Tio walking past the beautiful townhouses along Bangkok Lane in Pulau Tikus, Penang. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
ALONG Penang’s Bangkok Lane, the townhouses present an ordered elegance, their uniform features hinting at British architectural influences, not unlike those found on Baker Street.
This nearly century-old row of residences in Pulau Tikus evokes a sense of a bygone era, with colourful stained glass, timber shutters, and detailed balustrades.
The 39 double-storey terraced houses, along with two detached properties of the same height, also showcase beautifully preserved tessellated floor tiles, a common feature in Penang’s heritage buildings.
These houses, constructed in 1928 to house the extended family of a local tycoon who then left the property under a trust, are now on the market.
A family member who spoke to StarMetro on condition of anonymity, explained that the property had been carefully maintained, as the trustees had always exercised strict control over any alterations when the homes were rented out.
“No changes were permitted without our consent. Even the exterior paint had to be the same, as our family preferred them to remain white,” he said.
Inside, the only significant modification allowed was the modernisation of the kitchens, which originally featured older, lower stoves.
“Some tenants did make alterations without permission, such as replacing tiles along the walkway, but we addressed these issues promptly,” he added.
The houses were built in two configurations: some with two bedrooms and a balcony, and others with three bedrooms but no balcony.
“All the houses have enough space to park one car, which is unusual for townhouses,” he noted.
Patrick Tio, 70, who has run a flower shop and cafe at the corner of Burma Road and Bangkok Lane for 20 years, said the lane had always been a pleasant sight.
“It is a convenient location, being central and having plenty of places to eat.
“It is an authentic place with history. These are distinctive buildings with significant heritage.
“While there are many new and modern developments, the older, heritage-style buildings here make this place special,” he observed.
Penang Heritage Trust president Clement Liang said that although the houses were not within the core zone of the Unesco World Heritage site, their preservation would still be important.
“The row along Bangkok Lane features beautiful townhouses that are not commonly found elsewhere in Malaysia.
“They are unique because the designs are consistent, and they have been well looked after.
“It will be excellent if the facades are preserved, as they are examples of Art Deco architecture,” he highlighted.
Liang said this design style was a trend in the 1920s, when the focus was less on large individual bungalows.
“It was more about building rows of houses where relatives could live close together, and children could grow up playing and spending time with family.
“However, it was uncommon to have parking spaces, which makes these houses special as they have sufficient room for a car,” he pointed out.
Liang stressed that the houses contributed character to the Pulau Tikus area and formed part of the state’s heritage.
“If these houses are demolished, it will remove a piece of our heritage, which will be lost if not conserved,” he added.
It was previously reported that entire blocks of prime pre-war properties and some vacant land in George Town – held in trust deeds for decades – have now been put up for sale.
According to property market sources, this “mega sale” could potentially fetch around RM300mil, with the most notable cluster of properties for sale being on Bangkok Lane.
These houses were commissioned by Penang businessman Cheah Leong Keah (1875-1941), who played a key role in importing early motorcycles, cars and fire engines into Penang.
He built the Bangkok Lane houses in 1928 to house his extended family.
Before his passing, he stipulated that these properties be held in trust for his descendants for a specific number of decades before they could be sold.
