DEPARMENT OF TOWN AND REGIONAL PLANNING

FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING AND SURVEYING

NAME : ARIFF BIN BAKRI

STUDENT ID : 2006804462
PROGRAM : BACH. OF TOWN AN REGIONAL PLANNING - AP 221
COURSE : TRP 261 – URBAN DESIGN 1
SESSION : JULY-NOV 2007
LECTURER : ASSOC.. PROF. SANIAH AHMAD ZAKI
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1.0 Introduction

The urban design elements concern the physical character and order of the city,
and the relationship between people and their environment. George Town’s
environment is magnificent, and the city is richness with cultural heritage make it
differ then others city.

George Town’s become and remained a major center for trade throughout the
subsequent centuries, particularly in the 17th until 19th century when most of the
buildings, which exist in the city today, were constructed. The grid of the early
commercial town was bounded by Light Street (now Lebuh Light), Beach Street
(Lebuh Pantai), Pitt Street (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling) and the Chulia Street
(Lebuh Chulia). Each street has their own character and identity where can see truth
on the placement of buildings and other factors. In Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling for
example, this street were identified as place of worship and it was preserved by
authorities for that purpose. Most of the worship buildings such as mosque, temple
and church are here and it makes this street have unique character differ then other
area in this city.

In the intensely urban environment of George Town’s, there are things that have
not changed like I mention before this. This city offers variety of architectural styles
and design themes with different era. These features provide people with a feeling of
continuity over time, and with a sense of relief from the crowding and stress of city
life and modern times. As the city grows, the keeping of that which is old and
irreplaceable may be as much a measure of human achievement as the building of the
new. Certainly, the old should not be replaced unless what is new is better. The
project like American Express-Penang Heritage Trail is example of the project that
promotes the conservation and preservation program.

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2.0 Character of The Conservation and Preservation Area

2.1. General

The old town of George Town’s conservation area composed of a number of

elements which combine that give this area unique and varied character. From
observation the conservation area has divided by streets and each street of which
has a slightly different character and appearance.

i. The area surrounding Padang Kota Lama is based around Lebuh Light and
Jalan Tun Syed Barakhabah. This area contains the Town Hall, City Hall,
Fort Cornwallis, Court Buildings, Kota Lama Park or Padang and States
Assembly Buildings). Most of the significant buildings in this area are
restored and it’s still functional well until today.

ii. The area along Lebuh Bishop, Lebuh Gereja, Lebuh China, Lebuh Pasar
and Lebuh Chulia. These streets were early settlement in George Town. In
past, the Eurasian settled along Bishop Street and Church Street, Chinese
traders settled along China Street and Indian traders settled along Chulia
Street. Because of the different people stay in different street and it make
each street has distinctly different character.

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iii. The area along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling is place were located the most
religious buildings. In this area there is St. George’s Church, Goddess of
Mercy Temple, Mahamariamman Temple and Kapitan Keling Mosque.
The historic communities in the street still keep alive their dialects,
occupation, religious traditions and street festivals.

iv. Lebuh Acheh and Lebuh Armenian are extended settlement from the early
settlement in George Town. This streets in past are place for Armenian
and Muslim community lives. Most of the building in the area is 18th and
19th century building style. Today, buildings in these both of the streets
have on program of restoration and preservation.

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2.2. Activity and User

There are variety of activity was done in this conservation area and most
of the activities was influenced by previous era activity. The activity like spice
trading is still alive in this area. In the area of Padang still exist activities like
game was done and there are some new activities in here. The new development
like The Esplanade, seaside hawker center and restoration program of Fort
Cornwallis make this place as tourist destination and place for local to get sense
of relaxation and leisure.

The area along Lebuh Bishop, Lebuh Gereja, Lebuh China, Lebuh Pasar and
Lebuh Chulia has number of local shops, traditional trader shops, restaurant and
some more on significant stores. However, there are many vacant shops within
these streets and if the commercial and economic basis of the town can be re-
established these could bring back into use. A particular striking feature on
Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling and other area surrounding it is large number of
place of worship. There is St. George’s Church, Goddess of Mercy Temple,
Mahamariamman Temple and Kapitan Keling Mosque.

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2.3. Open Spaces, Trees and Vista

The conservation area also included several open space with provide
physical break in the tight of urban form as well as public amenity space. The
most formal open space in this area is Kota Lama Park. Just on side of park
there is The Esplanade. This area is paved with modern grey pavior and stone
bollard. We can see trough open sea from this area. There is combination of soft
landscape and hard landscape in this area. Next to the Town Hall there is small
open space. It provides an attractively green and tranquil space, contrasting with
the busy traffic along Lebuh Light.

Another landscape space in this area is located on the edge of Jalan Masjid
Kapitan Keling and is composed of a public space on the pavement and
dominated by mature canopy tree with benches underneath.

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Most of the old town area has enclosure character where the ratio of
the space to the height of building is slightly. By the creating of these
spaces provides to the people with a sense of relief from the
crowding and stress of city life and modern times.

The Old Town of George Town is connected by concerted streetscape development along
major roads and pedestrian pathways. That development will enhance the image of the
Town and at the same time give some character for this part of area.

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2.4. Architectural style.

City Hall, Court Buildings and others government building being are most
important which predate 1900. The majority of the remaining building in the
conservation area date to the 19th and 20th centuries with few 18th century
survivals. The government buildings are more on colonial architectural style. In
other area like Lebuh China and Lebuh Chulia most of the building is two storey
shophouses, built in vernacular style, with some influenced by their origin
culture.

The vernacular style that can

see trough on design of the
shophouses in the
conservation area.

Most of colonial buildings

that exist today were
influenced by Victorian and
Edwardian era style.
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New development (e.g. Dewan Sri Pinang) is designed with consideration for the prevailing
design character and the effect on surroundings can enhance and preserve George Town’s
distinctive qualities. The design also creates continuity with the features surrounding area.

The conservation in this old town is

concern on encouraging the variety in
the use of complementary colours,
texture, forms, styles and material.

The blue colours on this Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion shows us with the
careful using of contrast in this mansion it would be appropriate
providing focus and interest to an area.
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The program of restoration of significant buildings involving the

façade treatment on those buildings example like in the row of terrace
houses from late 1930’s in Lebuh Cannon. The grey Shanghai plaster
on façade building was restoring like the past condition.

The city's streets are a further resource to be conserved. Their value is

not merely in the carrying of traffic. Streets are important in perception
of the city pattern, since they make visible the city's outstanding
features and its points of orientation. Streets also help regulate the
organization and scale of building development, spacing out buildings
and giving continuity to their facades.

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The design on streetscape that reflex to it’s surrounding character. For

example the pavement or pavior on the small monument or Cenotaph is
reflex from the sea wave and the street light is reflex from Penang
Bridge.

3.0 Conclusion

` In conclusion urban renewal is important in urban design. It will help the urban
designer in maintain the character of the town at the same time to enhance the image
of the city. The urban renewal program in Penang was successful and gives us some
information how the preservation and conservation was done in urban area. From the
restoration of older and historic buildings until the design of streetscape, it will effect
to identity and character of this area. The co-operation between the local authorities
and non-government organization like Penang Heritage Trust was help to preserve the
heritage of George Towns. Public participant also help this program to be successful.

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