Photobook

H E E R E N S T R E E T
Jln Tun Tan Cheng Lock
75200 Malacca
November 2017
Historic Street — Asian Architecture ARC60403

C O O R D I N A T O R S
Kok Xuan Ying
0322929
Liew Cherng Qing
0322613
Kok Xuan Ying
0322180
Lu Chiao Er
0326947
Michelle Wong
0322362
Phares Phung
0322554
Teoh Jun Xiang
0322099

C O N T -
E N T S
2
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6
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21
51
69
79
95
Coordinators
Contents
Street map
Street History
Historic Values
Architectural Styles
Socioculture Values
Traditional Trades
Important Events
References

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3
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5
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8 Heeren
沂水閣沉香書藝廊
Sin Kua Chua Clan Association
Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum
Malaqa House
Wah Aik Shoemaker
Straits Chinese Jewellery Meuseum
Hotel Puri
Eng Choon Association
Peranakan Chinese Association
Chee Mansion
Tun Tan Cheng Lock Ancestral Home
The Baboon House

S T R E E T
Heeren Street, also known as Jalan Tun Tan Cheng
Lock, is a historical street located in Malacca, Malay-
sia. It was once referred by the Dutch as Heeren
Street during their occupation of the state from the
17th to the early 19th century; while the Chinese
and local Malays call it Holland Street and “Kampung
Belanda” (Dutch Village) respectively.
As Heeren Street was once occupied by Dutch
servants and subordinates, a new architectural style:
The Dutch-styled shophouses soon emerged, form-
ing the unique architectural language of the street.
Later, rich Peranakan merchants took over the
houses along the street, allowing signiﬁcant
Peranakan culture to enrich the face of the street.
After Malaysia gained its independence, the street
was renamed as Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, in
memory of the Founder of the Malaysian Chinese
Association who once resided along the street.
As of today, Heeren Street is known as a popular
tourist destination among locals and international
tourists, and the modernization of Malacca also
raised concerns regarding the conservation and pres-
ervation of the street’s historical elements.
L I M W O O L E O N
http://rage.com.my/days-of-future-past/

Location: No. 1/3/5, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jonker Street, 75200 Malacca

T H E
M E R C H A N T S
“ A grand entry to Heeren Street with its increasing storeys of
shophouses, opening up to visitors as a welcoming gesture ”
The old colonial/straits chinese eclectic buildings of
Heeren street are built by the wealthiest merchants
that achieved status of nobility where they would
compete to have a more lavish and embellished
shophouse.
The characteristic features of most buildings are high
roofs, ﬂoors and corridors lined with intricate tiles,
teak front doors carved with family names or mottos
in gold calligraphy.
There is also a height variation where one can see a
distinct diﬀerence in status with the increase in
storeys. Walking into these places is like going back
in time to the era of Malacca’s occupation by the
Dutch.
L I M W O O L E O N

T A N K I M S E N G &
H O T E L P U R I
“ The legacy of Tan Kim Seng proved to be triumphal
where he boldly marked its ancestral footprint greater
than its peers ”
Tan Kim Seng’s stately ancestral home, built in 1822,
is the present Hotel Puri. He amassed a great fortune
in Singapore, built a bridge across the Singapore River
which is now named after him. He also donated
money for a bridge, named after him in Malacca, and
for the famous Clocktower in front of Christ Church
in the Dutch Square
When it was the home of Kim Seng, there was a
menagerie behind with many animals, including a
tiger. Now, it is a tourist lodging boutique hotel
where its protruding and well preserved façade is a
prominent aspect that proved his noble status in
Heeren Street
L I M W O O L E O N

Location: No. 118, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jonker Street, 75200 Malacca

T A N C H E N G L O C K’ s
A N C E S T R A L H O M E
“ A home of a leader sits side by side against
others humbly with pride ”
Tan Cheng Lock’s Home is part of the historical
enclave in Heeren Street as he plays a major role in
achieving Malaysia’s independence. His Ancestral
Home still remains intact with proper restoration
methods.
His contribution towards the community can be seen
where Heeren Street is also named after him as “Jalan
Tun Tan Cheng Lock” after Malaysia’s independence,
in memory of the Founder of the Malaysian Chinese
Association. Their ancestral home remains at No 111
where it is now occupied by other residences.
L I M W O O L E O N

C H E E M A N S I O N’ s
L A W N
“ The ivory hues framed between smooth plastering walls
evoked a fairytale like ambience, making Heeren Street a
whimsical and charming street of the merchants ”
The grandest house in “Millionaires’ Row” is the Chee
Mansion, which stands majestically directly opposite
Hotel Puri. The breathtaking building is a Dutch era
architectural gem, complete with a fairy-tale inspired
watchtower.
It was built by tycoon and philanthropist Chee Swee
Cheng, the first chairman of the Overseas Chinese
Banking Corporation (OCBC) in the 1920s where a
few Dutch houses once stood.
Interestingly, the family decided to take a significant
portion of the land to create a front lawn. As cars
were the ultimate symbol of wealth, the front lawn
was used to flaunt them to the public.
L I M W O O L E O N

E N G C H O O N
I M M I G R A N T S
“ A journey which once ends and began within the walls of
Eng Choon Association. It is a pride and joy of many families in
this land of many historical past ”
Eng Choon Association, at 122 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng
Lock (Heeren Street) is a clan association for the
Chinese immigrants in Malacca who originated from
the Eng Choon District of Fujian Province in China.
Among the members of this association are the
family of Tan Beng Swee and Tan Kim Seng. Fujian, is
a major source of Chinese immigrants, not only in
Melaka, but practically all the countries of Southeast
Asia.
The association has since been renovated with
modern materials but still remains the existing Straits
Chinese architecture. This proves that the association
has a long term support from the Chinese community
in Malacca till this day.
L I M W O O L E O N

D I S S C U S S I O N
Heeren Street is a historical precinct, ﬁlled with stories of people and place. It was once a charming street of nobles and merchants yet it is
now oblivious to the locals themself. The merchants of Heeren Street were once protagonists of Heeren Street where they contributed for the
wellbeing of Malaccans and including Malaysia.
The remnants of their homes are the legacies that shaped Heeren Street today as its lavished and prominent facades and footprint dictates
the spatial experience of Heeren Street. The streetscape ﬁlled with many embellished façades which dominates and connects the street into
nodes, which result in many unexpected views, vistas and entryways.
L I M W O O L E O N

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

Location: Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum. No. 48 & 50 , Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka.

C H A N N E L
T H R O U G H
“ Breaking apart a continuous stretch as a selfish
attest to depict of its own unique property ”
Implementation of facade elements into the
five-foot way envelopes the passageway as part of
the shophouse architecture, wrapping the past
context in a unique identity
A Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum’s traditional
five-foot way features a continuous Chinese floral
motif flow in the arch and column extension that
gradually leads to a breakaway
The breakaway splits the passageway yet allows
visual connection, creating deception of visual
prolong and physical discontinuation
M I C H E L L E W O N G

Location: Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jonker Street, 75200 Malacca

V A R I E G A T E D
T E R R A C E
“ A visual delineate of a preserved historical lane,
taking the future back in time to visit what all once were ”
Elaborate façades of various cultural and
architectural influences line Heeren street, creating a
row of various traditional and unique shophouse
facades. Early, Dutch, Southern Chinese, Art Deco,
Early and Late Eclectic architecture style are
commonly found shophouses which brings forth the
past into the present
They portray the shophouse’s preserved heritage of
overhangs, roof eaves, upper floor depths, materiality
and architectural details
The richness in history and culture has influenced the
shophouses with local elements of Peranakan motifs,
decorations and colours giving the entire street a
unique twist to their original architecture style

M I S M A T C H E D
E S S E N C E
“ A contradictory repercussion of an attempt in
a heritage replication ”
A preservation of the original minimal Dutch
architecture shophouse style facade featuring a
traditional narrow frontage, overhang roofs, doors in
two halves and window openings in the upper ﬂoors
is newly restored with modern materials
The traditional essence and facade layout is
overwritten by a modern blend of sleek looking
prime-time conventional materials, resulting in a
restoration attempt that has masked away its
authentic past and rustic sophistication
This act of this conservation fabricates a replica of
the Dutch shophouse instead of a refurbishment
with existing remnants

Location: No. 4 , Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jonker Street, 75200 Malacca

C O N S E R V E D
H E R I T A G E
“ A lost thread of heritage rekindling to spark
awareness ”
A traditional interior layout of the Dutch architecture
style is rekindled through the remodelling of the
Heeren 8 Streets House which features an internal
courtyard and open kitchen for cross ventilation
The shophouse is traditionally constructed using
timber, brick masonry and terracotta of simple
patterns and arrangements to accommodate family
spaces. Lower ﬂoors hosts common areas whereas
upper ﬂoors are private areas
A decrement in Dutch shophouses raises the issue of
controversy between the heritage of basic spatial
arrangements and traditional materiality against the
accommodation needed for the functionality of
prime-time trades

Location: No. 125 & 127, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jonker Street, 75200 Malacca

C U L T U R A L
I N T E R F L O W
“ The creation of a new identity to delineate
ownership and status ”
A crossover between the elaborate Late Straits
Eclectic architecture style and expressive Peranakan
culture depicts detailed ornamentations and unique
elements whereby owners splurge in ornamented
decorations to beautify their shophouses
The bright blue coloured façade is an adaptation of
the Peranakan’s culture that became a prominent
sensation in the mid-20th century. The significant
projecting roof of this architecture style consists of a
Chinese motif carved end cap and cantilevered
elaborate brackets on either ends
A twist in traditonal floral motifs are seen as
geometrical patterns in dado tiles, facade decorations
and ceilings. Prominent facade elements such as
shuttered windows, floors, beams and columns are
ornamented with geometry shaped patterns as a
contrast to organic floral motifs

V E S T I G E
Late strait eclectic commonly found along Heeren
Street. Although this shophouses have been aban-
doned, but the architecture style still remain at this
housing until today.
The 3 dimensional decorative plaster wall with inten-
sive use of both chinese and European decoration.
The arch shape full length doors and windows brings
repetition of shape .
Verandah façade framed with arch shape frame with
key stone at the central of an arch locking the whole
together. Mixture of neoclassical style stepped para-
pet wall on the top of the building. Wall decorated
with stucco decoration with Floral ornament.
L U C H I A O E R

N E O - C L A S S I C A L
E P I T O M E
Kedai Seni & Kraft Malaqa House SDN BHD
This shop houses has been renovated and main-
tained the neoclassical architecture style mixed with
late strait eclectic style. The colour influenced by the
baba and nyonya traditional palette painted on the
facade in a strong manner, catching people’s atten-
tion from a distant.
The flow of colour painting flows from the top edge
of the roof and continue to flow along the top
boundary line of the lunette full length timber
window in the front facade. Low pitched hipped roof
with floral carved on the middle of the façade paint-
ed with the same colour as a contrast of the whole
facade.
Front façade corner pilasters decorated with painted
with geometric pattern. The overhanging eave with
broad cornice and floral carving painted to be stand
out at the middle front of the cornice.
L U C H I A O E R

F U N D E M E N T A L
P R I N C I P L E
Dutch style 17th -18th century mixed with Southern
China Eclectic Style.
Even renovated, they still maintain the main basic
structure. The ratio of the floor level and volume of
building are the same. The size and the placement of
the windows and door are the same even after reno-
vated.
One centralized panel windows on the upper floor
façade and two windows with one main door at
ground floor. Even the right side hotel has change
the old door into a new glass flush door, but they still
maintain the placement and the dimension of the
door.
L U C H I A O E R

A R T D E C O
S H O P H O U S E S
A significant shophouses of art deco style.
Curved stepped parapet wall on the roof created a
prominent skyline within the street,distinguishing
itself from its neighbour.
Having a strong contrast horizontal beam line
supporting the front facade. on first floor. The large
sea green glass windows with metal frame at the first
floor to filter the light into the interior space. The
unpainted shanghai plaster wall finish give a feels of
incompleteness .
L U C H I A O E R

L U C K S
B U L W A R K
It is a renovated shophouse that maintained the
southern Chinese eclectic style .
The chinese word attached on the ground floor door
above, the timber door carved with chinese word and
the carved sculpture at the bottom line of first floor
are manifested in the symbolism of used to convey
luck is a chinese traditional culture. They also aware
for the sense of security with the timber small gate at
the front edge of the shophouses.
The cultural meanings of small gate with chinese
word on the door also plays an important part. The
word usually put on some chinese wowrd that brings
luck. It meant keeping off the dirt and ghost, hoping
to keep the whole family safe and healthy.
The carved phoenix on the wall symbolic as the king
of birds. A phoenix was considered an extremely
auspicious sign, said to herald a glorious period of
peace and prosperity for the people and the country.
This is reflected in the Chinese saying, "When the
dragon soars and the phoenix dances, the people will
enjoy happiness for years, bringing peace and tran-
quility to all under heaven."
L U C H I A O E R

G L I M P S E O F
E A R L Y D U T C H
During the era of the Dutch East India Company as
colonial masters of Malacca, many shophouses were
built atop destroyed Portuguese structures in an
eﬀort to restore Malacca’s status as an important
port in the world. The Dutch style shophouse is the
earliest type of shophouse that can only be found in
modern day Malacca, including No.8 Heeren street
that was built in year 1794 .
In 2001, Badan Warisan Malaysia (the Malaysian
Heritage Trust) received a grant from the United
States Embassy in Malaysia to restore No. 8 Heeren
Street, which was then in severe condition. The build-
ing belongs to the nearby Cheng Hoon Teng temple,
the oldest functioning temple in Malaysia.
P H A R E S P H U N G

E A R L Y D U T C H S T Y L E
The most significant characteristic to distinguish
Dutch style shophouses is their simple façade with
minimal openings. Chinese style of influence can be
observed from the gable end of the roof. However,
the sidewalk at the front façade is not connected to
the adjacent buildings to provide private entrance
porch, which is different from the typical five-foot
way.
Structurally, the load bearing walls are constructed
with Dutch-brick and plastered with lime, whereas
roof structure is constructed with timber. Implement-
ing metal element was not a common practice in
constructing shophouses in Malacca until the Art
Deco style. The transition and adaptation to modern
use can be seen from this building, from utilising
metal sliding grills to applying modern utility systems
such as electrical wirings, water plumbings, that does
not interrupt the heritage Dutch essence.

Location: Corner Lot, No. 1 , Jalan Hang Kasturi, Jonker Street, 75200 Malacca

L O S T
F R O M H I S T O R Y
This red shophouse has gone through several reno-
vations to transform into a modern, utilitarian shop-
house. The significant five-foot way of the eclectic
style can no longer be observed due to an extension
work to increase spatial capacity. Limited conserva-
tion effort is done in order to retain the unique style
of the shophouse.
Usually, heritage shophouse styles do not have a
supporting column in the middle of the front façade,
especially not symmetrical. Modern features are
implemented into this building such as commercial
metal window awnings and metal sliding grills. The
only historical feature that is remained in this building
is the British-India style window on the second floor.

Taking a step into the streets of Malacca is a walkthrough time to the past of Heeren Street, a street known for their wealth, but has a signiﬁ-
cant establishment in their architecture. The architecture is rich in shophouse styles of diﬀerent eras with a blend of the local Peranakan
culture, creating a unique heritage full of historical essence.
As a balance to accommodate the trades and businesses of today, the refurbishment is designed to create a functional space yet remain the
facade and structure of the original shophouse. It brings the heritage to the present, imposing the ambiance of how Heeren Street once was.
Talk is vague, execution is concrete. Even though preservation of the street is compulsory, conservation is slowly shifting to the adoption of
modern, sleek looking materials to create a functional space yet results in the loss of the shop house’s original essence. It brings a topic of
functionality over heritage, to preserve the essence of the street overtime, till forever.

Location: No. 20, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka.

C H I N E S E
C L A N A S S O C I A T I O N
“ A sense of belonging among Chinese immigrants sparked an
initiation to include themselves in the socio-cultural context ”
Chinese clan associations, like the Sin Kua Chua Clan
Association of Malacca, can be seen along Heeren
Street. Such clan associations bear testimony to the
emergence of overseas Chinese societies, which
shape the demographical and cultural aspects of the
street.
Formed on the basis of kinship and hometowns in
China, the association's’ primary tasks in the past
were to provide aid and protection in terms of social
security, communication and social welfare of the
members in the local context. In modern times, these
associations mainly serve to promote and preserve
the clan’s culture and heritage.
T E O H J U N X I A N G

C A L L I G R A P H Y -
H I D D E N A R T
A ﬁne piece of calligraphy was often valued more
highly by a collector of art than a good painting. The
calligraphy shop in Heeren Street is a one of a kind
trade which is not known by many others. However
the owner is eager to exhibit it around its compound
and in his shop as means of preserving its culture.
From afar, the characters on the walls express the
Chinese social identity of the street itself. It is often
said that looking at calligraphy 'one understands the
writer fully, as if meeting him fact to face'. Therefore
looking at the calligraphy itself, one understands the
social identity of Heeren Street, meeting face to face.
.
L I E W C H E R N G Q I N G

Location: 沂水閣沉香書藝廊, No. 18, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka.

P E R A N A K A N - C H I N E S E
S U R N A M E L A N T E R N S
“ A heritage which signals the identity of occupants ”
The Peranakan-Chinese, or Baba Nyonya, are
descendants of Chinese immigrants who intermar-
ried with local Malay women. While embracing the
local customs, they retained some degree of their
ancestral culture, such as the Chinese surname and
religion.
Surname lanterns are usually hung in pairs outside a
typical Peranakan townhouse to notify passers-by
regarding the identity of the occupants. In addition,
surname lanterns contain two hand-painted halves,
the ﬁrst emblazoned with the family surname, the
second depicting ﬁgurative scenes of the Eight
Immortals of Taoist mythology.

P E R A N A K A N - C H I N E S E
W O O D E N S C R E E N
“ Such is the irony of the wealthy, to protect their privacy by
implementing the most luxurious of decorations ”
In the 19th century, as the Peranakan-Chinese made
great riches in the tin and rubber trades, they deco-
rated their houses by amalgamating the very best of
traditional Chinese decorations.
As a showcase of wealth, the entrance hall is separat-
ed from the rest of the house by an ornately carved
Chinese wooden screen, which is lavishly coated with
mother-of-pearl and gold leaf designs. Directly facing
the main door, this timber divider was believed to act
as a ‘spirit wall’ to prevent evil spirits from entering.
Privacy was also provided as womenfolk were able to
peek at visitors through the screen without being
seen.

N Y O N Y A
K E B A Y A
“ Clothing is an art, a work of love, the eternal heritage, show-
casing the best of nyonya elegance and glamour ”
The tale of Malacca’s socio-cultural uniqueness is
often associated with the assimilation of diﬀerent
cultures into a single form of art. At the turn of the
20th century, the Peranakan women in Malacca and
other Straits Settlements started to adopt and modify
the traditional form of Indonesian Malay kebaya by
incorporating traditional Chinese symbols and motifs,
such as the dragon, phoenix, peony and lotus.
This led to the birth of a distinctive Peranakan art
form, which became popular with the nonyas around
the 1920s. Over time, the fully embroidered nonya
kebaya became synonymous with the nonyas’ cultur-
al identity, and, as the years passed by, it has evolved
in terms of its form and pattern

Location: Sixty 3 Heritage, No. 63, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka.

Location: Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka.

T O U R I S M
“ A boon and a nightmare coexists, questioning the fate of the
street for years to come ”
After Malacca was inscribed as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 2008, the state was able to harness
a crucial share of overall tourism market in Malaysia
due its richness of historical and cultural heritage.
However, the continued uptrend of foreign tourist
inﬂow to the narrow Heeren Street poses a problem
as well.
The socio-cultural problems of the booming tourism
industry are associated with the overcrowding of the
facilities, such as the street and the parking lots,
which tourists share with the local population. This
reduces the value of the holiday experience and
creates additional strain for local Malaccans, who is
called upon to pay this social cost of the negative
eﬀects of tourism.

Location: Jalan Hang Lekir, oﬀ Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street).

F L E A M A R K E T
“ A humble display of Malaccan social life ”
In the quiet hours of a Sunday morning, vendors set
up their stalls in Jalan Hang Lekir, oﬀ Heeren Street. A
variety of products, such as antiques, collectibles and
old currency are being displayed on both sides of the
street.
The open air event not only provides a good oppor-
tunity for some to haggle for a bargain on their
desired products, however, it also allows visitors to
gain insight into the vibrancy of the historic streets.
As residents from all walks of life gather along the
humble street, visitors are able to experience the true
essence of their social lives, thus allowing them to be
fully immersed into the context.

In fairness, Heeren Street owes a large portion of its historical significance to its socio-cultural conditions, instead of the other way around. It
is a rare phenomena a few centuries in the making, where each and every ethnic group arrives on this street, and tries to create a sense of
belonging by implementing their own ideologies and beliefs in all aspects of life. As unique as the diverse socio-cultural conditions of the
street, it is the relative peace and tolerance among all parties which baffles those who visited the street.
However, it is also because of these intangible aspects that makes the street vulnerable as well. The apparent difficulty to preserve a certain
culture is caused by the decline in local population . If the socio-cultural conditions of the street is not to be preserved in the long run, it will
be nothing more but a street filled with different shophouses.

T R A D I T I O N A L
T R A D E S

Location: Wah Aik Shoemaker, No. 92, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka.

H I S T O R Y
F O O T S T E P S
“ Diﬀerent traditional foot wear from diﬀerent
culture, met here and walked for the past century ”
Traditional Nyonya Beaded shoes (top shelf) and
Boundfeet shoes (bottom shelf) are on display at
Wah Aik Shoemaker storefront.
Traditional Nyonya Beaded shoes are status symbols
of shoemakers as well as an art imposed on young
girls as a right of passage into adulthood. They are
expected to be well skilled in cooking, sewing and
embroidery in the culture of the Peranakan-Chinese.
The shoes are usually made to match a particular
batik sarong that was paired up with a nyonya
kebaya.
Boundfeet shoes are a form of traditional trade that
originates from China during the Ming Dynasty
which forms a ‘lotus feet’. In the past, lotus feet were
seen as a mark of beauty for woman to bind their feet
from growing bigger since young. Before WWI more
than 1000 woman within the Straits settlements of
Malaysia bind their feet. It is however forgotten since
then. However, Wah Aik Shoemaker did not abandon
their family tradition but sells bounfeet shoes as
souvenirs. L I E W C H E R N G Q I N G
photo from: https://foursquare.com/v/wah-aik-shoemaker/
4fbc80eae4b07f051377b913/photos
Wah Aik Shoemaker originally situated on No. 56,
Jalan Tokong, 75200, Melaka, were moved to No. 92,
Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200, Melaka.
(Top) current shop situated in Jalan Tun Tan Cheng
Lock; (Bottom) previous shop situated on Jalan
Tokong.

A N C E S T R A L
P R O F I C I E N C Y
“ A family eﬀort of tradition that lived and
transformed together for 3 generations ”
Mr. Raymond Yeo (3rd generation to Mr.Yeo Sing
Guat), the current owner of Wah Aik shoemaker, is in
the process of producing a traditional nyonya beaded
shoes. Every pair of shoes and sandals displayed in
the shop are exquisitely handcrafted and sewn by the
skilled owner, Raymond Yeo and his family members.
As its name would imply, traditional nyonya beaded
shoes include color beads and silk threads which are
used to form motifs of nature / mythical ﬁgures
which forms the covering of the shoes. The covers
are then pasted onto the shoe sole using special
paste with the help of shoe molds.
photo from: https://thriftytraveller.wordpress.com/2011/11/24/
melaka-bound-feet-shoe-shop/
(Top) Boundfeet shoes displayed are in variety of
colours compared to the displays of antiquated
ShangHai Hang Chong silk cut outs for Boundfeet
shoes making which are monochromatic because
displayed shoes are made as souvenir products to
sell;
(Bottom) Mr. Yeo Sing Guat (1991), founder of Wah
Aik Shoemaker. He started making boundfeet shoes
at the age of 20. Later he passed on his family tradi-
tion to his youngest son of 9 children, Mr Yeo King
Chuat.

Location: Yong An 永安纸盒商, No. 167, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka.

I C O N I C T R A D I T I O N A L
D E S S E R T“ A humble iconic business for tourists ”
Yong An Shop owner and product display (Gula
Melaka, pineapple tart, biscuits, pickled sauce,
pickles).
Yong An 永安纸盒商 is a mix grocery store and a
family business of 2 generations situated on Jalan
Tun Tan Cheng Lock. The Shop owner in the photo is
taking charge of the business with the help of her
handicapped granddaughter. Gula Melaka is one of
the products that are always on display in the store as
it serves as a popular product.
Gula Melaka is a traditional dessert served outside of
Malaysia’s home, made of sago (coconut milk and
palm sugar). While gula melaka refers to palm sugar,
it plays such an intrinsic part in this popular sweet
that the dessert is commonly known by that name.
The coconut palm sugar is light in colour, almost
golden with a whiteness that dares to defy its cara-
mel and butterscotch tones. It is this coconut palm
that is called gula melaka.

Traditional trade of shoemaking and gula malacca remains in Heeren Street and still attracts visitors until today. The few amount of century old
traditional trades / business left in the street, and it shooks me of how commercialised is now of a historical street, where most businesses are
targetted towards the demographics of tourists.
Wah Aik shoemaker & Yong An both remains their traditional trades, but with a few tweaks over generations, and targets tourists customers
too; However, Wah Aik and Yong An both still have their traditional trades and traditional method of product making intact, and preserved to
pass on to future generations, and these are the most important, tangible and intangible elements of traditional trades.

P A S T
A D A P T A T I O N
The window sign from an old clinic was retained and
transformed into a meaningful, decorative window
art, which portrays the framed memory of the built
structure that might have lost in history
(Top) The built of plastered walls atop of old brick
walls imposes an expression of clear contrast, that
portrays the past and present meeting together;
(Bottom) Although the contrast of early and modern
Malacca is apparent, the adaptation of identity from
the past in the present, to the future is also evident.
Especially in arts, skills and techniques, the essence
will more likely to be retained and to be adapted for
present expression. Instead of the generic usage of
ceramic tiles, colourful ones are used to form art
motives by using collage technique.

E N D L E S S
L O O P
“ Unbreakable cycle of being replaced ”
Layers of intervention have left few shophouses on
the street survived unchanged. Most of their original
features and materials had been removed and
replaced.
Once material were laid, it ages and soon imprinted
with damages. When time passes, new material will
then replace the original material, covering the
broken discoloured pieces.
Materials were layered again and again, replacing the
old and broken with the new but deviations are inevi-
table. Although material of similar nature were used
in order to preserve the original essence, vibrancy in
colour, texture and laying method evolve over time.
K O K X U A N Y I N G

N E G L I G E N C E
“ Lack of proper care ”
Location: Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka.

By the late years of dutch rule, a small number of land
on Heeren Street has been acquired by an emerging
class of wealthy Chinese merchants. The road under-
went a complete metamorphosis following Malacca’s
transition to British administration
Along the later years, improper road resurfacing has
altered the relationship between the street and its
buildings. Shophouses are often ﬂooded while
surface irregularities are a constant threat to the
unwary
Poor traﬃc management allowing busses and tour
coaches to pass through the old street with little
regards to safety have left the street and its buildings
visibly distressed

Location: No. 27 - 29, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka.

E M P T Y
S H E L L
“ Meaningful yet bare ”
In the absence of eﬀective legal protection, architec-
tural elements and embellishments integral to a
building original architectural story were stripped out
during its ‘destructive’ restoration.
During restoration, the building’s identity were
hidden from the streets, concealed by metal fencing.
Only tiny glimpse can be seen through this temporary
structure for those who are curious and observant.
Chinese Straits Eclectic elaborate stucco decoration
ﬂourishes the facade but the interior were bare. As if
a storybook that appear meaningful and full of histor-
ical values covered with an unattractive sleeve but
were actually bare inside. An empty shell.

A B A N D O N E D
P A S T
“ An eﬀort lost in time ”

After Malacca was announced as World Heritage,
interest on restoration were sparked from various
body and effort progresses without much impedi-
ment. But along with all the restoration effort com-
pleted, some are cast aside, covered with traces of
disrepair aggravated by pollutant and neglect.
The rigorous simplicity and austere faces of the dutch
now looks haggard and fragile from all the vicissitude
of life
Although intended to be repaired and restored to its
glory days, the building were abandoned, thrown
away and left as it is now. Supported by only scaffold-
ings to prevent further damage which will eventually
lead to failure

Location: No. 34, 32 & 89 , Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka.

I N A U T H E N T I C I T Y
“ Irony of historic city ”
Most restored shophouses on Heeren Street were
converted to accommodate commercial and tourism
demand of Malacca as ‘Historic City’. Cafes, boutique
hotels and museums can be seen scattered along the
street, grabbing attention of those who walk pass.
The building’s origin were displayed but often missed
out by the eyes, distracted by the bold multicoloured
modern street ornaments. Only to those who
observe carefully and closely, will the building reveal
its true self
This type of conservation eﬀort retained the facade
and its decorative elements but disregard its unique
historical, cultural and architectural signiﬁcance.
Increasingly inauthentic face to the old city destroyed
much of the city layered character and content.
Malacca remains lackadaisical about the need to
properly conserve its fabric and character. The irony
of ‘historic city’

Location: No.8, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka.

K O K X U A N Y I N G & P H A R E S P H U N G
“ Series of events forming the bespoke
‘historical city of Malacca’ ”
C O N C A T E N A T I O N
E V I D E N C E
After years of modernization, remnants from the past
may or may not tied ﬂuently with the present.
Progression and restoration materialize in multiple
forms, from destructive and masked restoration to
complete conservation and incomplete abandoned
restoration. Whether it turn out to be good or bad,
the past will always be imprinted on the building and
could never be completely erased.
Irregularity in projection of the heritage buildings,
outward and upward signal the leaping progression
and development that has happened. Weathered and
tainted materials were not uncommon but it entails
the ever-changing days that it had persisted through.

- Wah Aik Shoemaker Melaka. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2017, from http://wahaikshoemakermelaka.webs.com/
- Nyonya beaded shoes. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2017, from http://www.penangheritagecity.com/nyonya-beaded-shoes.html
- Gula Melaka Syrup - Palm Sugar Syrup. (2011, November 10). Retrieved November 9, 2017, from https://www.cookrepublic.com/gula-mela-
ka-syrup-palm-sugar-syrup/
- Lim, H. C., & Jorge, F. (2006). Malacca: voices from the street. Malaysia: Lim Huck Chin. Admin. (2017, September 27). Heeren Street Melaka
? Another Historical Street of Malacca. Retrieved from http://melakatravel.info/heritage-sites/heeren-street-mela-
ka-historical-street-of-malacca/BRATs. (2014, September 30).
- Heeren?s hidden heritage - R.AGE. Retrieved from http://rage.com.my/heerens-hidden-heritage/
- Veera Pandiyan, M. (2013, June 8). Malacca’s Millionaires’ Row Heeren Street has a more interesting history than popular Jonker Street -
Community | The Star Online. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/06/08/malac-
cas-millionaires-row-heeren-street-has-a-more-interesting-history-than-popular-jonker-street/?style=biz
R E F E R E N C E S

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