I N S I N G A P O R E
T I O N G B A H R U E S T A T E
The Singaporean government started developing modern mass housing, shop houses and new towns for the people in 1959. In March 1960, soon
after Singapore gained self-government, the Housing Development Board (HDB) was established as a statutory body. It took over from SIT the pressing
task of providing proper public housing for the entire population. It was considered the only realistic means of housing the masses and at the same
time eradicating the inner city slums and unhealthy living conditions.
INTRODUCTION OF MODERN PUBLIC HOUSING: SIT (1927-1959)
The introduction of modern architecture in Singapore was done on a relatively large scale by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT). SIT built the first
large-scale public housing projects in Singapore, using modern materials such as reinforced concrete, with minimum decoration and rationalized
forms, which allowed mass production and kept construction costs down. Simplicity, rationality, and beauty are the main characteristics featured in SIT
designed apartments.
CASE STUDY 1 – TIONG BAHRU ESTATE
Tiong Bahru was the first housing estate developed by the Singapore Improvement Trust. About 2000 units of three-to five-story apartment
buildings were built between 1936 and 1954. Thirty blocks containing 931 units were built by the Trust in 1936, along the Tiong Poh Road and the
Moh Guan Terrace of the Tiong Bahru area. Fifty blocks of apartments comprising 1040 units on the right side of Tiong Bahru Road were built in
1948. The one- to five-room dwelling units and mix-used units were laid out on a grid provided with generous green public open space. Clean and
rational architectural façades featuring rounded balconies, thin horizontal slabs, and ventilation holes gave the place its unique modernist character.
The public can walk along footpaths through the spacious backyards owned and maintained by the residents on the ground floor. The atmosphere
within the housing complex is intimate and warm, which encourages residents to mingle outside their houses
9

MODERN MASS HOUSING AND NEW TOWNS FOR THE PEOPLE: HDB (1959-PRESENT)
In March 1960, soon after Singapore gained self-government, the Housing Development Board (HDB) was established as a statutory body. It took
over from SIT the pressing task of providing proper public housing for the entire population. It was considered the only realistic means of housing
the masses and at the same time eradicating the inner city slums and unhealthy living conditions.
CASE STUDY 1 – HDB FLATS
The HDB’s apartment design addresses some basic constraints in Singapore, such as land shortage, an expanding population and reasonable prices.
The large-scale development of high-rise, high-density, low-cost, standardized constructions is the most logical solution. Typically, the HDB
apartment is very functional, simple in shape and plan. It could be conceived as the realization of a simplified version of Le Corbusier’s dream of La
Ville Radieuse. The orientation of dwelling blocks, position of courtyards and balconies, are carefully considered to achieve climatic responsive
Architectural Layout
Tiong Bahru’s Estate Design bears some likeness with the design principles of the post-war New Towns in Britain: the emphasis on creating
small neighbourhoods and maximum privacy between individual homes, the need to promote health and to improve security thanks to open
views and public surveillance. The block's design was also influenced by local architectural idioms, such as the Straits Settlements’ shop-house
typology. The layout is based on a modified shop-house plan with a courtyard acting as an air/light well, a back lane and spiral staircases.
Like its predecessor in Tiong Bahru, the design of High-rise SIT apartment building in Upper Pickering Street features some modernist elements
such as apartment-slab concrete, rounded balconies and predominantly horizontal lines. But the unique lifestyle and typology of Chinatown's
shop-houses are maintained in the new apartments. The five-foot walkway turns into corridors that enable access to the individual dwelling
units, the back lane is turned into balconies, and service spaces like the kitchen and toilets are placed at the rear end of the house/apartment.
By stacking up the horizontal layout vertically, land use is intensified and interaction between dwellers is maintained. Vertical interaction
between the apartments replaced the horizontal interaction on the street. Life was carried up from the street into the sky
1 0

buildings.
ARCHITECTURAL LAYOUT
The void space in every HDB block allows the free flow of pedestrians and nature, although it is does not quite resemble the Corbusian pilotis space.
Small-scale social spaces are created within a cluster of several housing blocks, containing playgrounds and a senior citizen corner.
Next on the grouping scale is the neighbourhood centre, consisting of small shops, markets, nursery schools, clinics, and other
public facilities for about 6,000 residents. The size of a neighbourhood has been reduced since the 1970s to increase the sense of community. Beyond
the neighbourhood group is the town centre with bigger markets, supermarkets, banks, health centres, post offices, schools, and other community
facilities. The district space standards in the HDB New Towns are quite high, as only around a third of the land is used for residential purposes, while
the rest is dedicated to community support and service facilities
Next page – Tiong Bahru Estate.
Clockwise, from top left:
1. High-rise SIT apartment building in Upper Pickering Street(next to Hong Lim Park) in the process of demolition
2. Present day Tiong Bahru. Renovated and maintained since its construction to better serve the citizens of Singapore.
3. The original site plan of Tiong Bahru Estate.
4. A present day photo of a corner shop house on the current Tiong Bahru road.
Page after next – HDB Housing
1. Rochor Centre comprises of a three-storey building of shops and offices, and four blocks of flats each painted in different shades of blue, green, red and yellow.
2. The early typology of HDB apartments in Holland Drive, built around the1970s, now awaiting demolition or redevelopment into a higher-rise higher-density apartment building
3. To give a sense of identity, a specially articulated housing-shopping HDB block in Holland Drive. Shops are located at ground level, while upper floors are for dwelling units
4. HDB flats, with shops at ground level, at the junction of Siglap Road and East Coast Road - one of the oldest surviving clusters of HDB
This article is extracted from Modernism in Singapore - Wood, J. (2007, August 6). Tiong Bahru Estate. Retrieved November 12, 2015, from
http://tiongbahruestate.blogspot.my/2007/08/modernism-in-singapore.html
1 1

C A S E S T U D I E S
I I . M O D E R N I S M I N B R I TA I N
P A R K H I L L E S T A T E , S H E F F I E L D
A council house is a form of public or social housing in built by local municipalities in the United Kingdom and Ireland A council estate is a building
complex where a great many council houses and other amenities like schools and shops. Council houses were solidly built and distinctive in design
which evolved over the period of their construction from 1919 to 1980. There were local design variation but they all stuck rigidly to Local
Authority building standards- differing from the more relaxed attitude of the private sector
CASE STUDY II – PARK HILL ESTATE, SHEFFIELD
Park Hill Estate’s rigorous, good-intended yet highly experimental design by the Housing Development Committee can be justified by the fact that,
during a period of high demand for housing; resulting from the clearance of the previously chaotic and increasingly unsanitary slums, and meeting
the housing demand after the Second World War; this was one of the first large scale investments into a new radical form of high density, high rise
housing.
Architectural Layout
Plan
Park Hill was designed as a single building that provided a combination of “accommodation and amenities” The large scale ‘box frame’ structure
allows for a “variety of dwelling types fitted into a standard repetitive structure” where as non-structural walls determine the different dwelling
sizes and arrangement. This in turn is expressed in the external grid creating an overall effect of a seemingly random disordered cellular layout.
1 4

Over the years the estate has been home to 31 shops, 4 pubs, 74 garages, a primary and a nursery school, doctor's surgery and pharmacy. The shops
were set at the lowest point of the estate, to which people were thought to naturally gravitate. 4 pubs and a launderette were more widely dispersed
at points on the ground near lifts.
Of the most notable architectural features of Park Hill Estate is the “street in the sky” analogy, this could not be denied. A visit to the estate will
highlight the importance of these elevated streets on the scheme; Rows upon rows of open access balconies line the entire estate like threads. In order
to understand the role of this analogy, one must look back at ‘street’ life on the slums. A sense of community that the Lyn and Smith wanted to
translate by “replicate (-ing) the tightly packed street life of the area in the air”. But this highly social community were also overcrowded and lacked
structure; the Architect’s task was to therefore extract the culture of the ‘streets’ whilst insuring that the facilitation of a basic organizational system
that signifies the progression towards an improved living condition.
Amenities
As part of translating the slum street life into the estate, the Architects worked on the existing layout to arrange the placement of the new amenities,
choosing to keep the former district shopping street in its original location on the north and instead, to surround the new amenities such as school and
community hall around it. The inclusion of amenities as part of the scheme shares similarities with Le Corbusier’s Unite d’Habitation, which features a
“kindergarten, swimming pool,(and) children’s playground…” this has in turn pushed forward ideas on creating a “setting for a ‘new society’”. Park Hill’s
“ancillary activities” are therefore, an operational strategy that aims at creating a strong sense of community between the residents and convenience
associated with modern living.
The incorporation of a series of coloured bricks to the façade of the Estate, initially attempts to provide a means of “identification” for the inhabitants.
The Housing Committee praises this by explaining that residents can “readily recognise their own deck level both from the outside.
Clockwise from top
1. Park Hill Estate was built between 1957 and 1960 as a response to both the housing shortage from the War and
accumulation of slums in the city.
2. The ‘Pavement’ shopping high street of Park Hill Estate, located in Sheffield, England.
3. The site plan that shows the arrangement of Park Hill apartment blocks.
4. The newly renovated Park Hill Estate. 1 5

Architecture is the sum of form, function, and spirit. Modern architectural form is always simple, rational, and functional, an expression of the
“Spirit of the modern Age” (rational, contemporary, innovative, progressive). We could see modernity as a process of modernization, when the
spirit of freedom, progress, and innovation flourishes
To define “modernism” in Asia is rather problematic. Arguably, modernity existed in Southeast Asia ever since the establishmentof international
trading ports due to worldwide maritime trade and exchange, at a time when the spirit of free trade and innovation thrived. In cosmopolitan cities,
new architectural typologies appeared with the fusion of various elements, materials, and technology, built by culturally mixed communities.
Architectural shapes such as shop-houses, religious buildings, and palaces expressed a cosmopolitan, entrepreneurial and inventive spirit. This, we
could call past modernity.
“Modern Asia has not developed in a vacuum but has evolved through sustained interactions with the West, which has had a constant presence in
our collective consciousness. This shared experience of the world unites us as Asians. The history of dealing with the West, with our neighbors and
with ourselves, is manifested in the myriad forms of our Architecture. The history of Modern Architecture in Asia is the history of how Asians have
become modern”.
The excerpt above was extracted from Widodo, J. (n.d.). Modernism in Singapore. Retrieved November 14, 2015, from
https://www.academia.edu/223177/Modernism_in_Singapore
M O D E R N I S M
A B S T R A C T
1 7

Left to right:
1. Asia on the South-east Asia Map.
2. The shop-house typology has evolved
with many generations in Southeast
Asian cosmopolitan cities. This is an
example of the Art Deco shop-house
in Singapore, between the 1930s and
the 1950s.
3. This photo was believed to be taken in
the late 1960’s showing KL’s 2 famous
landmarks – the Kuala Lumpur Railway
station and the National Mosque
(Masjid Negara).
1 8

SITE A
CULTURAL SHOP HOUSES
Jalan Ipoh, 51200, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan,
343, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Sentul, 51200 Kuala
Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
SITE B
COMMUNITY CONVENIENCE SHOP HOUSES
JLN 1/68D, Chow Kit, 50350 Kuala Lumpur, Federal
Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
SITE C
PUBLIC SERVICES SHOP HOUSES
Jalan lpoh, 52100, Kuala Lumpur, Titiwangsa Sentral,
52100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
Right: Google Maps and Earth images of Site A, B and C.
F A S T F A C T S
S E N T U L S H O P H O U S E S
SITE A
SITE CSITE B
SITE A
SITE CSITE B
1 9

Left to right
Site A – Cultural Shop Houses
Strong Indian cultural influence on the identity of the shop houses.
Site B –Community Convenience Shop Houses
Provides simple retail, food and beverage, and services to local residents and patrons.
Site C – Public Services Shop Houses
Established public service buildings are built amongst or as a shop house.
2 0

A B O U T
S I T E A , B , C
Left to right, clockwise
The more recent shop house block of Site A consisting more of offices and centres,
The older shop house block consisting of more traditional Indian shops.
Site A shop lots are situated opposite the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple.
Back lanes of the shop houses are unkempt and run-down – some are private residences.
S ITE A
2 1

S ITE B
Left to right, clock wise
The Damai Service Hospital is made out of a series of grand, white shop houses. Arched five-foot walkways shade visitors walking in front of the shop houses.The Art Deco and
modern façade of Site B shop houses. Buku Sin Lian is a traditional book store. A gable roofed shop house stands out among the rest, mixing residential and office usage.
.
2 2

S ITE C
Left to right, clockwise
Shading fins are a common site in Site C shop houses.
The back façade of Pusat Tuisyen Sri Intan.
Eccentric triangular form of a corner shop house.
A small Wisma situated in between shop houses.
2 3

“Neither time nor bomb
has destroyed the heart
of Sentul
’’
2 4

A B O U T
S I T E A , B , C
SITE A SITE B SITE C
Location / address Jalan Ipoh, 51200, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah
Persekutuan, 343, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah,
Sentul, 51200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah
Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
JLN 1/68D, Chow Kit, 50350 Kuala Lumpur,
Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Jalan lpoh, 52100, Kuala Lumpur, Titiwangsa
Sentral, 52100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal
Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Function Cultural Shop Houses Community Convenience Shop Houses Public Services Shop Houses
Brief description Has a strong Indian culture identity. Provides simple retail, food and beverage,
and services to local residents and patrons.
Established public service buildings are built
amongst or as a shop house.
Site description  Consists of Indian grocery stores,
convenience stores, restaurants,
open-air ‘mamak’.
 Situated next to the popular Lotus
Five Star Sentul cinema.
 Next to the Sri Thandayuthapani
Temple.
 E.g. of buildings are Madras
Restaurant, Madura Convenience
Store, Kedai Kain and Sari Chakras.
 Numerous small convenience stores,
bookshop and grocery
stores.
 Also many restaurants, Chinese
‘kopitiam’ or coffee shops
 E.g. of buildings are the DSH Damai
Service Hospital, Buku Sin Lian
Stationary shop.
 Occupied by a number of banks and
‘wisma’s .
 Situated directly next to the Chow Kit
monorail.
 E.g. of buildings are a Standard
Chartered bank, Wisma TLT, Pusat
Intan Tuition Centre.
Brief history  Largely Indian populated
 Existence of temple and Indian
cinema nearby contributes to the
cultural demographic
 Consists of 2 major blocks of shop
houses
 1st block was built by individual
occupants of shop houses (1964)
 2nd block was built by a land
developer (1984)
 Largely Chinese populated, Chinese
occupants
 Originally built in 1938
 Renovation and construction continued
until 1975
 Well-connected by roads and nearby
monorail stations.
 Presence of more urban and public
service shop houses create a larger
and diverse population.
 Situated along Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah,
one of the main roads leading in and
out of Sentul
 Formerly known as Jalan Ipoh
2 5

A N A LY S I S

Shop houses in Site A .
We were exploring the shop houses in Sentul area,
Kuala Lumpur. In those sites, buildings exist in
relationship to their street and immediate vicinity.
There are a total of 3 sites that we have explored
and we have subjected these sites into Site A, Site B
and Site C.
In Site A, the shop houses were built right beside
Jalan Sultan Azlah Shah. Cars were allowed to park in
a slanted position at the road sides which serve as
parking spaces for people to access the shop houses
conveniently. Cinema and primary school can be
found nearby the shop houses.
Beside, this area is highly influenced by Hindu
culture. A Hindu temple and primary school can be
seen just right opposite of the shop houses.
Google map and earth image of Site A
SITE A
2 7

Cars parked in a slanted position facing the
Shop houses.
People have to enter from the front façade to access the buildings,
whereas five-foot walkway is served to allow people walk and flow
through every shop entrances. People can access every shops
through their front and back entrances. There are only two
entrances for simple and easy access of people in and out of the
building. However, most people access the shops through the front
entrances while the back entrances are mostly accessed by the
workers of the shops. In relation to that, most of the workers
parked their cars right behind the shop houses.
Other than that, the climate in this area is uncomfortably hot, most
probably due to highly packed stalls being set up along the five foot
walkway in front of the shop houses, reducing the air ventilation
effect surrounding. The stalls are mostly selling Indian stuffs such
as local Indian foods, Indian costumes, jewellery and many others.
There is a large trash collecting stop behind the shop houses that
allows all shop workers to throw their rubbish in one place. On the
other side, bus stop and canopy walk can be seen right in front of
the shop houses. The canopy walk connects the shop houses with
the opposite temple, school and other shop buildings, allowing
people to cross the main roads and also create convenience for the
accessibility of people at both sides of buildings.
Stalls being set up in a row beside the
five-foot walkway.
2 8

Google map and earth image of Site B.
Shop houses in Site B.
While In Site B, the shop houses looked obviously older
compared to the buildings in Site A. However, this area
is rather peaceful and windy. Majority of the buildings in
the area are two storeys. Some are built up to four
storeys for their business purposes.
The rows of shop houses seems to form a street along
the main roads. Most of the shop houses were preferably
built beside the main roads in order to draw peoples’
attention of their shops while passing by the roads. In
this site, the cars were all parked in the same parallel
directions tidily and neatly. The environment looked
cleaner and more comfortable compared to the Site A.
This area is more influenced by Chinese culture as most
of their businesses are run by Chinese owners. Besides,
many automotive repairing and selling companies can
also be seen in this area.
SITE B
2 9

People are able to access the shop houses through the front
and back entrances. This concept is being shared among the
shop house buildings for easy and simple access into the
buildings. In contrary to Site A, the climate in Site B is way
more cooler, most probably due to many trees being planted in
front of the buildings to provide some shades. It helps lower
the temperature surrounding and create a cooling effect to that
area.
There’s also another foot pavement located beside the five-foot
walkway, allowing people to accommodates their motorcycles.
There are a few convenience stores such as 7-eleven found
right opposite the shop houses. However, there’s a lack of
pedestrian’s walkway facility to cross the main road to the
opposite shop buildings.
Nearby the site, many hospitals and clinics are found. Along the
main roads, a beautiful view of our country’s signature building
- Petronas Twin Tower can also be seen. It creates a
magnificent view of the old decorated shop house that is
dragged into the view of modern twin tower, forming a huge
contrast between two architectures.
Pavement outside the shops used to
accommodate motorcycles.
View of Petronas Twin Tower along the
main roads.
3 0

Google map an d earth image of Site C
In Site C, a lot of banks can be seen and the buildings are more
modern compared to the other sites. This site is more well-
developed and have higher density of buildings. This leads to the
demands of convenient transportation system around that area.
Thus, KTM and bus stations can be found right stone’s throw away
in that area.
Shop houses in Site C. Komuter station located at Jalan Len gkok Raja Laut.
SITE C
3 1

The shop houses in Site C are placed right beside the main roads,
which is Jalan Lengkok Raja Laut. All cars were parked at the road
side and alley beside the buildings. Majority of the buildings in the
area are one and two storeys.
The area has cooler climate as there are more trees being planted in
front of the building compared to the other two sites. It helps to
provide shades and lower temperature surrounding. The trees help
beautify and add greenery to the surrounding as it creates contrast
with the dark colour tone of the buildings surrounding. In some shop
houses, there even have private parking spaces that are found at the
back entrances. Behind the shop houses, trash stop can be found as
well, allowing people in that area to throw their rubbish in one
place.
There’s a road junction placed in the centre of Jalan Lengkok Raja
Laut that intersects multiple roads, creating an interconnecting
network among the shop houses. Besides, a few pedestrian walkway
can be seen at the road junction that allow people to cross the roads
and reaching the opposite shop houses. Other than that, the site is
also surrounded by many high rise buildings that consist of hotels,
apartments, condominiums and office buildings.
Private p arkin g sp aces at th e b ack en tran ce of
shop house.
Trees were planted in front of the building to
provide shades and beautify the environm e nt .
3 2

L AY O U T

S H O P H O U S ES O F M A L AY S I A
A R C H I T E C T U R A L L A Y O U T I N T R O D U C T I O N
The shop house is a unique urban housing form found in Southeast Asian colonial cities. Typically, shop houses consist of shops on the ground floor
which open up to a public arcade or "five-foot way", and which have residential accommodation upstairs. The shop houses would abut each other to
form rows with regular facade, firewalls and adherence to street alignment. The shop houses have a narrow, small-scale terraced structure that
provides business for a ground floor and residential purpose for an upper floor.
Shop houses were built in rows with uniform facades in grid pattern networks of roads and back lanes. Elongated with a narrow frontage, the standard
width of the building ranged between 4 and 6 meters, and the depth ranged at least 2 to 3 times longer than the width. The shop house is generally
two or three story-high. Internal courtyards (air wells) and jack roof provided natural ventilation for the house. The street facade of the ground floor
has continual arcades, what is called the 'five-foot way' for the sake of regularity and conformity and they provide a shelter for pedestrians from the
hot sun and torrential rainfall. This walkway, typically an arched opening, joins one house with the rest on the street front. Thus, creating a continuous
walkway on the front facade of the shop house block.
Like the Historic City of Melaka, George Town also have large collection of shop houses and townhouses within its Core and Buffer Zones numbering
more than 1700 buildings in different styles and types. All of these buildings normally have similar plan configuration as well as materials used. What
makes them look different is their façade. These shop houses extend to the street without any forecourt. From the outside one can see only the
concrete walls with long rectangular windows for the upper level and the roof which was made of tiles. The upper floor projects out to cover the
veranda in front of the main entrance. The façade is often designed in a symmetrical organization in which the entrance is located in the middle with
windows on both sides. There are several different architectural styles of shop houses on the street. Some have stylistic trends of the different periods
on the front façade. Architecturally, the shop houses and townhouses in the Historic City of George
A R C H I T E C T U R A L L AY O U T
3 4

‘‘
’Like the Historic City of Melaka, George Town also have large collection of shop houses and townhouses
numbering more than 1700 buildings in different styles and types. All of these buildings normally have similar plan
configuration as well as materials used. What makes them look different is their façade..
’’
Building Conservation. (2008, April 1). Retrieved November 12, 2015, from http://buildingconservation.blogspot.my/2009/01/categories-of-
shophouses-at-malacca.html
Dr. Kamarul Syahril Kamal (PhD), Senior Lecturer, Building Department, Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, University Technology
MARA (Perak)
3 5

This page:
Clockwise
1. Shop house heritage plan of Georgetown, Penang. The building
is not free standing, rather it is connected to several other
shop houses to form a shop house block. This shop house is
repeated to create streets and town squares found in many
urban areas in Malaysia.
2. Standard plan for modern day shop houses ( Demak Laut
Commercial Centre)
Next page:
Clockwise
1. A rental shop house, with a covered courtyard (Sopandi,
2002)
2. Key Elements of a typical shop house.
3. Standard plan and building elements of Southern Chinese
Eclectic Shop Houses.
S H O P H O U S ES O F M A L AY S I A
A R C H I T E C T U R A L L A Y O U T D E V E L O P M E N T
3 6

3 7

Above: Standard plan of a Georgetown shop house.
3 8

FAST FACTS
Location: Site B / Community
Convenience Shop Houses
Address: JLN 1/68D, Chow Kit, 50350
Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia
Orientation: Facing South
A N A LY S I S
1 9 3 0 s S H O P H O U S E
A R C H I T E C T U R A L L A Y O U T
In a team, we visited Sem Kin Bak Kut Teh Restaurant at Site B. Owned by a Chinese couple in their 60s, they were friendly enough to welcome us in
so we could analyse the interior of the shop house. The restaurant was currently out of service and vacant (as the couple is planning to sell the lot).
Clockwise, from top left
1) The pavement outside the
restaurant.
2) The shop house stands out
with its taller, pitched roof.
3) Sem Kin Restaurant shop
house has a faint pink,
Neo-classical styled façade.
History:
• Originally built in 1940 but continually reconstructed by house
owners ever since.
• Bought over by the Chinese couple in the mid 1980s for
dwelling and restaurant business purposes.
• Rear kitchen and second floor were constructed by the
owners themselves.
3 9

Ground floor
1) The retired couple posing for a
photo in front of the cash
register.
2) The toilets at the rear end of
the kitchen.
3) The long kitchen which also
functions as a corridor from
the main restaurant to the
wash yard.
4) Storage space.
5) The entrance from the main
restaurant to kitchen and wash
yard (left) and the staircases
and storage (right).
4 0

Second floor
Clockwise, from bottom left
1) The half-landing staircase leads from the ground floor
to second floor.
2) Second floor living space adjacent to 2 rooms.
3) The living space is also an activity cum storage area
for the couple.
4) The small attic in the back room was used for
worker’s accommodation in the older days.
5) The corridor leading from the living space to the toilet
and the back room.
4 1

Second floor
1) The wooden staircase
leading from the first to
second floor.
2) The sloped ceiling of the
third floor creates a more
enclosed atmosphere.
3) View from the first to send
floor – wooden railing
frames the mezzanine.
4) 2 more small rooms on
the second floor.
4 2

1. On-site sketch / Ground floor plan
Restaurant and commercial use.
a. The entrance is on the south façade facing the main pavement, adjacent to a five-foot
walkway.
b. A spacious hall where the restaurant’s main space (tables, chairs and cashier) greets us.
c. We move into the main space. To the left, we enter the longitudinal kitchen area, which
also functions as a corridor to the wash yard and toilets at the rear of the house. The back
part of the kitchen is extended by the tenants themselves as steel roofing and beams are
observed.
d. To the right of the main space, a storage space complete with attic makes up the rear
space.
e. The half-landing stairs are adjacent to it, leading up to the first floor.
.
Spatial atmosphere
• The wide unobstructed restaurant space after the entrance conveys its function as the main
area.
• High ceiling height also creates a grand and spacious atmosphere..
• The kitchen on the left and storage on right are smaller in size and space.
S E M K I N R ES TA U R A N T
O N S I T E – S K E T C H E S
4 3

2. On-site sketch / First floor plan
Dwelling and main living quarters.
a. As we climb up the stairs, a small hall / living area greets us.
b. 2 private rooms lie adjacent.
c. We turn to the front of the house (north) and enter a small corridor leading to a bathroom,
and another room.
d. From this room, another attic can be accessed (also built by tenants, for worker’s
accommodation)
Spatial atmosphere
• A sense of private space is immediately felt as the living spaces such as the bedrooms and
toilet are on one floor.
Entering the living area
of the first floor from
the ground floor.
4 4

3. On-site sketch / Second floor plan
Dwelling and storage space.
a. Similar to the first floor, we were greeted by a small living area cum bedroom..
b. At the front (north) side of the house is a small storage area.
Spatial atmosphere
• This level is constructed by the elderly couple after buying the shop house.
• Intended to serve as extra bedroom, living and storage space.
• Sloped ceiling towards the front of the house minimizes user movement and access.
• Gives a more restricted and enclosed feeling as the ceiling height is sloped and low.
• This floor is more stuffy and hot than the other as it is directly below the ceiling – the couple
hang their laundry to dry here.
Left: The
second floor
while climbing
up the stairs.
Right: A closer
look at the
sloping
pitched roof.
4 5

A N A LY S I S S K E T C H E S
SECOND FLOOR
GROUND FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR
Stairs
Private
bedrooms
Private
bedrooms
Stairs
Stairs
Storage
Storage
Storage
Kitchen
MAIN ENTRY AND EXIT
FLOOR TO FLOOR CIRCULATION
4 6

SPATIAL HEIRARCHY
• Spatial hierarchy means that the user is first greeted by the primary activity spaces,
followed by the secondary ones. There are two types of spatial hierarchy for the shop
house.
1) Elevation
• The mixed-function of the house creates spatial hierarchy differentiated according to its
floors.
• The ground floor is used for purely restaurant, cooking and storage space.
• First floor houses the main bedroom and private storage space along with worker’s attic
accommodation.
• Second floor serves as the secondary bedroom and extra storage space.
2) Plan
• The sequence of spaces in the shop house can be experienced by walking from the front of
the house to the rear end.
• E.g. 1 - On the ground floor, the user passes by the restaurant space to get to the kitchen,
toilet and storage at the back.
• E.g. 2: - On the first and second floor, the user enters the living area and turns in the other
direction to reach the storage and toilet area.
A R C H I T E C T U R A L D E S I G N P R I N C I P L E S
Restaurant /
commercial
Private
Private
GROUND FLOOR
CIRCULATION
FIRST AND SECOND
FLOOR
CIRCULATION
FRONT ELEVATION
4 7

GEOMETRY
• In the shop house, all spaces are all geometric – rectangular and square. There are no
organic or curvy spaces.
• The alignment of spaces are also all right-angled to one another. There are no
juxtaposition or overlaying of spaces.
• The same type of spaces are also zoned geometrically next to and above one another.
REPETITION
• The shape of the plan is the same for all 3 floors in the shop house – rectangular and
linear.
• The stairwells are all aligned at the same position in the house.
First and second floor
• The main living spaces are at the rear end of the house and accessed directly from
staircase.
• The linear corridor leading from there to the storage spaces are at the same position.
• The storage spaces are directly above one another.
Ground floor
• In contrary to the upper floors, the main restaurant space is directly after the entrance
of the shop house.
• The secondary storage spaces are at the read end of the house.
Main space
Main space
Main space
Secondary
space
Secondary
space
Secondary
space
Walkway
Walkway
Stairs
EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC OF
LAYOUT
4 8

A R C H I T E C T U R E
S T Y L E A N A LY S I S

With the independence in 1957, the strong desire to define the architectural identity of a new nation brought worldwide trend of International Style for
the architecture of government buildings, schools, hospitals, offices and universities. The international style of Malaysia was not much different from the
globalized internationalism based on new technology and functionalism. However, modern architecture in Malaysia tried to design a more socially and
historically relevant buildings with the sensitivity to hot and humid tropical climate
Important changes were made in architectures and city planning of KL in the 1920s and 1930s due to the strong influences of European architecture
style. Art Deco style buildings were introduced to replace Strait Eclectic Style. With the independence in 1957, the strong desire to define the
architectural identity of a new nation brought worldwide trend of International Style for the architecture of government buildings, schools, hospitals,
offices and universities. Today, the external facades of shop houses may remain the same, but peek inside and you will find a diverse range of functions –
temples, clan associations, guilds, kopitiams, bookshops, bars, museums, and of course homes.
A R C H I T E C T U R A L S T Y L E A N A LY S I S
A R C H I T E C T U R A L S T Y L E
5 0

MODERN (1950-1970)
• Functional and simple as a reflection of the post-war situation
• Industrial materials like steel and reinforced concrete used
• Common features include thin sunshade fins and air vents that are both functional as well as decorative
ART DECO (1930-1960)
• Geometric designs and pre-cast elements used
• Special emphasis given to street corners with the
year of the building’s construction usually displayed
on the façade
TIMELINE OF SHOP HOUSES
SINGAPORE
5 1

A R T D E C O
A R C H I T E C T U R A L A N A LY S I S
The art deco style (1930 – 1960), which above all reflected modern technology, was characterized by smooth lines, geometric shapes, streamlined forms
and bright, sometimes garish colours. The Art Deco style developed after the Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industrieles Modernes
in 1925. Beginning as a style of ornamentation, Art Deco was exemplified in trains, radios, jewellery, furniture, and countless other items. It also evolved
into a style of architecture. Office buildings, post offices, movie theatres and apartment buildings were built in the Art Deco style.
Primary Stylistic Features
• Vertical emphasis.
• Rooflines are stepped or flat.
• Concrete is a common material used in construction to achieve smooth white surfaces. However, polychromatic examples exist with painted concrete.
• A minimum of one of the following decorative elements: zigzags, chevrons, sunburst, fluting, banding or other references to the machine age.
Left to right:
1. Typical
characteristics of
Decorative Deco
2. Miami Beach Art
Deco Building
3. The most familiar
type of the style in
Cincinnati is the
box-like, two-story,
flat-roofed, brick
apartment building
5 2

SENTUL SHOP HOUSES
As an overall, the Art Deco influence is less seen on the facades of the shop house compared to the modern and post-war architectural style. Although
inspired directly from building styles in the West, the local Art Deco buildings differ according to their local context and function.
Below are a few buildings that show Art Deco influence.
1. Damai Service Hospital (Site B)
• Vertical emphasis of form is emphasized
• Banding in contrasting colour is used to frame the building.
2. Wisma Mepro (Site C)
• It has a box-like, flat-roofed, concrete façade
• Vertical glass windows with metal sashes.
3. Back façade of Site A shop houses
• Streamlined modern curves reminiscent of the 1920s need for speed.
Left to right:
1. The back façade
of Site A shop
house.
2. Wisma Mepro
stands confidently
3. The Damai
Service Hospital
5 3

M O D E R N , P O S T M O D E R N A N D
B R U TA L I S T S T Y L E
A R C H I T E C T U R A L A N A LY S I S
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It
is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely. In a broader sense, early modern architecture
began at the turn of the 20th century with efforts to reconcile the principles underlying architectural design with rapid technological advancement
and the modernization of society.
The dominant style of architecture between 1945 and 1975 was the Modern Movement, and some of England’s most important listed buildings of
the period are traditional, even classical. But the mid-1950s saw the emergence worldwide of a more rugged style within modernism, which in
Britain was termed ‘Brutalism’. Simple, functional buildings erected after the war were becoming standardised, while dismissing the decorative
flights of fancy of the Festival of Britain as excessive. They turned instead to a form of modern architecture that was honest - indeed expressive -
of its materials, whether brick or timber, concrete or steel, and which was related to the latest designs by international architects including Frank
Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe as well as Le Corbusier.
PRIMARY STYLISTIC FEATURES
Modern
• simplicity and clarity of forms and elimination of "unnecessary detail"
• visual expression of structure (as opposed to the hiding of structural elements)
• the related concept of "Truth to materials", meaning that the true nature or natural appearance of a material ought to be seen rather than concealed
or altered to represent something else
5 4

• use of industrially-produced materials; adoption of the machine aesthetic
Post modern
• the characteristics of postmodernism allow its aim to be expressed in diverse ways.
• these characteristics include the use of sculptural forms, ornaments, anthropomorphism and materials
• these forms are sculptural and are somewhat playful.
• these forms are not reduced to an absolute minimum; they are built and shaped for their own sake.
Brutalism
• dynamic geometric style that is massive
• monolithic and blocky in appearance
• typically contains copious amounts of poured concrete
1. The Bauhaus building at Dessau, Germany,
designed by Walter Gropius.
2. Greyhound Bus Station in Cleveland, showing
the Streamline Moderne aesthetic.
3. Washington, D.C. A combination of brutalist
and international modernism.
4. Washington, D.C. The modernist NPR building,
with dark spandrel panels between the rows of
windows that provide a uniformly reflective
appearance.
5. Chicago, IL. Marina City. A mixed-use set of
residential towers, referred to locally as the
"Corn Cobs".
5 5

SENTUL SHOP HOUSES
Since the early 20th century, private architects and architectural firms erected many modern movement buildings in Kuala Lumpur. Some of the
buildings demonstrate a fervent modern movement style of simple ,functional façades, designed primarily along horizontal lines; others are more
eclectic, innovative and sensitive to tropical climate and themes. Modern style houses are always straightforward in character and rationally
proportioned, but also freely designed: they seem to reflect the new, liberal, optimistic attitudes towards life and the 1930s entrepreneur spirit.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LOCAL AND WESTERN STRUCTURES
• The local modern, post modern and brutalism structures differ according to size and height. While buildings in the West tend to be massive and
dominating in scale, local structures are more conformed to its functionality and site context.
• These local structures are constructed amongst shop houses. The Western buildings are often stand-alone.
• The local buildings are built largely in vertical form, towering over the pavements – this being a main feature of Malaysian shop houses.
• A prominent local built element, the five-foot walkway is incorporated into each building regardless of its architectural style.
• Building materials used for local buildings are mostly concrete, and sparingly used. In the West, a wider array of materials are used, with more
room for more ornamentation and flourish designs.
Next page:
A variety of modern, post modern and brutalism shop houses and buildings situated in Site A, B and C. Western influences are clearly seen in the building facades, but local context
and climate does play its role in injecting local style into it.
5 6

5 7

B U I L D I N G
C O N S T R U C T I O N
A N A LY S I S

ROOF
Shop house are using pitched roof at the period 1840 until 1940,
and flat roof are starting and used to build shop houses since 1940.
TIME PERIOD OF THE ROOF STYLES
From the roof type, we can easily determine the period that the
shop house was built.
Figure of the roof in three different periods
Between late and modern shop house style, there is a art deco
shop house style. The time period of the style is from 1930-1960.
Art deco shop house style was using pitched roof from 1930 to
1940. After that flat roof art deco shop house was built.
An art deco shop house which built in 1935 at site B.
Site A: For the site, the shop
house was built in 1964 –
1984. 99% of the shop
houses’ roofs at the area are
flat roofs.
Site B: Shop house around the
around was built in 1938.The
shop house are using the
styles art deco shop house
style, because it has a lot art
and decorative feature .
Beside, the shophouse show
the reflection of the vertical
symmetry
Site C: There is a huge time
gap in this area. Some shop
houses were built in 1935 and
some was rebuilt at the past
few years. The contrast of the
roof are easily seen from the
picture.
ROOF TYPES FROM DIFFERENT SITE
B U I L D I N G C O N S T R U C T I O N
5 9

PITCHED ROOF
(EARLY AND LATE SHOP HOUSE STYLE)
• Pitched roof is a roof that has sloped surface and
overlapping V-profile.
• The sloped surface is used to ensure the proper drainage
during rainy weather.
ROOF COVER:
Most of the shop houses are using clay
tiles which well-organized on timber
batten and bonded with mortar.
PARTY WALL
The wall is built around 30cm higher
than the roof. It is used to
demarcate a shop house and break
the shop house to the individual lot.
FLAT ROOF
(MODERN SHOP HOUSE STYLE)
• Modern shop house like to use flat roof because it
has a lot of possibilities and more functional
• The flat roof actually have slope that up to
approximately 10 degree to prevent the raining water
stay still on the roof surface
ROOF COVER
Most of the shop house owners
will fully use the whole area of the
shop houses even the roof. The
flat surface that allows the roof
spaces can be used to build an
extra structure as a living space.
6 0

WALL
For the shop houses along Jalan Sentul, the brick plastered walls are most commonly used, and timber wall partitions are also popular in
the shop house at that area.
BRICK PLASTERED WALL
• The bricks that commonly chosen to used are the clay brick.
• A Large quantities of lime are used to build the wall
Figure of brick plastered wall
SITE A SITE B SITE C
3rd
LAYER: LIMEWASH
WATER + LIME
USED TO CREATE A BETTER
SURFACE THAT CAN
DEFLECT HEAT AND LIGHT
FROM THE EXTERIOR
2nd
LAYER: LIMEPLASTER
SAND+WATER + LIME
USED TO CREATE A SKIN
AND FINISHING ON THE
BRICK WORK
1st
LAYER: LIMEMORTAR
SAND+ WATER + LIME
USED TO HOLD BRICK
TOGETHER
TIMBER PARTITION WALL
• Timber is one of the famous traditional material that used in a lot
of shop house
• The installation of a timber wall partition is very simple and the
expenses are cheaper.
• It can provide simple and basic space division. Most of the Chinese
shop house owners use timber partition because they have more
family members and some also built it to create a space for
storage use.
Figuere of timber partition wall in site B
CHINESE CHINESE
RESTAURANT BOOKSTORE
6 1

STAIRCASE
The staircase of shop house is normally built beside
the shop house. With the time changes, some shop
house change the design. They built the staircase
inside the shop house. It is more safety and save a lot
of time. Classical timber staircase is hard to found at
the area. Some of them are too old and the owners
decided to change them into the concrete staircase.
CONCRETE STAIRCASE
The quality of an area can be
reflected from buildings and
minor developments, as you
can see from the picture
below.
Site A: Cement mixer staircase Site B: mosaic tiled staircase Site C: granite tile staircase
CLASSICAL TIMBER STAIRCASE
Classical timber staircase are only used in the early period
because the lifespend is short compare to concrete
staircase.
A timber staircase was found in a Chinese restaurant in site B which has almost 78 years history.
6 2

FIVE FOOT WAY
FIve foot way is one of the important elements in construction of shop house, and the traditional materials are encouraged to use to as finishes on
five foot way of the shophouse. Traditional finishes for the five-foot way floors include cement screed, terra cotta tiles, clay tiles, cement terrazzo,
mosaic, marble-chip terrazzo or granite slab. The five-foot way is usually features edging parallel to the drain at the road side. Tile patterns used on
the five-foot way are sometimes repeated on the front wall of the shophouse either ending as a skirting or under the window to form a decorative
wall.
Where the existing floor finishes are not original, traditional materials are to be considered. The selection of the floor finishes preferably matches
the architectural style of the shophouses.
.
Art Deco
shophouse
s may have
a variety of
colours of
marble-
chip
terrazzo or
mosaic as
the the
finishes
It is
untraditional
for five-foot
ways to be
finished in
ceramic tiles
or slate.
Early Style
shophouses
to have
cement
screed with
gridded rope
indentations
and granite
edge slabs
6 3

C O M PA R I S I O N W I T H S H O P H O U S E I N W ES T E R N C O U N T R Y
For the modern shop house in western country, the 1st storey (open shop front) have a big contrast with the upper storey ( residential
space). For the shop front is built to have more transparency and the residential spaces are built to have more privacy at the same
time. The shop fronts are commonly use transparent glass as the display case. They used to display the good sale stock inside the shop
to attract customer. Beside, the western shop house don't use the five foot way but only a long corridor . But external roof was built
on some western shop house.
Western shop houses Shop front of the western shop houses Outlook compare between local shop house
and western shop house
6 4

E L E M E N T S A N A LY S I S

The Sentul shop houses consist of a variety of architectural components
that define the Malaysian architecture in its very way. Influenced by both
local and foreign styles, Sentul shop houses are undoubtedly the most
unique in its area. Along Jalan Sentul were shop houses with three
different functions namely Cultural Shop Houses, Community Convenience
Shop Houses and Public Services Shop Houses.
The obvious elements of Art Deco present in these shop houses are the
strong emphasis on vertical elements as the buildings are closely packed.
From the outside, Sentul shop houses seemed combined to one another
but are divided by rear boundary walls on the inside.
Site A, B and C
shop houses
The vertical elements are strongly defined by the upright structure
of the walls called pilasters from Shanghai that is portrayed on the
façade. Interior boundary walls were used to set a variance in
spaces between one shop house and another. Also, the façade
portrays a strong emphasis on geometrical elements from Art Deco
that is acquired in most shop houses along Jalan Sentul.
Sketch shows the
diving walls in shop
houses
Sketch shows geometrical
elements found on façade
of shop houses
F A Ç A D E S
A R C H I T E C T U R A L E L E M E N T S
6 6

Unusually, the facade is always recessed at ground level, leaving a space
here that for walkways to be constructed. Walkways play an essential
role in the user circulation around a building. Along the rows of shop lots
are walkways that provide a walking passage for pedestrians and
customers.
Site A Site B Site C
Materials used for walkways vary from site A to B and C.
Walkways on site A, B and C respectively
Length of walkway sideways Differences between sites A, B and C
The walkways are made wide up to 1.5 metres to allow pedestrians to circulate with ease. The walkway in Site A is different than in Site B and C. Site A
has extended pavements along as well for stall setting purposes. Site B and C however implemented green features such as planting trees and bushes
along the walkways for both aesthetic value and health wise.
The materials used for these walkways are Art Deco styled :- a riot of
multicolour tiles and random arrangement of tiles.
The tiles used in Site A
walkways are small and vary in
colour for aesthetic purposes.
These colours are randomly
placed to show a diverse in
contrast.
Sketch shows
dimensions of
tiles used
Site A walkway material
The cement walkways on Site B and C
provides a seamless pathway that is
easy to construct and strong overtime.
Concrete cement walkway
Sketch shows
pavement practicality
on site
W A L K W AY S
6 7

Entrances found on ground level of shop lots consist of grills and shades.
These entrances come in different lengths depending on the business
being run. The grills, made from metal act as safety barriers against
miscreants when the shop is left unattended. The shades, made from
aluminium however reduces impurities from walkways or roads from
entering the building.
Entrances from site A,B and C
The metal grills can be opened
and closed in one direction either
left or right only. Most of these
entrances are found in front of
staircases to the upper floor.
The shades are pulled downwards to
close the entrance. These entrances
are big to allow more customers to go
in and out of the shop and also to
allow easy carriage of goods.
Two types of entances found in Sentul shop houses
At the back of the shop houses are storage spaces at ground level, with an
open courtyard or light-well which explains the need for bigger back
entrances. These back entrances are either partially closed or fully closed.
Back entrances for
site A, B and C
Sketch of back
door entrance
One of the many unique features that can be
found in Sentul shop houses is the utilization of
an assortment of open-to-sky spaces to admit
natural daylight as well as natural air called
internal courtyards. Contingent upon their size,
these courtyards may be landscaped spaces for
any household activities.
Courtyard that has been made
into a kitchen and storage space
E N T R A N C E S
C O U R T YA R D S
6 8

W I N D O W S
All shop houses have a
common setting whereby
the architect
implemented sun
adaptation concepts as
well as natural ventilation
openings, making the
shop houses sustainable.
The diversity of numbers
and types of windows
also add on to the beauty
on the façade of the shop
houses.
Site A, Band C
buildings respectively
The windows found in
Sentul shop houses
are almost similar to
each other because of
developers that come
from the same era.
They either come in
threes or in rows.
Sketch of windows on
site that come in
three and one row
Windows are crucial for a building’s sustainable approach as it is a
medium that allows natural light to penetrate through. Shop houses
along Jalan Sentul is embodied with windows of different shapes and
sizes. Each window has a purpose depending on its response to building
topography. The most common windows are louvre windows and
casement windows.
Sketch shows types of
windows and how
windows work for
natural lighting
N A T U R A L L I G H T I N G S
Windows on site
Sketch shows
function of types
of windows
Shop houses at the
end of each row
carry an advantage
by having more
windows at the
sides to allow as
much light from the
sun’s orientation
possible.
Sketch
shows
adaptation
of building
to Sun’s
orientation
6 9

N A T U R A L V E N T I L A T I O N S
Most of the Sentul shop houses implement the use of natural
ventilation to cool the interior spaces. Hence, air vents of all shapes and
sizes were designed in this architecture to support the idea of natural
ventilation. The placing of these air vents were based on the concept of
“hot-air rises”.
Air vent In Site A
Site A building has air vents that are longitudinal
to allow more air to enter the shop houses.
Site B building air vents are small and right
above the windows for easy circulation of air.
Air vent in Site B
Air vent in Site C
Site C building air vents are
numerous and cluttered to
allow more hot air to rush out
during the hot day.
S H A D I N G S
Shading plays an important role in preventing the hot sun from entering
parts of a building and rain as well. Some shades found in Sentul shop
houses were built protruding out from the building and some awnings
were also installed right above window panes.
Shading structure in Site A
Shading in Site A shop houses are built protruding
out from the building as natural shading structure
for its louvre windows.
Side B shadings are
built seamlessly
with the façade as
the windows are
inside the building.Site B Shading
Site C shadings are awnings that are aligned to the
windows on facades.
Site C shading
7 0

A R C H E S
One of the most unique characteristics on the Sentul shop houses are
the arches through the “five-foot walkways”. These arches contain
impost and keystones that are used in Art Deco designs to replace
European influenced columns which is not weight supportive compared.
Also, these arches represent the advancement of Malaysian architecture
during its time. This covered five-foot way, typically an arched opening,
joins one house with the rest on the street front. Thus, creating a
continuous walkway on the front facade of the shop house block.
Arches on Site B
and C walkways
The arches
throughout the
walkway are the
same in height.
However, the
horizontal length
of the arches
vary according to
the side of
pathways.
Sketch shows
height of
arch
Art Deco arches are
essential in making the
building more stable as
weight force from
above is distributed
evenly towards the
ground. Aesthetically it
provides a sense of
stability when walking
through it.
Sketch
shows
structure of
the arches
Stairs are essential in shop houses as they act as a platform of access from the
ground floor to the first floor and second floor. However they vary depending
on the type of building function and the place of installation. Most stairs in
Sentul shop houses are found in between main buildings.
types of stairs found
on Site A, B and C
Materials used for staircases
Concrete and brick staircases. Building was built in 1964
which shows advancement in materiality for Malaysian
architecture.
Wooden stairs. Timber was used as it
was found abundantly in 1938 before
World War.
Spiral staircase
Spiral staircase made out of steel found outside of a shop
house in Site B. It was used to excess the upper floors
directly from the outside without having to excess from the
inside.
Spiral staircase in Site B
S T A I R C A S E S
Sketch shows stairs found on
site
7 1

Shop houses are ordinarily manufactured with pitched rooftops secured with
orange clay rooftop tiles. Again, this marks an important shift away from the use of
more organic coconut frond thatch (called "attap") in traditional architecture. The
included expense of dirt tiles was borne because of their more prominent
solidness and particularly their imperviousness to flame.
Rooftop structure of shop houses
The facade of Sentul shop houses are all light colored.
Traditionally, numerous shop houses would have had a grayish
shading on their walls. Other well known early hues were
indigo and ochre, given the scope of accessible shades.
Bright façade colors
of Sentul shop
houses
Pitched roofs plays an advantage in shop housing development as it prevents
rainwater from being collected on the top. All the shop houses along Jalan Sentul are
built in such way to endure the rainy weather in Malaysia and acts as ventilation for
the inner-courtyard.
Function of pitched roof in shop houses in general
R O O F S F A Ç A D E C O L O U R S
7 2

In these modern days of Malaysia, our country’s development has been growing rapidly. Since then, there are conflict between urban change and
heritage and this situation is physically obvious in all the towns and cities in Malaysia today. Not forgetting the identity of Malaysia, there are many
buildings that have combinations of Malay roof forms with the mainly modernist types. The remaining of British Colonial past had made intense
effort to introduce Islamic elements in the means of government buildings. The force of rapid urbanisation brings in newly built intensities onto
some places that demolished almost all the heritage buildings which were there before. This will affect Malaysia’s urban not just architecturally and
environmentally but also socially and culturally. On the contrary, there is an urgent need to develop new appropriate design linkages with the urban
past and at the same time relevant to the present. This endeavour should be for an appropriate inventiveness. A coexisting awareness by the local
architects and the planners towards the historical and cultural context of place and its architectural priorities will provide a firmer basis in the pursuit
to relate new designs with the locality and time. Any argument on the making of modern architecture in Malaysia should be given obvious
outstanding references to the various foreign involvements into the country.
C O N C LU S I O N
7 3
C O N C LU S I O N

R E F E R E N C ES
INTRODUCTION
• Singapore Shophouses. (2010, December 16). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from https://notabilia.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/singapore-shophouses/
• Widodo, J. (n.d.). Modernism in Singapore. Retrieved November 14, 2015, from https://www.academia.edu/223177/Modernism_in_Singapore
• Singapore Chinatown Shophouse. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://www.sg-shophouseforsale.com/chinatown-shophouse/
• Malaysia Design Archive | An Influence of Colonial Architecture to Building Styles and Motifs in Colonial Cities in Malaysia. (2005). Retrieved November 8, 2015.
• Kuala Lumpur | national capital, Malaysia. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2015.
• History. (2015, August 20). Retrieved November 8, 2015.
• Sentul’s history is reflected in its old-world charm. (2014, July 8). The Star. Retrieved from http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2014/08/08/No-longer-a-
gangsters-den-Sentuls-history-is-reflected-in-its-oldworld-charm/
ARCHITECTURAL LAYOUT
• Wood, J. (2007, August 6). Tiong Bahru Estate. Retrieved November 12, 2015, from http://tiongbahruestate.blogspot.my/2007/08/modernism-in-singapore.html
• List of old SIT estates. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2015, from http://www.teoadila.com/Singapore/sitlist/
Abdallah, M. (2013, April 22). Park Hill Estate. Retrieved November 12, 2015, from https://architoss.wordpress.com/miscellaneous/essays/park-hill-estate/
• Chong Kia Hoi Realty Sdn Bhd :: 张家辉實業有限公司. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2015, from http://www.ckhrealty.com/demaklaut.php
Pulau Pinang | Penang Tourism | George Town World Heritage City. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2015, from http://www.pulaupinang.com/penang-tourism/penang-world-
heritage-site-khoo-kongsi/
• Penang Shophouses | Cultural Heritage Action Team. (n.d.). Retrieved November 12, 2015, from http://heritagegeorgetown.blogspot.hk/2010/03/penang-shophouses.html
• Ah Tong Tailor. (2012, October 12). Retrieved November 12, 2015, from http://ahtongtailor.com/tag/george-town-shop-houses/
7 4
R E F E R E N C ES

ARCHITECTURE STYLE ANALYSIS
• Postmodern.” Boundless Art History. Boundless, 21 Jul. 2015. Retrieved 16 Nov. 2015 from https://www.boundless.com/art-history/textbooks/boundless-art-history-
textbook/global-art-since-1950-ce-37/architecture-236/postmodern-840-10852/
• Architectural Style Guide - Art Deco. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha/styleguide/artdeco.htm
• Modern - Boundless Open Textbook. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from https://www.boundless.com/art-history/textbooks/boundless-art-history-textbook/global-
art-since-1950-ce-37/architecture-236/modern-839-10850/
• Modernism and Brutalism. (2011, October 17). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://architecturestyles.org/post-war-modern/
• The History and Influence of Art Deco in Malaysia's Architecture. (2013, June 6). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.expatgomalaysia.com/2013/06/06/the-
history-and-influence-of-art-deco-in-malaysias-architecture/
• Art Deco & Moderne: 1930 To 1950 - City Planning. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/planning/historic-conservation/major-
architectural-styles/art-deco-moderne-1930-to-1950/
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ANALYSIS
• Penang Shophouse Styles. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2015, from http://www.slideshare.net/penangshophouse/4-penang-shophouse-styles-8-
may2011?next_slideshow=2
• YOUR SHOPHOUSES: DO IT RIGHT. (2015, February 1). Retrieved November 13, 2015, from http://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/~/media/User Defined/URA
Online/publications/technical_publications/conservation_publications/YourShophouseDoItRight Feb 2015.ashx
• CONVERSATION GUIDELINES. (2011, December 1). Retrieved November 13, 2015, from http://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/~/media/User Defined/URA
Online/Guidelines/Conservation/Cons-Guidelines.ashx
• CONVERSATION GUIDELINES. (2011, December 1). Retrieved November 13, 2015, from http://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/~/media/User Defined/URA
Online/Guidelines/Conservation/Cons-Guidelines.ashx
• An Inspiring Interior for an Optician’s Shop: Hofstede Optiek in the Netherlands. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://www.designhomeonline.net/03/2011/an-
inspiring-interior-for-an-opticians-shop-hofstede-optiek-in-the-netherlands/
7 5
R E F E R E N C ES

ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS ANALYSIS
• Art Deco (c.1925-40) (Art Deco Design Style: Origins, History, Characteristics)
• Davis, Howard, Living Over the Store: Architecture and Local Urban Life, Routledge, 2012
• Themes, E. (2012, January 8). Shophouse Architecture. Retrieved July 14, 2015, from http://www.shophousetowkay.sg/guide/styles-of-shophouse/
• Types of stairs - Advantages & Disadvantages. (Keuka Studios Types of Stairs Comments)
• Mai-Lin Tjoa-Bonatz, "Shophouses in Colonial Penang", Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Volume LXXI Part 2, 1998, pp 122-136
• Davis, Howard, Living Over the Store: Malaysian Architecture and Local Urban Life, 2012
• Ahmad, D. (2008, July 7). THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE OF THE PERANAKAN CINA. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from
http://www.hbp.usm.my/conservation/SeminarPaper/peranakan cina.html
7 6
R E F E R E N C ES

C H A I C H I N E E
0 9 0 7p7 2 9 5 0
A L A N KO O K A
LO K
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C H I A S U E H WA
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A R V I N D H A N a / l
B A L A S I N G A M
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A U T H O R S

“
I like the new Sentul.. Where
else can you see a guy
stringing garlands of jasmine in
front of his flower shop, with a
string of new condos behind
him? It’s like the town has
come alive again.
”

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