George Town Conservation and Development Corporation - GTCDC

Do you have a fond photograph or memory at Fort Cornwallis? 🖼️
Or stories from a senior loved one about the Fort and George Town’s rich history that is unique and memorable? 📖

ARMENIAN/ACHEH NEIGHBOURHOOD SITE SERIES: Armenian Backlane Project

The difference can be significantly felt when local city solutions and interventions are carried forward for the betterment of the community.

Final images of the before and after transformation of the Armenian Backlane Project.
——

ARMENIAN/ACHEH NEIGHBOURHOOD SITE SERIES: Armenian Backlane Project

The transformation of the upgrade is shown in the side by side comparison.

What you can see is how pedestrians would benefit significantly from the intervention; what you can't see is that it also makes a dramatic difference to the drainage system with porous materials used amongst other solutions.

——

ARMENIAN/ACHEH NEIGHBOURHOOD SITE SERIES: Armenian Backlane Project Before and After

A bitesize history on backlanes:
1) Chong H.K.(1992) states that back lanes were not part of the original shophouse design.​

2) Back lanes were introduced based on W.J. Simpson’s suggestion as a measure to address health and sanitary issues as a result of the high density in the city.

3) The design of the original shophouses did not have a back door and could only be accessed from the front only.

4) Back lanes began to be used extensively when shophouse owners started using them as an alternative passage for the loading and unloading of goods. Back lanes are also used for domestic activities. 


5) Generally a shophouse owner who was access to a back lane will place his personal belongings there to mark the space as theirs.

Excerpts from TRP Report, Little India Neighbourhood Courtyards by WAA 2013.

Image: Transformation as a result of the Armenian Backlane Project

——

A closer shot by shot comparison of the before and after completion to the backlane transformation. How do you feel about the upgrade?
——

ARMENIAN/ACHEH NEIGHBOURHOOD SITE SERIES: Armenian Backlane Project

September 2017 marks the completion of The Armenian Backlane Upgrading Project—second phase of the revitalisation initiative following the completion of Armenian Park in April 2016.

One of the primary objectives is to improve the quality of life of local residents and as a result, become part of a pedestrian path network in George Town. This increases public safety and wellbeing all while transforming into a community-shared space.

Image courtesy of Think City
——

ARMENIAN/ACHEH NEIGHBOURHOOD SITE SERIES: Returning Armenian Park to Community Use

A sample survey undertaken by the Penang Institute in 2012 of users of Armenian Park and adjacent businesses and residents indicated that:

1) Residents seek a cleaner and better organised setting more attuned to the needs and social expansion of their families—they did not appreciate the at-the-time use as a flea market.

2) Shopkeepers consider the flea market a nuisance and favoured seeing more attraction points to attract more residents.

3) Visitors complain about accessibility and the poor quality of the environment.

The image in this post represents today's use of the garden that serves the community in addition to its versatile public use of celebrating annual festivities—alongside its provision of green space access for the wellbeing of all.

——

URBAN PARK QUICK TAKEAWAYS: Why are green spaces important?

According to City Parks Alliance, here are a few of the many benefits a city park provides:
1) Active lifestyles and reduce health costs
2) Strengthen local economies and create job opportunities
3) Make cities more resilient
4) Increase community engagement and reduce crime
5) Help clean the air and improve public health
6) A tool for cities to achieve their equity goals.

"Trees in urban parks remove up to 7,111,000 tons of toxins from the air annually at a value of $3.8 billion to cities. Green spaces also filter rain, reducing water pollution, protecting drinking water, and decreasing the rates of waterborne illness. Green spaces in cities also help cool our cities, reducing the heat-island effect."

Source: https://cityparksalliance.org/about-us/why-city-parks-matter/

Image courtesy of Nerea Martí Sesarino 2018, Green Space via Unsplash.

——

ARMENIAN/ACHEH NEIGHBOURHOOD SITE SERIES:
Armenian Park, located in the heart of this neighbourhood, represent today significant opportunities for the creation of community gardens in dense urban areas lacking in public open space.

Urban parks are the lungs of the city and provide an oasis amongst its multitude of benefits for alll—which we will visit over our next post.

Until then, do comment your thoughts on what you think they are!

——

ARMENIAN/ACHEH NEIGHBOURHOOD SITE SERIES:
Following stakeholders consultations and institutional review, this is a closeup look into the preferred option for the rehabilitation of Armenian Square.

——

ARMENIAN/ACHEH NEIGHBOURHOOD SITE SERIES:
The site is one of George Town's traditional neighbourhoods located in the lower South-Western corner of the town.

Originally part of a Malay settlement, the area eventually became the home of multi-cultural communities. At around 11 hectares, the area is centered on the Armenian Street Park.

It contains some of George Town’s most important mosques, temples and significant structures. For this reason, the area is identified as the Special Zone in the Special Area Plan (SAP).

The area also contains one of the few open spaces in George Town's heritage core zone.

——

Before and after photo series of our Light Street Laneway Improvement Project. What would you like to see happening on the streets?
__


Funded by Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang - MBPP and Think City; supported by Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang with technical assistance from Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).

Before and after photo series of our Light Street Laneway Improvement Project. What is it about the streets you like most?
__


Funded by Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang - MBPP and Think City; supported by Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang with technical assistance from Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC)

An inside look into more before and after photos from our Light Street Laneway Improvement Project. How has your walking experience around the North Seafront been?
__


Funded by Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang - MBPP and Think City; supported by Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang with technical assistance from Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).

The Light Street laneway improvement project aimed to re-instate the visual appearance of the original Lebuh Light sidewalk as seen on historical maps and old photographs.

The completed walkway complements Fort Cornwallis as part of the North Seafront narrative as George Town's administrative area.

This before and after image shows the wider walkway that provides pedestrians ample space for a city stroll—its close up access to the clock tower also encourages walkability.

——



Funded by Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang - MBPP and Think City; supported by Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang with technical assistance from Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).

You can listen to the latest podcast episode or read about the interview highlight of our winner Qhawarizmi Architect - QWA of the Penang Bay International Ideas Competition covered on The Citymaker by Think City in the repost below!

——



Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang Penang2030 Think City George Town Conservation and Development Corporation - GTCDC Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang - MBPP Majlis Bandaraya Seberang Perai

We talk to a homegrown citymaker, Qhawarizmi Norhisham of Qhawarizmi Architect (QWA), about his winning blueprint in the Penang Bay International Ideas Competition (PBIIC) and his vision to sustainably transform Penang’s core urban areas into an integrated and resilient new economic zone. Mixing traditional and cutting edge development tools, Qhawa sees the potential to democratise land ownership with blockchain technologies, reduce congestion with drone delivery services while improving transport infrastructure, boosting the Bay’s eco-tourism credentials and restoring its seafront mangroves.

The PBIIC is an initiative from the George Town Conservation and Development Corporation (GTCDC), in partnership with the Penang State Government, Think City, Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) and Penang Island City Council (MBPP).

Discover more at: bit.ly/rc-pbiic.

George Town Conservation and Development Corporation - GTCDC

Since its completion and opening in 1883, the Koh Seang Tat fountain stands today as the first historic garden restoration in Penang—completed in 2019.

Located between Padang Kota Lama and Dewan Sri Pinang, the Fountain Garden was restored following the guidelines of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Florence Charter of 1981.

The current garden layout and softscape brings out the prominence of the historic fountain as well as its equally notable neighbour, the Town Hall building.

This is what the transformation looks like to date.

——


Supported by Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang - MBPP and Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang; funded by Think City with technical assistance from Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).

The seawall along Jalan Tun Syed Barakbah has endured many years of wear and tear from climate and strong waves, repairs and partial reconstruction of the main stretch of seawall and promenade structure is currently in the works by Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang - MBPP , Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang and Think City with assistance from Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and us as part of the North Seafront Masterplan.

This is an ongoing long-term project that started in July 2018 and will be completing soon. Here's a photograph comparison of the seawall at low tide with revetment circa 1920 vs. present day restoration work-in-progress.

Let us know what your thoughts are and what you might like to know more about!

——

Have you noticed all the work-in-progress that's part of the North Seafront Masterplan?

The improvement and preservation of central areas (ie. the North Seafront precinct in George Town including the Esplanade's surrounding area) reinforces the sense of place and is fundamental to the regeneration of the city.

We will bring up a few projects completed around the area which you may or may not have already experienced strolling by; these include the Laneway Improvement at Light Street, Fountain Garden and Seawall Restoration—that was only made possible together with Penang State Government, Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang - MBPP, Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Think City and other partners including Universiti Sains Malaysia and Esplanade Park Penang.

——

GET TO KNOW YOUR GEORGE TOWN HERITAGE ASSETS: Fort Cornwallis

Fort Cornwallis is a listed national heritage site under the Malaysian National Heritage Act of 2005.

As such, a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) is required to guide its conservation and future use, to restore the integrity of the Fort and its setting, and to enhance its significance as a major expression of the history and the social and cultural development of George Town and the greater city of Penang.

Fort Cornwallis and its larger contextual setting can in fact be considered highly significant as the repositories of evidential, historical, aesthetic, communal and economic values.

These values are relevant not only for the heritage zone of George Town and the entire city of Penang, but also as essential components of the formative experience of the entire nation and people of Malaysia.

Image Courtesy of Marcus Langdon: Interpretative Sketch of Fort Cornwallis Circa 1816

——

GET TO KNOW YOUR GEORGE TOWN HERITAGE ASSETS: Fort Cornwallis

Fort Cornwallis in George Town, Penang marks the point where Captain Francis Light landed in 1786 on what was officially known then as the Prince of Wales island.

Originally a wooden (nibong) structure, the fort was rebuilt between 1808–1810. It was named after Charles Cornwallis, a distinguished Governor General of India.

Fort Cornwallis is the largest of its kind in Malaysia and is the most intact fort in West Malaysia today.

Its evolution as a structure and landmark parallels the early development of George Town. The star-shaped fort was surrounded by a moat with a number of building within it.

——

Thank you all for tuning in to watch the virtual announcement of winners for the Penang Bay International Ideas Competition yesterday.

Well done to all participants!

Now, let's appreciate the proposal from our 1st runner up—a team from UCL's Bartlett School of Planning; London, UK: Hui Ting Wong, Helen Claire Carter, Kulkiran Bedi, Sikkharini Cintantyadwisthi and Zixuan Xiong.

Congratulations on winning 2nd prize!

——

Congratulations to Ar. Qhawarizmi Norhisham and Ar. Yasmin Rahman of Qhawarizmi Architect - QWA for their strong winning submission and landing a FIRST place victory in the Penang Bay International Ideas Competition!

Take a look at their Climate Action Blueprint for Penang Bay including their Eight catalytic Development Parcels powered by Eight Urban Design Strategic Tools.

___

The Penang Bay concept is one that envisions a new economic zone with a rejuvenated urban core to bring life back into Penang’s historical and natural water-based assets—enabling people and attracting capital to invest in a new city form.

As part of Penang’s recovery strategy, innovation is required to reshape the future, by transforming the waterfronts of the island and mainland in a way that builds social, economic and environmental resilience.

Join our virtual event happening today 2.30–4.00PM UTC +8 via Livestream here on our Page, for the Penang Bay International Ideas Competition Awards Ceremony! Who will the winning team be?

Think City Penang2030 George Town Conservation and Development Corporation - GTCDC Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang - MBPP Majlis Bandaraya Seberang Perai

We inch closer to the virtual awards ceremony for Penang Bay International Ideas Competition.

Tune in live with us here on our page this Tuesday, March 9 at 2.30PM–4.00PM UTC+8 to witness the winning concepts that may forever change the way we view the challenges of our cities today.

Penang Bay International Ideas Competition was open to all local and global innovators and thinkers and sought to generate inspiring ideas and concepts for Penang’s waterfront assets in order to drive prosperity and build a resilient city-state over the next 50 years.

Think City Penang2030 George Town Conservation and Development Corporation - GTCDC Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang - MBPP Majlis Bandaraya Seberang Perai