Heritage Buildings Conservation Issues of Shophouses in Kuala Lumpur Chinatown: Fid-Bau Portal

Heritage Buildings Conservation Issues of Shophouses in Kuala Lumpur Chinatown

Toong, Yong Seng / Utaberta, Nangkula

There are new buildings replacing the stock of pre-war shophouses due to the result of the city urbanisation as well as economy pressures in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur Chinatown (KLC) is one of the most visited tourist in the city of Kuala Lumpur due to its local heritage and unique character. However, the KLC’s economic growth and problem of commercialisation is overriding the heritage elements in KLC are apparent. This can be seen through the number of pre-war shophouses reducing, the sign of deterioration by lacking of maintenance, replacement by new tall buildings and et cetera. There is a need to revisiting users’ devaluation of pre-war shophouses (facades) in KLC. The study focuses in KLC which has encompassed Petaling Street, Tun H.S. Lee Street, Sultan Street and, Tun Tan Cheng Lock Street. KLC is not merely a famous tourist spot but also having its historical and heritage values, especially the facades elements. These facades referred as tangible heritage element which has formed the uniqueness to the city of Kuala Lumpur. Despite those shophouse facades’ elements in KLC having historical and heritage values, the activity of demolition, deterioration and façade modification in KLC is signalling the users’ devaluation of pre-war shophouses in KLC. The stock of pre-war shophouses could diminished eventually if there is no proper old building protection steps being carried out, such as restoration and conservation. Besides, the paper would discuss the possibility and appropriate steps for pre-war shophouses façade elements preservation as to be carried out in parallel with city urbanisation.