ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION IN A MULTICULTURAL LANDSCAPE: THE CASE OF THE CHAN SHE SHU YUEN CLAN ANCESTRAL HALL IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v23i38.1843Keywords:
Architectural heritage, architectural form and decoration, Chinese clan association building, Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Ancestral Hall, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaAbstract
Architecture embodies multiculturalism in material form. Since the mid-19th century, Kuala Lumpur has developed a diverse architectural and cultural landscape owing to its complex geography, immigration waves, and inter-ethnic interactions. This study examines the significance of the Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Ancestral Hall as historical architectural heritage, focusing on its architectural form and decorative arts as expressions of the city’s multicultural built environment. Using interpretive methods on documentary and field investigations, it analyses the building’s historical context, spatial configuration, and decoration. The findings show that Chinese clan buildings in Kuala Lumpur integrate tropical architectural features with the regional characteristics of Chinese clan architecture. This reflects a clear ‘origin-and-development’ relationship between clan buildings in southern China and Malaysia from 1901 to 2000, highlighting their role in shaping Kuala Lumpur’s multicultural urban landscape.
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