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Battle for survival - Heritage buildings
The battle for survival
Yvonne Yoong
Fate, is seems, is dealing a cruel blow to one of Kuala Lumpur’s grandest mansions, which is holding on to the legacy of its past by the barest thread of its existence. The object in question is none other than Bok House, in the heart of the city’s bustling Golden Triangle just a stone’s throw from the Petronas Twin Towers. And the issue is nothing less than its total demolition – in favour of a proposed 60-storey highrise mixed development. How strange this must all seem to the old dame, whose courts once boasted the company of the crème de la crème of society. If her walls could tell tales, they would perhaps whisper memories of enchanted evenings and velvet nights bathed in the moonglow of fine company within their opulent embrace. Like a diamond with many facets, the house was the epitome of elegance and fine living. The language of aesthetics was one she was well acquainted with. Nothing but the finest marble imported from Italy would do for her floors and verandahs, while marble statues, worth a reported US$35,000 then graced the internal framework of the mansion. Fate was in her favour then, thanks to an owner fuelled with riches due to the boom in the tin and rubber industries. The late Chua Cheng Bok never doubted for a moment that his house would outshine every other mansion on the street, and every house in the city. The Bok House, after all, was conceived out of a labour of hard work. And, in many ways, a labour of love. Chua, it has been told, had set his heart on marrying a rich man’s daughter but was deemed unworthy because of his humble origins. He then set out to either impress or spite the girl’s father by building a symbol of his love across the road from the man’s house at 121, Jalan Ampang. However, it is dubious whether he ever got her hand in marriage. Beyond bricks and mortar Fortune was kind to Chua, and saw to it that his years of toil and determination was rewarded with a wealth that could allow him to build a mansion the likes of which had never been seen in Kuala Lumpur in then Malaya. Rising from the ranks through sweat and hard work, Chua’s early start as a poor migrant slaving away in a spice shop by day and mending bicycles and carriages at the Red Light Corner in Ampang by night eventually led him to establishing the Cycle & Carriage company in Singapore in 1899 with his brother. By the 1900s, Chua was in the league of Malaya’s other influential Chinese towkays then, and helped to shape Kuala Lumpur by building many properties, including the Coliseum café and Coliseum cinema along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. In Ipoh, Perak, where his Cycle & Carriage outlet (the main dealer for the country’s Mercedes-Benz marque) planted its Malaysian roots in 1906, he built the Chua Cheng Bok Building on Jalan Chua Cheng Bok. In 1926, Chua put his money where his heart was and engaged the expertise of Swan & Maclaren of Singapore to build Bok House. Completed in 1929, it lived up to its owner’s expectation of a mansion that showcased a neo-classical Greek style – considered the “epitome of civilised society” – and was adapted to suit the tropical weather with its generous verandahs and balconies. Patterned after a Palladian villa, Greek columns and architectural classical elements complete with imitation classical statues reigned supreme in its front hall. Inside, there was a mixture of East and West influences with European art and stained glass displayed alongside Chinese mother-of-pearl furniture and Peranakan tiles. No cost was spared, no detail too trivial to consider. In 1958, Bok House was converted into a fine dining French restaurant, Le Coq d’Or. Interestingly, Chua and his family preferred to live in the rear portion of the mansion for over 20 years – a portion that was sadly demolished in 1999 with the approval of the authorities. Once gone, forever lost Because of Bok House’s cultural and social significance and its “high level of authenticity with very significant architecture”, Badan Warisan Malaysia (The Heritage of Malaysia Trust), is understandably concerned about her fate. Its president Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid recently said the house could be demolished soon as an application to develop the site has been made to Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL). “If such an act is permitted, it would be an ignominy and constitute an act as infamous as the demolition of the Eastern Hotel in KL and the Metropole Hotel in Penang,” he said. His protest was supported by Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) president Dr Tan Loke Mun, who expressed hope that Bok House will “be listed in the National Heritage Register to protect it from further deterioration and imminent destruction”. He also appealed for it to be gazetted as a National Heritage Building under the National Heritage Act 2005. “If Bok House is demolished, KL would lose another building of significant architectural interest and soon, (the city would have) no architectural history left,” Tan pointed out. A check by NST-Property with DBKL confirmed that an application has been made for a 60-storey mixed development and it is awaiting feedback from the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage. Meanwhile, a recent New Straits Times report quoted Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim as saying that under the National Heritage Act 2005, a listing of heritage items and sites will be created. The report also said a Department of National Heritage has been set up and a commissioner appointed. A Heritage Council will also be formed with plans for awareness campaigns to be launched. The Act, introduced with the aim of maintaining and safeguarding the nation’s treasures, will reportedly see a heavy penalty meted out on offenders infringing it. Rais was also quoted as saying that the Government “can give grants to the owners to maintain or promote their premises for posterity”. However, while it is understood that there is “no limit to the grant, and each case will be determined on merit”, Rais did mention the “need to be practical”. “Even if a building qualifies as a heritage item, we may not be able to register it if the owners do not agree. We would not like to force the matter. “For example, the owners of the Le Coq d’Or building on Jalan Ampang may want to do something that will improve the value of the building. The commissioner will have to be very practical then,” he was quoted as saying. Which leaves us to wait with bated breath the final outcome of Bok House. It is interesting to note that the late Chua had specified in his Will that that the mansion must remain in the family for four generations – and must not be sold until the year 2025. One report even states that thereafter, it should be turned into a free school. Will it survive? Only time will tell.
Two sides of the same coin In determining the fate of Bok House where the outcry from the public is to save the mansion, what is the onus on the owners of the mansion? The business of ringgit making sense is oftentimes fraught with difficult decisions: After all, upkeep of the premises can be a costly affair. In the face of inconvenient maintenance and the battle of surging costs, if put in the shoes of the trustees including Chua Chwee Ng, Chua Wye Man and Chua Yong Man, are there any other options? A check with property consultancy Knight Frank Ooi & Zaharin Sdn Bhd director Sarkunan Subramaniam reveals that land along this stretch of Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur can range from RM800psf to RM1,000psf. “Bok House is special and part of a grand history that ties us back to our past when KL was just a small tin mining town,” said Badan Warisan Malaysia (BWM) president Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid. However, acknowledging that the issue of conservation is not an easy balance, whereby it can be hard to persuade someone not to sell or develop his or her property on the basis of it being valuable to the nation, he nevertheless believes in the potential adaptive re-use of this former residence as has been the case with many heritage buildings all over the world. A former Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) president and BWM council member Jimmy Lim said that in order not to disadvantage the owners, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) could transfer the land’s development rights to another property. Already being practiced in other countries, he believes this is a practical solution. This will perhaps go a long way in urging public and private owners to “conserve and preserve their historic buildings and environments” while promoting, as Ahmad Sarji put it, “their sympathetic adaptation to new uses, so as to ensure their future viability and relevance”. This proposal to transfer development rights was mooted by BWM some years ago, but unfortunately, no action was taken by the Government. Hopefully though, on the wings of a new awareness, it will find its way into the National Heritage Act. This is in keeping with the belief that the built environment is a reflection of national identity and thus, should be preserved for the future. As Lim said: “As long as it’s on Malaysian soil, it’s our asset, it’s our national treasure. “It’s the same as us having a museum, a Malaysian heritage or Malaysian estates. They all make up Malaysia’s national treasures.”
Through the years
* In 1942, during World War II, the Japanese requisitioned Bok House. It was occupied by the Yokohama Specie Bank. * After the war, the British forces used the mansion to house its air force women. It was subsequently returned to the family, and thereafter, a businessman turned Bok House into a fine hostelry. * In 1958, Kuala Lumpur’s premier nightclub and restaurant, called Le Coq d’Or (or The Golden Cockrel) located at the front portion of the mansion opened its doors. The Chua family continued to occupy the house in the rear quarters that was a modest house on its own. * From the 1960s till the early 1970s – its heydays – Le Coq d’Or was considered the place for fine dining in KL and found its way in many guidebooks and notable architectural publications. * In 1982, Bok House was acknowledged as a heritage building in the Kuala Lumpur (Draft) Structure Plan. * In the early to mid 1980s, Bok House was placed in the list of Grade 1 buildings on the “Senarai Bangunan Yang Dicadangkan Untuk Diwartakan Di Wilayah Persekutuan” produced by Jabatan Muzium & Antikuiti. (As recently as 2004, it is still believed to be on this list) * In 1999, the rear quarters was demolished to widespread public outcry and protest. Till today, the back portion of the lot has yet to be developed. * In 2001, Le Coq d’Or, renowned for its French cuisine, was closed after 43 years in operation. It was subsequently stripped of its furniture, fixtures, doors and windows. * Badan Warisan Malaysia (BWM) has noted that the physical condition of the building has today deteriorated badly. Many of its fittings and fixtures are believed to have been removed and the original floors, windows and doors have been badly vandalised. * On March 1, 2006, the National Heritage Act 2005 came into force. * In a press statement released last month, BWM proposed that Bok House be listed in the National Heritage Register to protect it from further deterioration and imminent destruction. Bok House meets at least five of the criteria for declaration as a National Heritage.
Yvonne Yoong
Fate, is seems, is dealing a cruel blow to one of Kuala Lumpur’s grandest mansions, which is holding on to the legacy of its past by the barest thread of its existence. The object in question is none other than Bok House, in the heart of the city’s bustling Golden Triangle just a stone’s throw from the Petronas Twin Towers. And the issue is nothing less than its total demolition – in favour of a proposed 60-storey highrise mixed development. How strange this must all seem to the old dame, whose courts once boasted the company of the crème de la crème of society. If her walls could tell tales, they would perhaps whisper memories of enchanted evenings and velvet nights bathed in the moonglow of fine company within their opulent embrace. Like a diamond with many facets, the house was the epitome of elegance and fine living. The language of aesthetics was one she was well acquainted with. Nothing but the finest marble imported from Italy would do for her floors and verandahs, while marble statues, worth a reported US$35,000 then graced the internal framework of the mansion. Fate was in her favour then, thanks to an owner fuelled with riches due to the boom in the tin and rubber industries. The late Chua Cheng Bok never doubted for a moment that his house would outshine every other mansion on the street, and every house in the city. The Bok House, after all, was conceived out of a labour of hard work. And, in many ways, a labour of love. Chua, it has been told, had set his heart on marrying a rich man’s daughter but was deemed unworthy because of his humble origins. He then set out to either impress or spite the girl’s father by building a symbol of his love across the road from the man’s house at 121, Jalan Ampang. However, it is dubious whether he ever got her hand in marriage. Beyond bricks and mortar Fortune was kind to Chua, and saw to it that his years of toil and determination was rewarded with a wealth that could allow him to build a mansion the likes of which had never been seen in Kuala Lumpur in then Malaya. Rising from the ranks through sweat and hard work, Chua’s early start as a poor migrant slaving away in a spice shop by day and mending bicycles and carriages at the Red Light Corner in Ampang by night eventually led him to establishing the Cycle & Carriage company in Singapore in 1899 with his brother. By the 1900s, Chua was in the league of Malaya’s other influential Chinese towkays then, and helped to shape Kuala Lumpur by building many properties, including the Coliseum café and Coliseum cinema along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. In Ipoh, Perak, where his Cycle & Carriage outlet (the main dealer for the country’s Mercedes-Benz marque) planted its Malaysian roots in 1906, he built the Chua Cheng Bok Building on Jalan Chua Cheng Bok. In 1926, Chua put his money where his heart was and engaged the expertise of Swan & Maclaren of Singapore to build Bok House. Completed in 1929, it lived up to its owner’s expectation of a mansion that showcased a neo-classical Greek style – considered the “epitome of civilised society” – and was adapted to suit the tropical weather with its generous verandahs and balconies. Patterned after a Palladian villa, Greek columns and architectural classical elements complete with imitation classical statues reigned supreme in its front hall. Inside, there was a mixture of East and West influences with European art and stained glass displayed alongside Chinese mother-of-pearl furniture and Peranakan tiles. No cost was spared, no detail too trivial to consider. In 1958, Bok House was converted into a fine dining French restaurant, Le Coq d’Or. Interestingly, Chua and his family preferred to live in the rear portion of the mansion for over 20 years – a portion that was sadly demolished in 1999 with the approval of the authorities. Once gone, forever lost Because of Bok House’s cultural and social significance and its “high level of authenticity with very significant architecture”, Badan Warisan Malaysia (The Heritage of Malaysia Trust), is understandably concerned about her fate. Its president Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid recently said the house could be demolished soon as an application to develop the site has been made to Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL). “If such an act is permitted, it would be an ignominy and constitute an act as infamous as the demolition of the Eastern Hotel in KL and the Metropole Hotel in Penang,” he said. His protest was supported by Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) president Dr Tan Loke Mun, who expressed hope that Bok House will “be listed in the National Heritage Register to protect it from further deterioration and imminent destruction”. He also appealed for it to be gazetted as a National Heritage Building under the National Heritage Act 2005. “If Bok House is demolished, KL would lose another building of significant architectural interest and soon, (the city would have) no architectural history left,” Tan pointed out. A check by NST-Property with DBKL confirmed that an application has been made for a 60-storey mixed development and it is awaiting feedback from the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage. Meanwhile, a recent New Straits Times report quoted Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim as saying that under the National Heritage Act 2005, a listing of heritage items and sites will be created. The report also said a Department of National Heritage has been set up and a commissioner appointed. A Heritage Council will also be formed with plans for awareness campaigns to be launched. The Act, introduced with the aim of maintaining and safeguarding the nation’s treasures, will reportedly see a heavy penalty meted out on offenders infringing it. Rais was also quoted as saying that the Government “can give grants to the owners to maintain or promote their premises for posterity”. However, while it is understood that there is “no limit to the grant, and each case will be determined on merit”, Rais did mention the “need to be practical”. “Even if a building qualifies as a heritage item, we may not be able to register it if the owners do not agree. We would not like to force the matter. “For example, the owners of the Le Coq d’Or building on Jalan Ampang may want to do something that will improve the value of the building. The commissioner will have to be very practical then,” he was quoted as saying. Which leaves us to wait with bated breath the final outcome of Bok House. It is interesting to note that the late Chua had specified in his Will that that the mansion must remain in the family for four generations – and must not be sold until the year 2025. One report even states that thereafter, it should be turned into a free school. Will it survive? Only time will tell.
Two sides of the same coin In determining the fate of Bok House where the outcry from the public is to save the mansion, what is the onus on the owners of the mansion? The business of ringgit making sense is oftentimes fraught with difficult decisions: After all, upkeep of the premises can be a costly affair. In the face of inconvenient maintenance and the battle of surging costs, if put in the shoes of the trustees including Chua Chwee Ng, Chua Wye Man and Chua Yong Man, are there any other options? A check with property consultancy Knight Frank Ooi & Zaharin Sdn Bhd director Sarkunan Subramaniam reveals that land along this stretch of Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur can range from RM800psf to RM1,000psf. “Bok House is special and part of a grand history that ties us back to our past when KL was just a small tin mining town,” said Badan Warisan Malaysia (BWM) president Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid. However, acknowledging that the issue of conservation is not an easy balance, whereby it can be hard to persuade someone not to sell or develop his or her property on the basis of it being valuable to the nation, he nevertheless believes in the potential adaptive re-use of this former residence as has been the case with many heritage buildings all over the world. A former Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) president and BWM council member Jimmy Lim said that in order not to disadvantage the owners, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) could transfer the land’s development rights to another property. Already being practiced in other countries, he believes this is a practical solution. This will perhaps go a long way in urging public and private owners to “conserve and preserve their historic buildings and environments” while promoting, as Ahmad Sarji put it, “their sympathetic adaptation to new uses, so as to ensure their future viability and relevance”. This proposal to transfer development rights was mooted by BWM some years ago, but unfortunately, no action was taken by the Government. Hopefully though, on the wings of a new awareness, it will find its way into the National Heritage Act. This is in keeping with the belief that the built environment is a reflection of national identity and thus, should be preserved for the future. As Lim said: “As long as it’s on Malaysian soil, it’s our asset, it’s our national treasure. “It’s the same as us having a museum, a Malaysian heritage or Malaysian estates. They all make up Malaysia’s national treasures.”
Through the years
* In 1942, during World War II, the Japanese requisitioned Bok House. It was occupied by the Yokohama Specie Bank. * After the war, the British forces used the mansion to house its air force women. It was subsequently returned to the family, and thereafter, a businessman turned Bok House into a fine hostelry. * In 1958, Kuala Lumpur’s premier nightclub and restaurant, called Le Coq d’Or (or The Golden Cockrel) located at the front portion of the mansion opened its doors. The Chua family continued to occupy the house in the rear quarters that was a modest house on its own. * From the 1960s till the early 1970s – its heydays – Le Coq d’Or was considered the place for fine dining in KL and found its way in many guidebooks and notable architectural publications. * In 1982, Bok House was acknowledged as a heritage building in the Kuala Lumpur (Draft) Structure Plan. * In the early to mid 1980s, Bok House was placed in the list of Grade 1 buildings on the “Senarai Bangunan Yang Dicadangkan Untuk Diwartakan Di Wilayah Persekutuan” produced by Jabatan Muzium & Antikuiti. (As recently as 2004, it is still believed to be on this list) * In 1999, the rear quarters was demolished to widespread public outcry and protest. Till today, the back portion of the lot has yet to be developed. * In 2001, Le Coq d’Or, renowned for its French cuisine, was closed after 43 years in operation. It was subsequently stripped of its furniture, fixtures, doors and windows. * Badan Warisan Malaysia (BWM) has noted that the physical condition of the building has today deteriorated badly. Many of its fittings and fixtures are believed to have been removed and the original floors, windows and doors have been badly vandalised. * On March 1, 2006, the National Heritage Act 2005 came into force. * In a press statement released last month, BWM proposed that Bok House be listed in the National Heritage Register to protect it from further deterioration and imminent destruction. Bok House meets at least five of the criteria for declaration as a National Heritage.
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Latest page update: made by abrnadzrah
, Dec 20 2006, 10:06 PM EST
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| yamin8228 | Bok's House - Heritage Buildings | 0 | Dec 23 2006, 12:30 PM EST by yamin8228 | ||
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Thread started: Dec 23 2006, 12:30 PM EST
Watch
Well, we now know what its fate was.
Money matters more than our sentimental memories or colorful history of the building. A rather sad indication and commentary of our times. The next question is, will other "heritage" buildings meet with the some fate? Food for thought. Yamin www.pahang-delights.com |
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