2

01 Acknowledgement

We would like to thank our seniors and course colleagues for their effort in producing the measured drawings and site study of
Syarikat Wah Sang that has majorly contributed in the production of this report that provided all the relevant information required for
the completion of this project.

We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to our lecturer Mr. Azim Sulaiman for his advice and guidance for the sake of
this project. Nevertheless, we would like to thank each member who has put the effort to this report, Thank you.

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2.0
INTRODUCTION

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02 Introduction to Assignment

This project is an opportunity to provide an overview of the merit of Heritage-led regeneration through adaptive reuse a protection
and enhancement approach to the existing built stock and older outstanding premises of cultural or historical significance.

This project is relatively a direct approach to conservation in terms of learning how to troubleshoot certain elements in an eradicated
premise and ways to provide relevant solutions as well as learning how to propose a wholistic appropriate scheme to a newly
profound and advanced functioning program added to the previous spatial organisation of the premise.

The chosen building was analysed along with its context and history, which was followed by a dilapidation survey to understand the
current condition of the building. Next, a proposal was generated for the altered and adapted use of the building, which was assisted
by analysing two chosen precedents, and was informed by the findings generated by Syarikat Wah Sang’s historical background.

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02 Introduction to Syarikat Wah Sang

Introduction to Wah Sang Brothers

Wah Sang Brothers is a 1st generation watch shop located in the

old town of Klang, run by Mr. Robert Lee (3rd generation) and Mr.
Lee Lai Choy (2nd generation). This old rustic shop has been
standing strong since the beginning of 1890.

About Syarikat Wah Sang Brothers

Syarikat Wah Sang Brothers is a shop that sells watches and

clocks. It also provides repair services for antique clocks
currently managed by Mr. Robert Lee and his uncle, Mr. Lee Lai Shop Front Entrance

Choy.

From One Pioneer to Two Successors

Syarikat Wah Sang Brothers first started as a clock and watch repair shop and it was known as Syarikat Wah Sang. The pioneer of the
business was Lee Lai Choy’s father, Lee Sam Chin who was from Guang Zhou, China. In 1930, Chin settled down in Klang, rented a small
portion of the shophouse at Jalan Stesen 1 and started providing watch and clock repair services.

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3.1
PRELIMINARY
INVESTIGATION:
AS-BUILT
DRAWINGS

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Site plan

8
Ground Floor Plan

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First Floor Plan

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Roof Plan

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Section A-A

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Section B-B

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3.2
PRELIMINARY
INVESTIGATION:
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND

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 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Second arrival Wah Sang Brothers Established The Climax

The brothers came to Klang due Soon, their business started to The business peaked when
to a warfare in Canton. prosper. Wah Sang was renamed as they started fixing watches for
Lai Choy (17) & Yen Choy (21) Wah Sang Brothers. the royalty, Sultan Salahuddin
Shah.

1920 1937 1941 1950 1947 1963 1951

Arrival in Klang Japanese Occupation Period First Achievement Second Achievement

Lai Choy’s father (1st Lai Choy and his brother escaped After several years of hard work, Their business skyrocketed
generation) came to Klang and from Klang, sold all properties they managed to buy 2 watches from thanks to Jalan Stesen for
started his business providing left by their father in exchange agency and sold them for profit. becoming a famous Food
watch & clock repair services for money to survive. Street and the trend of wearing
watches.

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 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Dwindling Full Ownership of the Robert’s Family Moved In Shophouse Renovation
Shophouse
The construction of Klang Robert Lee. the nephew of Lai The shophouse was rebuilt
Bridge caused the entire The property value in the street Choy, shifted in to the with several changes. Upon
business of the street to dropped. Wah Sang bought shophouse with his family a completion which took 7
plunge including theirs. over the entire shophouse and year after the last sub-tenants months, the business was
rent it to the sub-tenants. left the shop resumed.

1980 1985 1987 1990 1997 2005 2006

Dispersion Inflation Fire Tragedy

As Klang City Centre Shop owners left to other A fire broke out from the
developed, the community countries for better job neighbouring shophouse and
shifted their attention from the opportunities. Many shops spread to Wah Sang’s shop lot.
street to the town were sold, some left vacant. But only part of the building
was damaged.

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3.3
PRELIMINARY
INVESTIGATION:
SITE CONTEXT

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SITE CONTEXT

Wah Sang Brothers is strategically located near the Sultan Abdul

Aziz Royal Gallery and Gedung Raja Abdullah building.

The Klang area is not only famous for its food and regional
delicacies, but is also famous due the numerous historical sites
and landmarks spread around this Royal City, which to this day
serves as the Seat for the Royal Sultanate of Selangor.

As time passed, most shop owners in Jalan Stesen 1 have

experienced the same fate of being forgotten. The owner of
Syarikat Wah Sang Brothers Shop Located at
Restoran Sin Teo Heng, Tham Siew Mei once stated that Jalan Jalan Stesen 1, Klang, Selangor

Stesen 1 which the area calls as the backstreet, was once very
prosperous and crowded. It was one of the main business areas
before all the shopping malls were built around this area . A lot of
famous people and well-known officials came here for shopping
and food.

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3.4
FORMER SPATIAL
CONFIGURATION AND
FUNCTION

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 Configuration Layout - Ground Floor

6. Middle Hall: The junkyard.

4. Transition space 2. First Space: There are 2 classic
Fully stuffed with unwanted
(Pantry) glass display counters, old-fashioned
goods and unused stock.
timber framed glass cabinet welcoming
the visitors.

The spaces in Syarikat

Wah Sang are
organized in a Linear
manner starting from
the workspace to the 1. Entrance: From
rear corner where all newly refurbished
the work is done, front facade to an
pantry and atrium antique interior.
serve as the heart of
the building allowing
daylight to enter, and
finally the middle hall
which is kept as a
storage.
5. Atrium (Air well):
Heart of the shophouse.
Ensures user comfort
Through daylight and
natural ventilation. 3. Rear corner of the
shopfront: on the left is
where the antique clocks
are sent to repair
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 Configuration Layout - First Floor

Living Area

The journey ends at the upper

hall which is a spacious
however unused, empty space
that used to contain 3 rooms,
an airwell and a hallway.

The partitioned rooms are

meant for temporary stay but
are unused as well.
With a fragile structure its
made up of thick partition
walls with no ceiling.

Bedrooms

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04
DILAPIDATION
SURVEY:
EXTERNAL AND
INTERNAL

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EXTERNAL DILAPIDATION

Walls

The exterior walls of the building, which were constructed as partition walls
using simple masonry techniques using ordinary clay bricks and cement
with a plaster and paint finish, is now facing signs of deterioration such as
cracks and damages to the paint layer, even though with the extensive
reparations undertaken back in 2006.

These cracks are not of damage to the structural integrity of the building
but are those sustained by the partition wall as a result of the constant
change of the weather conditions, which is common to a tropical climate
such as Malaysia.

More specifically, these cracks appear as a result of the moisture

Cracks appearing on the external walls
movement that happens due to the variations in humidity. Most of these
damages happen in concrete that was mixed with light-weight aggregates.

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INTERNAL DILAPIDATION

Efflorescence

Due to aging, many walls of the shophouse have been affected by

efflorescence which are accumulated crystalline powder deposits
that occur to the surface of brick works and concrete wall plasters
and is also a result of uncontrolled moisture movement caused by
inadequate wall finishing and detailing, which ruins the appearance
of most of the walls.
Efflorescence on one of the shophouse walls

Rusting

Due to Humidity, most metal furniture and components are tainted

with rust which affects the performance of such components where
many metal doors and frames do not function properly.

The problem of rusting has accumulated over the years on many

metal fixtures of the shop due to lack of maintenance which provided
an overall fractured appearance to the premise. Rusting on the shop’s entrance sliding door

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INTERNAL DILAPIDATION

Unwanted Moss and Vegetation growth

Due to years of neglect and lack of maintenance, the walls in the air well located at the center of the building has been the location
for the growth of moss and even a small plant that has sprung out from one of the walls.

Moss growing on the walls Small plant growing off the wall

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INTERNAL DILAPIDATION

Miscellaneous

1. Hygiene
The building has seen lack of cleaning over the years and as a
result some areas are hardly suitable for use. The Water closet in
the first floor is one such space, which is filled with bird faeces State of the washroom currently

and dirt.

2. Exposed Nails
The newer construction near the air well has resulted in some
nails bein eft jotting out of the partition wall, and may prove of
dangerous consequence to users who are not extremely careful.

Nails left exposed on the partition wall

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05
ADAPTIVE REUSE
PROPOSAL:
CLASSICAL WATCH
MUSEUM

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PRECEDENT STUDIES - 1

American Clock & Watch Museum, Bristol Connecticut

This museum is a collection of old and antique Watches and clocks that are all American-made. The museum is located in a famous
watch making city, Bristol, Connecticut. The spatial quality of the galleries at the American Clock & Watch Museum reflects the
extensive use of timber with a varnished finish. The colour of the wood blends in with the material of the large collection of old
timepieces hanging in the walls, and allows the clocks to be exhibited in a setting similar to what it must have been used in its
heydays.

The museum also has a smaller collection of other antiquities, such as portrait paintings and old furniture, which helps to separate the
presence of the many clocks, and gives space for each item to be studied in its own right. The displays use an interesting mix of glass
cabinets and wall display alcoves to display most items while some are even left on tables and other furniture throughout the different
gallery spaces. This allows the user to experience the valuable items in a more natural and informal setting.

Different exhibition gallery spaces in the museum

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PRECEDENT STUDIES - 2

International Clock Museum, Switzerland

The Spatial quality of our proposed watch and clocks museum was inspired by the aforementioned American Watch Museum, Whilst
the circulation and spatial progression of our proposal was informed by International Clock Museum in Switzerland.

As the visitor enters the premise the Reception and ticketing is met with a resting and lounge area with various imagery
accompanied with audio-visual guides to the museum along a history of time measurement and watchmaking. Afterward the visitors
progress to the gallery area that rejoices the genius of the exposed clocks and watches, interactive clocks of famous brands and
antiques take the observer through a journey of time passing seeing. As part of the experience of learning about the craft of watches
after the gallery area a transparent curtain wall workshop to let visitors watch the craftsmen restoring ancient pieces in the
watchmaking workshop to provide the visitors with the opportunity to understand how watches are crafted.

Reception and Ticketing Counter at the entrance of the Watch and Clock Gallery at the Centre of the Museum Watchmaking Workshop with Curtain Walls for observation
Museum

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5.2
ADAPTIVE REUSE
PROPOSAL:
PROPOSED SPACES
& ACTIVITIES

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Proposed Spaces

A Classical Watch Museum is to contain:

Watchmaking Souvenir Antique

Gallery
Workshop Shop Shop

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Proposed Spaces: Gallery

Gallery Spaces

The gallery will constitute the major part of the proposal, where watches and
clocks with historical and antique significance will be showcased along with
relevant panels to display the relevant information regarding the significant
timepiece.

The gallery will take different finishes along it to reflect the value of the
Gallery with display and information panels
objects being displayed.
The beginning of the gallery will be of a style similar to the first picture taken
from the first precedent study, where several timepieces are displayed along
with several panels providing important facts regarding the displays.

The next segment of the gallery will display larger objects such as old
grandfathers clocks and will require less panels for information, hence the
space would be more open to allow the visitor to study the different clocks
in comparison.

Gallery displaying old grandfather’s clocks

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Proposed Spaces: Watchmaking Workshop

Watchmaking Workshop

The workshop will be located in the ground floor at the end of the first
part of the gallery. Not only will this used by the skilled craftsmen to
produce and repair timepieces, it will also be viewable for the visitors as
they pass by through the glass panels, enhancing the visitor experience.

Workshop with craftsmen working in them

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Proposed Spaces: Shops

Souvenir Shop
A souvenir shop with gadgets and clock related artistry is one of the museum
spaces that is crucial to provide the visitors with trivial handmade clocks and
watches made by the shop owners in a way to provide them financial support.

Also, a gift provides to the visitors a token of remembrance to the museum as

well as promoting the craftsmanship of the watchmakers.

Clock and Watch Gift shop at the American Watch Museum.

Antique Shop
Within our proposal a Clock antique shop that exhibits a collection unique and
historic clock artistry varying from very low to extremely high and expensive
watches and clocks also to advertise the watchmaking skill of the existing
shop owners.

The antique shop is also an act of story telling the journey of Syarikat Wah
Sang as a watch shop exhibited in the old clocks offered and displayed.
Antiques and Clock artistry displayed at the American Watch
Museum.

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5.3
ADAPTIVE REUSE
PROPOSAL:
PROPOSED MUSEUM
LAYOUTS

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Old Ground Floor Layout

Middle hall
Counter
Storage

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Proposed Ground Floor Layout

Counter

Resting
Watchmaking
Lounge
Workshop Gallery

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Old First Floor Layout

Bedroom
Bedroom
Bedroom

Kitchen

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Proposed First Floor Layout

Gift Shop
Storage Office
Room
Gallery

Staff Lounge

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Esther Lau Follow. (2013. December 06). The old Klang.
Retrieved December 1, 2018, from
https://www.slideshare.net/estherlau798/the-old-standard-chartered-bank

Lumpur, T.O (2016, November 22) Wah Sang Brothers.

Retrieved December 1, 2018, from
https://www.timeout.com/kuala-lumpur/shopping/wah-sang-brothers

Lim, Zhe Rou. (2018. July 10). Time running out for Wah Sang Brothers,
timepiece repairers since 1929.
Retrived December 1, 2018, from
https://www.star2.com/people/2018/07/10/wah-sang-brothers-repair-watche
s-clocks/#TtPg5JqUPIxJIx90.99

Sejarah panjang klang, (2015, September 05). Retrieved December 1, 2018,

from http://www.utusan.com.my/rencana/sejarah-panjang-klang-1.131773

Watchmaking museums. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2018, from

https://www.hautehorlogerie.org/en/encyclopaedia/watchmaking-museums/
s/the-american-clock-watch-museum/