Scribd
Upload
258 views3 pages

Background History Culture Aspect: (China Town)

The document discusses the history and culture of Petaling Street (China Town) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It traces the origins and development of the area from the late 1800s to present day. It also summarizes the history of the Rex Cinema building located on Jalan Sultan, from its original construction in 1947 to its recent redevelopment in 2019 as a cultural community space. The redevelopment aims to bring different communities together through art, culture, and collaboration between new and local businesses.

Uploaded by

Mazzlyn Suraya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
258 views3 pages

Background History Culture Aspect: (China Town)

The document discusses the history and culture of Petaling Street (China Town) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It traces the origins and development of the area from the late 1800s to present day. It also summarizes the history of the Rex Cinema building located on Jalan Sultan, from its original construction in 1947 to its recent redevelopment in 2019 as a cultural community space. The redevelopment aims to bring different communities together through art, culture, and collaboration between new and local businesses.

Uploaded by

Mazzlyn Suraya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

BACKGROUND HISTORY CULTURE ASPECT

(CHINA TOWN)
 The centered of market square was original Chinese town in Kuala Lumpur.

  In the late 1800s, it led to the tin mines in the Petaling district. It has come a long way,
surviving various disasters including massive floods, conflict within the Chinese community
in the 1870s, British colonisation and World War 2.

 The best known stretch fondly called Chee Cheong Kai, which means Tapioca Mill Street in
Cantonese is where the market is located. The name dates back to the time of Yap Ah Loy,
who was said to own a tapioca factory there.

 1960s to 1980s to be the golden age of Petaling Street, when it had an eclectic mix of
shops and thriving commercial activities.

  In 2007, Petaling Street underwent a multi-million dollar development that focused on two
streets, Petaling and Jalan Hang Lekir the former focusing on goods, and the latter on
- REXKL, previously Rex Cinema located on Jalan Sultan, the original building was foods.
completed in 1947, designed by architect James Robert Vethavanam.
- In 1972, it was set on fire during a botched burglary, causing it to burn down.  The street slowly began to lose its heritage and cultural identity with rapid urbanisation and
- Then, in 1976 it was rebuilt into a single-screen cinema operated by Shaw the influx of foreigners
Brothers that could house over 1,000 people.
- However, the cinema discontinue it operations in 2002 and was later reformed  The new Petaling Street, or new Chinatown, is bustling and has been transformed into an
into a backpacker's hotel. Unfortunately, another fire razed the building in 2007. alternative shoppers’ paradise.
- After being left vacant for many years, It was opened back at the end of August
2019 and was given a new life through adaptive reuse.  architect and Chocha co-founder Shin Chang headed the effort to revive the old Rex
- Aims to give the cinema and the surrounding community a new lease on life by Cinema – which dates from 1947, has gone through two fires, and lived secondary lives as
repurposing the disused building as a space for events, theatre, exhibitions, a karaoke outlet and a backpackers’ hostel – into a cultural community space.
performances, screenings, library facilities, workshops, retail, and F&B.
- The upgrades and reassignment of space within the building will be useful to the  bring different communities together through art and culture.
community.
- The initiative is led by local architects Chang Soon Shin, better known as Shin  bring the young and the old together. want to have collaborations between the new
Chang, and Tseng Hsien Shin, who goes by the name Shin Tseng. entrepreneurs coming in and the local traders here.

 The vibe of the area are live able

  a space that is as progressive in the current time, to regenerate the building to serve the
community

 the concept of ‘old’ doesn’t necessarily have to be associated with nostalgia or heritage.
BUILDING CHARACTER

(CULTURAL ASPECT)
BUILDING CHARACTER

(ARCHITECTURAL ASPECT)

You might also like