Architecture of Penang

The City Hall, Penang

Fort Cornwallis in Penang

Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Clocktower, in Georgetown

The colonial Eastern & Oriental Hotel

Beach Street with banks

The Chinese Khoo Kongsi clan hall and temple

The "Blue Mansion"

Kapitan Keling Mosque

The buildings and monuments of Penang reflect 171 years of British presence in Penang, coalescing with local, Chinese, Indian, Islamic and various other elements which created a unique and distinctive brand of architecture. Along with Malacca, Penang is an architectural gem of Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Unlike Singapore, also a Straits Settlement, where many of her heritage buildings had to make way for modern skyscrapers and high-rise apartments due to rapid development and acute land scarcity, Penang's architectural heritage enjoys a better fate. Penang has one of the largest collections of pre-war buildings in Southeast Asia. This is for the most part due to the Rent Control Act which froze house rentals for decades, making redevelopment unprofitable. With the repeal of this act in 2000 however, property prices have skyrocketted and development is encroaching upon these buildings, many of which are in a regretful state of repair. The government in recent years have allocated more fundings to finance the restoration of a number of derelict heritage buildings, most notably the Suffolk House, the City Hall and historic buildings in the old commercial district.

Colonial Style

Fort Cornwallis, built by Francis Light as a defensive measure when he first gained possession of Penang island, is the oldest British structure in Penang. Located where the Esplanade now stands and where he first landed on the island, it was originally built of wood and was subsequently replaced by brick.

The architecture of the Suffolk House is of the Anglo-Indian Garden House style, commonly found in British India. It sits upon land once owned by Light as his pepper estate where upon light built a humble timber and attap garden house, noted in letters from visiting friends. The current majestic colonnaded Euro-Indian Georgian building was thought to have been built by W.E. Phillips following his purchase of the land from Light's former partner Scott . Nestled on the bank of the Ayer Itam River, was used by Phillip's father-in-law - Governor Bannerman amongst other the Governors of Penang and the Governors of the Straits Settlements. It was occupied by the Japanese administration during the Second World War. Later, it was utilised by the Methodist Boys' School which was built next to the house. Today, having weathered years of neglect, it is being meticulously restored with the help of researchers from the UK, Malaysia and Australia.

Other distinguished buildings from the colonial period include the City Hall, the Town Hall, the Eastern and Oriental Hotel (Penang's first grand hotel), the Mansion, the Garage, the Standard Chartered Bank building, the HSBC building, the Southern Bank building, the Uplands International School building, as well as the great trading houses of Weld Quay. Many of these render the eclectic architectural styles of the Victorian and Georgian eras as well as Art Deco and Anglo-Indian.

Chinese Influence

Chinese immigrants brought with them architecture from their ancestral land as can be seen in the many Chinese temples and clan houses. Examples that stand out are the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (also known as the Blue Mansion), built by the namesake Qing-dynasty Chinese immigrant who was a hugely successful trader and community leader; the Kuan Yin Temple, the Khoo Kongsi, and the intricate clan house of the influential Khoo clan. The spectacular temple of Kek Lok Si at the foothill of Penang Hill is the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia. Known as the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas, it was largely built by artisans and worksmen from China in the 19th century. A great many of the shophouses and residences found in George Town were built in the style of Straits-Chinese architecture with their very recognisable red terracotta roofs.

Nouveau-riche Chinese millionaires of the olden days built themselves stately mansions along the famed Millionaires' Row of Northam Road (now Sultan Ahmad Shah Road). One of the most famous of them still standing today is the Yeap mansion, resplendent in white. The holiday palace of the Sultan of Kedah, Istana Kedah is also located on the same stretch.

Towkay Chung Thye Phin, last Kapitan China of Penang and Perak was responsible for two exceptional pieces of architecture. The first was the fabled Chung Thye Phin Mansion where Gurney Drive meets Northam Road. People walking through it found themselves strolling along subterranean passageways and chambers, gazing up at a clear glass dining room ceiling revealing live fish or marvelling at the art deco interiors of his rooms. After his passing it was sold and turned into a hotel (The Shanghai Hotel) famous for its local music and "joget" dances. It was eventually demolished and on its footprint now stands an imposing condominium (1 Gurney Drive). On another part of the island he designed Relau Villa, his holiday resort, with a swimming pool ringed by private and other types of rooms. Its derelict structure can still be seen and explored today at Taman Metropolitan, Relau. According to family history Kapitan Chung Thye Phin was inspired by the artistic canals of Venice and the enchanting ponds and lakes of China when he designed the swimming-pool, which was constructed by Mr. B. H. Ung, the first Chinese architect who introduced reinforced concrete buildings to the community, notably the Ban Hin Lee Bank.

Other influences

Indian Muslims made their mark in the majestic Kapitan Keling Mosque located on its namesake road.

The Siamese and Burmese community of Penang built their imposing temples which portray architectural traditions of Siam and Burma. Two of the most famous examples are the Wat Chayamangkalaram (better known as the Sleeping Buddha Temple) and the Dharmikara Burmese Temple.

Protection

Penang is working to put George Town on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list which is hoped to put Penang in a better position to protect her rich cultural heritage.

See also

• Chinese architecture
• City Hall, Penang
• Penang Bridge