Only three years ago, a stroll down Jalan Doraisamy or its adjacent Kampung Baru area would not have
presented a very picturesque part of KL city. The street was lined with neglected, dilapidated pre-war
houses that had become part of the city's landscape. Rotting and decaying, the structures were a far
cry from the modern skyscrapers and glorious buildings that stand erect right beside them. Travellers
visiting Kuala Lumpur city arrive expecting to see the architectural megastructures, such as the amazing
KLCC and KL Tower, but most are probably surprised to see the derelict side to our beautiful city once
they leave the city centre. Some may view these dilapidated structures as eyesores and embarrassing
disappointments; a sharp contrast to what tourism posters and guidebooks touted Kuala Lumpur to be.
The founder and developer of Asian Heritage Row, had a vision to develop the neglected colonial structures,
into aesthetically modern architectural pieces that would still maintain the heritage and identity of the
original Neo-classical style architecture of the early 20th century. It was a huge project to undertake and
had its promoters encountered various risks and hurdles. This vision has however, now become a reality and
the once quiet street has been transformed into the most hip and popular area in KL for fine dining and
entertainment.
Deputy President of the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), Dr Tan Loke Mun, said that the old buildings
of the city should be preserved as they represent a part of KL's history and have cultural value that can
never be reproduced. "The buildings can be refurbished or preserved for re-adaptive use such as what we have
seen with the Asian Heritage Row and Tengkat Tong Shin areas", he said in an article published in The Star
(Nov 23, 2004). The development of Asian Heritage Row has certainly managed to uplift and refurbish a part of
KL city's old charm by converting a row of 80-year old houses into a social "lifestyle" destination of wining,
dining and entertainment. Though distinctively modern, the element of conservation and preservation of the
structures heritage is never neglected. Asian Heritage Row has given added value to the city of Kuala Lumpur
with an interesting and tasteful cosmopolitan blend of East and West.
|
