Place-making - a collaborative approach to urban regeneration in Malaysia

Place-making is a growing global trend that can be described as both a process and a philosophy. At its core, it puts people at the centre of urban decision making.  The ultimate goal is to create an authentic place that meets the needs and aspiration of the community. 

Butterworth Fringe Festival, photo courtesy of Think City

‘Think City’ is a community-based urban rejuvenation organization that has pioneered place making in Malaysia since 2009 and is rapidly expanding, launching a new office in Johor Bahru in 2016.   It is committed to creating sustainable and liveable cities and has partnered with a number of global agencies to help build local capacity. To help me understand more about place-making here in Malaysia, I met with Hamdan Majeed, Executive Director of ‘Think City’.

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, one of the first buildings to be restored in Georgetown. Photo courtesy Vanessa Pilla

In 2008, UNESCO recognized Georgetown, Penang, as an exceptional example of the country’s multi-cultural history, architecture and traditions.  In recognition of the UNESCO determination, Khazanah Nasional Berhad (the investment arm of the Malaysian Government) initiated the George Town Transformation Programme (GTTP) and ‘Think City’ was born.  ‘Think City’ administered RM16.3mil of Federal funding to numerous programs that encouraged public participation in the rejuvenation process. This included, seed-funding projects that build on Georgetown’s heritage and identity such as mosques, temples, clan houses and public spaces within the World Heritage Site.  ‘Think City’ supported over 240 projects and its approach of building local capacity and bridging partnerships with government, landowners and the community has been key to its success in achieving positive urban outcomes.

Not surprisingly,  since the UNESCO determination, there has been an increase in service-based businesses operating in Georgetown. Dilapidated properties have been lovingly restored and converted to cafés, galleries and boutique hotels.   While ‘Think City’ played an important role in the initial projects, the newly opened Seven Terraces boutique hotel, restored by award-winning hoteliers Karl Steinberg and Christopher Ong, is an example of how private investment is now helping shape the future of this island state.  

Twelve months ago ‘Think City’ signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a world leader in place-making education.  Together they hope to further place-making efforts in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.   In 2014, ‘Think City’ moved beyond Georgetown and has launched a new funding program that covers projects in Butterworth (mainland Penang), Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru.  Hamdan understands the importance of cities as Asia’s economy shifts and the region becomes urbanized.  Hamdan is passionate about Malaysia and about shifting the culture of development to one that builds local capacity, and empowers communities to act and be part of the changing economy.   

‘Think City’ is expanding and attracting young, enthusiastic staff who have moved back home to Malaysia after studying abroad.  The working culture is energetic and infectious and a positive glimpse of the future, as Malaysia moves closer to its goal of being an industrialised country by 2020.  

Lebuh Armenian located in the Heritage area of Georgetown is filled with old shophouses selling old and new treasures. 

Mapping Memories in Kuala Lumpur

How does one map a city? Popular method might include suburbs, train lines, food trails and bike lanes. Now, what if we overlaid the map of a city with something more intangible and personal, perhaps using people’s memories, connection and even nostalgia? What insights would we get?

That was the basis of Curating KL, a project I was part of, in Kuala Lumpur (or KL as we called it). In 2013, we mounted a gigantic map of KL in a music festival and encouraged festival goers to pin a flag on the map with a personal note about that spot.

What we realised is, the strongest connection people have to KL is food, love and childhood memories. Many of the notes mentioned areas and laneways where one could find the best beef ball noddles, chicken satay or a range of popular Malaysian food.  There is always some good natured competitiveness in this, as people like to believe only they know where to find the best food in the city. This is hardly surprising, in a country known for its strong food culture and where people sometimes greeted each other by saying “have you eaten” instead of “hello”.

The association with love is a bit more interesting. Many people highlighted places where they met the loves of lives and this ranged from schools to shopping malls and restaurants.  There was a also a healthy dose of lust as people pinned spots where they kissed someone, had sex or witnessed other people making out.

“Met my soulmate in primary school when we were both 12”

“Did the walk of shame”

“Made out with a café girl when I was 16 at KLCC in the park and got fined by the cops. She paid. I was broke”

Comments like these are intriguing because relationships, sex and sexuality in Malaysia is seen as conservative. Even public displays of affection between couples are rare and could lead to being told off by the moral majority, but clearly not everyone adheres to that expected behaviour.

The most poignant aspect of the project is realising that for most people, nostalgia is their strongest connection to the city. Many of the notes pinned on the outer suburbs (30km from the CBD) are about carefree childhood days, schoolyard fights or experiencing different milestones while growing up.  

“Bought my first bra here”

 “This is where I went for my first rooftop gig” 

In comparison, the notes pinned closed to the city centre have more current memories or expressions of being frustrated and confused

“I wasn’t here; I don’t know where I am”

“Got stranded with 5 other friends for hours because there was no taxi”

These comments really give a voice to the impact of urbanisation and the mass migration of young adults from their suburban family home to the city to study or to work. They might experience financial gain and career opportunities but there is often a feeling of disconnect from their new, concrete environment. Both the city and the people are constantly trying to adjust, and it will surface when you map the city with its inhabitants.

This project was our personal challenge to crowd source input that could help us look at Kuala Lumpur differently and we achieved it. Community engagement should be required in any new development or even established cities but it is a big leap to go from that to mapping a city entirely using emotions and human connections. Now, the Invisible City project in Parramatta is trying to do just that, so maybe it will be less of a novelty in the future.

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Annie Hariharan is interested in people’s relationship with places and identities and is constantly finding better ways to narrate their stories. She has initiated, organised and volunteered in several community engagement programs in Kuala Lumpur, Bali, and now Melbourne. She does not have any formal training or education in this area; she identifies as a business consultant, pop culture nerd and occasional writer.

Tanah Rata: A taste of Europe in Malaysia

In record numbers Australians are travelling overseas and exploring the best the world has to offer. It’s a growing appetite for cultural tourism that looks to continue given the rise of budget airlines and strong Australian dollar. After counting the number of family, friends, and friends of friends who have travelled over the past 12 months, it’s no secret we love a good deal, and at risk of becoming a rite of passage, must travel overseas and explore lands beyond our own island paradise.

What’s interesting from the data is that we’re choosing to visit our regional neighbours over longer, more expensive flights to Europe. But what if you had Europe on your doorstep and you didn’t even know it? I must admit it’s not something that you travel to Asia to experience, but it’s definitely a surprise when you find yourself being offered a scone and tea in the middle of Malaysia.

I recently returned from the Cameron Highlands where I found the design of Tanah Rata, the administrative capital of the region, looking more like Tudor England than Malay. The pitched roofs, timbering and white facades of the town, are now built into the local design code and encouraged as supporting the character of the area. But where did it all start? The answer lies in a local celebrity, ‘Ye Old Smokehouse Hotel’.

Built in 1937, the Hotel was designed to mimic an English Inn, and since its foundation, has been a local and international attraction. Not only is the exterior impressive, but inside it only gets more interesting with imported furniture, open fire places and English inspired menu.

The Hotel, while being too expensive for most locals, is a popular destination for professionals, businessmen and Europeans. In 2013, several additional hotels will open in the region, responding to demand from local and international tourists and Malaysia’s growing middle class. Over the next few years, it will be interesting to see how the new hotels position themselves given the popularity of the Smokehouse, and how the Smokehouse responds to an increase in competition. One thing is for sure, the architectural design of Tanah Rata will continue as an obvious sign post to the regions colonial past.

More information about Cameron Highlands here.

Tanah Rata Interior

Tanah Rata Exterior

Park Bridge at Tanah Rat

Tanah Rata High Street