AARCH SEM2

1. Contextual Architecture
How has the Chinese Migrants and traders from South China
influenced and adapted the typology of the Malaysian Vernacular
Shophouses to the Malaysian Context
Options of buildings​​ : Dr Sun Yat Sen Museum, Georgetown. Penang Shophouses
Research Questions​​ :
1. How are the original architectural elements of the Sun Yat Sen museum different from
the 1700s and 1800s to present day?
1. What are the local architectural elements that have been adopted in the design of the
shophouses?
1. How do they use materials in the shophouses to suit our local context? Do they adapt to
the local context? Are there any changes? (talking about the evolution)
1. How have they modify their design to suit local climate?
1. How do they create new designs with the local technology and socio-economic
development that was available during the time?
Other possible questions
*) What was the changes/ development that can be seen through the progression with time from
when they reach here initially / How has the shophouses continue to evolved after the influence
was brought over.
*) What other elements have they adopted/ adapted from foreign influences

2. Problem Statement:
In postcolonial times, architecture and urbanism have continued to play an important role in the
enforcement of political control, often under the guise of national styles. Colonization have left
their impact towards us Malaysians. However, that is not the only thing they have left us with.
They have left us with pre-colonial buildings all around the country with exquisite designs.
However it is not really known and prominent. The colonial period of Malaysian history is one of
the best examples of the emergence and influence of various imported types of
architecture, especially Islamic ones. The trend of ‘Moorish’ design is notable due to the
different beliefs and attitudes regarding the influence of Moorish or Mughal architecture. The
issue, How does the colonial architecture adapt to our local context? Architecture is a site
specific so how does their architecture adopt to the Malaysian context. How do they alter their
designs to suit the Malaysian context. What changes have been made to their traditional
methods to better suit the context or has it remained the same throughout?
Subject to change because is off topic
Summary
Need to recheck *** Can mentioned about how malaysia is struggling to find our own
‘style’
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

3. obvious in all the towns and cities in Malaysia today. These heritage buildings exude their own
emotions through their unique historical identity. Hence, the conservation of heritage buildings is
pertinent, especially in enhancing the society’s knowledge on history. Not forgetting the identity
of Malaysia, there are many buildings that have combinations of different influences and
elements from different cultures. 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 the identity and the origin of
the cultures are forgotten. This will affect Malaysia’s urban background 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 endeavor 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. Their designs have manage to adopt and alter their designs into our local
context. With issues, there comes solution. With the issues present in our local context, it helps
to create a unique style that suits the local context of Malaysia Any argument on the making of
modern architecture in Malaysia should be given obvious outstanding references to the various
foreign involvements into the country. Heritage is a value that can be handed down the
generations. It could be in the form of customs, culture, locality, buildings, archives and
manuscripts. Conserving heritage buildings is an artwork itself that needs careful study and
patience.