Central Market, Kuala Lumpur

1. Introduction1.1 Central Market

The Kuala Lumpur Central Market or what we called as Pasar Seni is situated in

the heart of Kuala Lumpur; it is once a wet market and now functioned as an

entertainment and recreational hub for local citizens and foreigners. Though

somewhat commercialized by the rapid developments around it, one can still find

much of our Malaysian culture retained in the arts and crafts sold there.

Reflecting the typical busy streets in city life, it stands in a remarkable position

amongst other modern city skyscrapers.

Central Market was originally stands on the Jalan Hang Kasturi which is built by

Yap Ah Loy as a wet market and relocated to a double storey building occupied

123.5 meters long, 60.8 meters wide and 7.9 meters high at the same location by

Messrs T.Y Lee as architect and Mr. R.H Steed as the Town Engineer on 1937.

The location of the Wet Market was very convenient to the early city dwellers

because it was within the vicinity of Klang bus stand, bus service centre for Kuala

Lumpur and the train station. For now, Central Market also provides connections

to Kuala Lumpur International Airport and major destination and hotels for tourist

due to its location.

Back in the days, Kuala Lumpur was once famous with its rich tin mines. A lot of

workers from other countries were sent to there to work at the tin mines. In 1888,

the Central Market was built to serve as a wet market to provide Kuala Lumpur’s

large tin mining community for fresh meat, fish, vegetables and daily needs.

When the market had undergone further expansions made in 1889, 1895, 1920

and 1921, a permanent single-storey structure was built to house all the vendors

under one roof. By 1933, the expansions to the warehouse made the market now

in its present size that can include three cold rooms for frozen meats, 170

vegetable and fruit stalls, 158 fish stalls, 36 beef stalls, 27 pork stalls and 20

poultry stalls. The Central Market is now transformed to become the

centre of promoting Malaysian culture and heritage.

1.2 Historical Background of Central Market

The history of Central Market can be dated back to 1888. During the construction

of Dayabumi, a development project of commercial offices and hotels, on the

opposite bank of Klang River in 1981, the market acquired by the Urban

Development Authority (UDA) to be demolished, as well as the old shop houses

north and south of it. However, the Malaysian Heritage Society successfully

petitioned against the demolition of the Central Market and it was declared as a

'Heritage Site'.

In 1985, through an allocation of RM9.0 million granted by the Federal

Government, the market which once served as a wet market was renovated into

vibrant and colourful new style and was transformed to a centre for Malaysian

culture, arts, and handicrafts. The façade has remained unaltered to retain the

charm of yesteryears.

On 15th April 1986, Melewar Leisure Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Kumpulan Melewar

Berhad took over the ownership of the building and was officially opened and

launched as Pasar Seni by Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz who then was Minister of

Public Enterprise. Currently, Central Market still retains the nostalgic feel of

Malaysian history during the pre-independence era, and it is used to promote

Malaysian culture through the sales of local art and craft product.

1.3 Contextual conditionThe differences before and after the wet market was built can be differentiated in

several aspects. In physical aspect, before the wet market was built, people

around had a hard time to buy groceries but after the wet market was built, there

are easier for those residence around to get their groceries in different variety. In

aspect of social, residence there seldom communicate because they seldom

gather, but after the wet market was built, residence around are easily gather at

the wet market. Therefore, communication and bonding relationships takes

place. While in the aspect of political, there are city planning takes place under

the management of city’s Chinese Kapitan, Yap Ah Loy by building a wet market.

Before that, nobodies had done city planning for the residence around. Then, in

the aspect of economical, there are less economical deal and businesses carry

on around that area. After the wet market was built, it provides people with work

opportunities and it brings up the economical situation of that area. Finally, in the

aspect of culture, before the wet market was built, residence around have to go

far and different places to get different groceries but after the wet market was

built, it is more convenient for the residence around to get their groceries.

Therefore, went to wet market had become their culture.

The Art Deco design style of interior and exterior of Central Market building had a

big relation with the local technology, climate condition, history, culture and

beliefs. The main structure of Central Market is made of reinforced concrete,

supported on reinforced concrete piles because this is the most common and

steady material to use. As we known, Malaysia’s climate is hot and humid

throughout the years, therefore, the glass window of Central Market uses glazed

blue-green coloured Calorex rolled plate glass which only allows 20% of the

sun’s heat and 60 % of daylight to penetrate. Moreover, the Kasturi Walk that

running the entire length of the building was glazed with the Calorex of a lighter tint. These

have been the earliest use of heat resisting glass on such extent in Malaysia.

Besides, the exterior design of Central market also affected by Art Deco Style

which originated from France because this architecture style is wide being used

during the 30s and 40s, while the building was first built during 1930, which Art

Deco is popular in the post- World War II era. Therefore, Central Market is

affected by the France architecture culture. In fact, Central Market is considered

the first energy efficient building in Kuala Lumpur because it had made a good

use of the local climate to create an energy saving building. It had used to be a

new leading building technology for that particular time. From the historical view,

Central Market had used to be a wet market which people gather from different

races, beliefs and cultures, so it further developed to a place where promotes

local culture. Therefore, there are Little India, Malay Street and Straits Chinese

which represent different culture in Malaysia.

1.4 Design Ideas or Concept

The idea of building the Central Market is to house all the stalls under a shelter

so that it will become a centre where the citizens and tin miners can get their

daily supplies. It is arranged in a stall concept, representing the traditional market

that has existed in Kuala Lumpur since the 1800s. However, what makes this

heritage building so interesting to architectural heritage buff is its Art Deco

Architecture. Art Deco, or Deco, is an influential visual arts design style

introduced in France during the 1920s. It is said to have begun from 1925 when

the International Exposition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts was held in

France to showcase new ideas in applied arts.

Art Deco is an eclectic style that combines traditional craft and ancient

architectural motifs with Machine Age imagery and materials. The style is often

characterized by rich colours, bold geometric shapes, and lavish ornamentation.

Art Deco gained popularities internationally from the end of 1920s and was used

extensively for public works projects during 1930s such as railway station, ocean

liners, movie palaces, amusement parks etc. Historian Bevis Hillier defined Art

Deco as "an assertively modern style...[that] ran to symmetry rather than

asymmetry, and to the rectilinear rather than the curvilinear; it responded to the

demands of the machine and of new material...[and] the requirements of mass

production." Unfortunately, its popularity waned in the early 1940s.

2. Building analysis

According to National Heritage Act 2005(Act 645), building means a building or

groups of separate or connected building which, because of their architectural,

their homogeneity or their place in the landscape, are of outstanding universal

value from the point of view of history, art or science. Each historic building has

its own unique quality which must be protected for the use and enjoyment of this

and future generation.

One of the special features of Central Market is the art deco design. Ancient

architectural design are frequently applied in Art Deco, therefore as we can see

bold ziggurat design has been chosen by the architect in many parts of this

building such as its terraced gable on its main entrance and other entrances. In

addition to that, its recessed main entrance is said to create the illusion of a

passageway to a stage set.

Meanwhile, Art Moderne, also known as Streamline Moderne, was a late type of

design style related to Art Deco which emerged during the 1930s. This

architectural style emphasized geometric forms, long horizontal lines and nautical

elements, which were typical of later Art Deco details. The subtle horizontal band

of pink textured concrete running across the breadth of Central Market, in which

bands or columns of contrasting materials are used to create a sense of line or

division. Furthermore, the use of geometric motifs can be seen from the

interlocking rings on each of its entrance.

Concrete flagpoles were a common feature of Art Deco building. In the case of

Central Market, the flagpole remains a purely decorative item, endorsing Art

Deco architecture as architecture of ornament. Shanghai plaster which could be

sculpted according to Art Deco motifs was also used in this building to create a

stone-liked finish as it is relatively cheaper than real stone.

Besides, the Central Market are also the first energy efficient building in Kuala

Lumpur and probably the earliest building that has used the heat resistance glass

on such extent in Malaya.

Flag pole

2.1 Layouts and floor planPiping system and office were located near the main entrance so that it can be

easily accessible. Beef and pork stalls were separated far apart to accommodate

Muslims and non-Muslims. Fish stalls were located at the empty spaces near the

side exit of the wet market for sanitation purpose. Storing and sorting eggs was

located just right after the fish area. To the right side of egg storage, poultry stalls

were placed to produce eggs and also selling of chicken and ducks. At the end of

wet market was the spring food area while fruits and vegetables stalls located

along two sideway of the main lane.

2.2 Doors and windows

The doors and windows in Central market is entirely made up of the blue and

green Carolex glass and are installed with the metal grills. The door is using the

elements and ideas of ziggurat and geometry.

The interlocking rings

Meanwhile its recessed main entrance is said to create the illusion of a

passageway to a stage set. Symmetrical receding abstract planes and

aerodynamic streamlining are typical of later Art Deco details. As the subtle

Element of ziggurat and geometry.

Calorex glass

horizontal band of pink textured concrete running across the breadth

of Central Market, it is also the characteristic of one of the techniques

used in Art Deco, in which bands or columns of contrasting materials

are used to create a sense of line or division.

The contrasting bands and

the Colorex glass

2.3 Wall and Floor

The main structures, which are the walls and floor are made up of

reinforced concrete with raft foundation and bored piling are used at

the left hand side of the building from the front entrance.

Central Market’s walls have been fully made up from timber since

British Government has built the existing building in 1888 until the

construction of new Central Market in 1936 where all peripheral wall is

made up from 4 inches brickwork and remained until today. However,

the shop’s walls in the cluster are excluded from previous statement

as the shop’s owners have been given permission to design their

shops. In 1986, natural ventilation louvers under the parapet wall were

sealed with Carolex tinted glass as it use fully mechanical ventilation

afterwards.

The floor is originally finished with concrete tiles. After 1986, the tiles

were replaced with the ceramic tiles and terracotta tiles.

Different tiles used inside the

building as a finishing.

2.4Roof

The roofs of Central Market are designed to take another floor. There

are basically three types of roofs, the flat roof, barrel vault roof and

the skylight glazed roof. The skylight glazed roof provides sufficient

lights penetration into the building and act as a good energy saver.

Skylight glazed roof Barrel vault

Interior lightened by skylight glazed roof

3 Comparative study of Central Market and Borough Market, London

For the purpose of further study about

Central Market, we have found

another similar building type that was

built around the same period of time,

which is 1851 so that we can

compare their characteristics. We had

selected the Borough Market which is

located at London as a source of

comparison to Central Market. Borough Market had undergone few expansions

and an entrance with art deco architectural style was built in 1932 and most of

the characteristic are similar with Central Market.

In the aspect of natural lightning system,

we shall know that how the difference of

climate between two countries affect the

design of the building. Central Market has

3 types of roof, the flat roof, the barrel

vault and the skylight glazed roof. The

skylight glazed roof is located at the centre

of the building and it is the main light

source of the interior. The position and

size of the skylight glazed roof allows

sufficient natural light to

penetrate into the building but minimalist

the amount of heat that comes with the sunlight since the climate in Malaysia is

hot and have strong sunlight along the years. On the other hand, the Borough

Market is mostly lighten by natural light through the transparent roof because

they need more lights and heat to penetrate into the interior of the building since

the weather there are cold, dry and have warm light throughout the years.

From the aspect of opening and ventilation, Central Market has many large

windows, therefore ventilation carry out vigorously. It allows the building to carry

out high air change rate to transfer the heat and smells out of the building. While

Borough Market seldom have opening and ventilation due to the local climate is

cooler. They need a lower air change rate so that it will not be too cold inside the

building.

In the aspect of material, Central Market used Calorex glass which commonly

used to filter the sunlight and heat from totally penetrating into the building to

keep the temperature in the building comfortable. While Borough Market used

common glass which allows most sunlight and heat to penetrate into the building.

4 ConclusionCentral Market is a successful example of adaptive reuse of historical building.

The increasing public awareness on heritage issues, suitable economic condition

and political supports are the main reason of the realization of Central Market.

The successful of adaptive reuse of Central Market had given an opportunity for

those other similar types of buildings in old town to go through a new lease of life

while the building’s historical ambience is protected.

Thus, we hope that the conservation of historical buildings can be a positive

urban planning tool in development instead of demolished the building and create

a new one so that the heritage and historical value of the building itself will not

disappear and been forgotten by our future generations.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS) ARCHITECTURE

DEGREE SEMESTER 2

ARCHITECTURE CULTURE & HISTORY 2 [ARC1323]

Project: Architectural Heritage Building Analysis

Central Market Kuala Lumpur

Name Student ID

Yeoh Pik Qin 0303357

Koik Pei Yi 0301246

Khoo Chee Mei 0303125

Feiven Chee 0312004