1 May
2014 was a sad day in Johor Baru because we woke up to the horrific news that
what was known as the Wong Ah Fook mansion on Bukit Meldrum, had been
demolished.
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| A sketch of the demolished old building known as the Wong Ah Fook mansion by artist, Taib Aur |
Days prior to this, comments on social
media expressed much concern over the rumours about the impending demolition of
the old mansion. One comment referred to
an Iskandar development report on JB Transformation Day dated July 11, 2013
where Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said, and I quote:
“Old and new elements would co-exist in the city centre under this
transformation project. Conserving old
buildings with significant historical and architectural elements is important
in addition to the new developments.”
With this in mind, we hoped that the
developers of that project at Bukit Meldrum would apply their architectural
expertise to design a development that could preserve the old mansion and turn
it into a unique centerpiece. This was
how the owners of Hardwicke House in Georgetown creatively preserved it by
building a 31-storey L-shaped skyscraper around this heritage building. But
in JB, all this came to naught, when the Wong Ah Fook mansion was suddenly
reduced to rubble!
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| A bungalow from the colonial era refurbished and used as a private school at Jalan Straits View |
Details surrounding the demolition were
sketchy but it’s sad that a building of considerable historic significance was
allowed to fall into ruin and then destroyed. Perhaps it was too expensive to restore or the
new owners could not relate to its heritage value but whatever it is, the loss
of this old mansion is a hard lesson to learn.
If JB aims to develop into an
international city, we must preserve our heritage buildings which forms the
very heart and soul of our city. The
historical value and ancient architecture of old buildings is priceless as it
is a portal into the rich and unique history of JB. While new developments are rapidly changing
the landscape in Iskandar Malaysia, it is essential to preserve our city’s soul
and character.
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| Another beautiful bungalow from the colonial era is put to good use as a private school for preschoolers |
We often travel to foreign destinations
as tourists to visit historical sites with castles, churches, cemeteries,
palaces and ancient buildings to soak in their culture and heritage and come away
enriched by their history and folklore. In
the same way, visitors and expatriates in our city are also keen to see and
enjoy our historical sites and heritage buildings.
Tourists
do not come here just to shop
in our modern malls. They are more
interested in our museums, palaces, places of worship, pre-war shops and search
for local food, products and handicrafts to buy as gifts and souvenirs.
The regular
throng of visitors browsing around JB’s heritage quarter is proof that tourists,
both young and old, are seeking a unique blend of nostalgia-with-a-cool-hipster
experience. Chic boutiques and cafes in
restored and repurposed pre-war shops next to traditional businesses exudes a special
charm which is attracting visitors who want a taste of nostalgia with a touch
of modernity.
The Red
House, a landmark in the rows of pre-war shops on Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, is now a
café for Nyonya cuisine and a popular subject for photographers and sketch
artists. This 19th Century
building was originally owned by an Indian family and changed hands several
times before it was restored to its former glory in 2011.
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| The Red House is a corner unit of a double-storey pre-war shop at Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk |
When this
road was declared a heritage walk in 2009, the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk
committee held regular cultural events here with the façade of the Red House as
an impressive backdrop. Twice, the Red House was showcased to a
nationwide audience when it was featured among other locations in Kuala Lumpur,
Penang, Malacca and Kuching in the Astro AEC channel “live” TV
countdowns for the lunar new year for
two consecutive years, 2012 (Dragon) and 2013 (Snake).
JB still has
about 20 heritage buildings, the oldest being the old public library
(Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Johor) at Jalan Dato Menteri 1/1 among others
like the Johor Military Force building at Bukit Timbalan, the Dato Jaafar
building on Bukit Senyum and the JB jail, built in 1882 at Jalan Ayer Molek.
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| The oldest building in JB, is sadly left to decay... |
We can
learn from Georgetown where heritage buildings are preserved and successfully
put to adaptive use. The Cheong Fat Tze
Mansion, better known as the Blue Mansion, was restored into a unique
destination for heritage homestays, guided tours and venue for special
events. The Suffolk House, former
residence of Sir Francis Light, the founder of the British settlement on Penang
Island, was rebuilt in 1805 and later neglected but restored to its former
glory as a stunning example of an Anglo-Indian garden house.
Suffolk
House is now an elegant venue for social and corporate events, offers guided
tours and has a classy restaurant, open to the public to enjoy its charms
during lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. In
Penang, Singapore and Bangkok, vintage cafes and restaurants – some of them
award-winning – have established a reputation for themselves as destinations
for fine dining and elegant entertaining.
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| The elegant porch of No. 8 Jalan Skudai, a Spanish casa refurbished as a restaurant and cool event venue, EightLido or Eight on Lido Hill |
JB too has
our share of magnificent old houses, colonial bungalows along Jalan Straits
View and the stylish Spanish casas at Jalan Skudai. Many properties here are still residential while
many lie vacant as owners no longer wish to maintain them as homes.
These old
bungalows with sprawling gardens have been successfully adapted for use as private
schools while the Japan Club of Johor was at No. 10 Jalan Skudai before it
moved to new premises in Bandar Seri Alam.
The Korean Garden Club restaurant was among the first to open in a
stately mansion before nearby bungalows were creatively adapted for use as elegant
restaurants and event venues like Maio the Italian restaurant in M-Suites
Hotel, EightLido, Brazzo by the Bay, Pot’s Industries and Sea & Saw.
Now the
city has some impressive venues with unique settings that offer guests an oasis
of refreshment for dining and entertaining.
Opened by Johor entrepreneurs with a vision to create spaces where
diners can chill-out, host events and entertain their guests, the heart-warming
tales from each of these establishments will follow.
A version of this was published in TheIskandarian.com on 22 April 2016
Next
exciting episode: Visionary Johor entrepreneurs
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