8/7/2019 puri hotel

1/19

INTERIOR AND DETAILINGS

Introduction

The Dutch style is the earliest influence that can only be found on the buildings around the Historic City

of Malacca, mainly on Heeren Street. Most of the surviving buildings that are built by the Dutch in the

17th

century portray the mixed influences over the time where the more obvious features can be seen

from the interior of these preserved buildings such as Puri Hotel. The beautiful blend of preserved

features and detailing from different influences such as the Dutch and British with modern touches

makes the whole ambience and experience of the Puri Hotel a unique one. One of the original

characteristic of the shophouses and townhouses along the Heeran Street is the height of the buildings

which is either one or two storey high with simple faade design and limited openings on the upper floor,

normally with only one centralized or at the most two symmetrical windows.

Spaces in Puri Hotel

Space flow in Puri Hotel

Puri Hotel has its own private entrance porch because it is disconnected from the five-foot walkway of

the adjacent buildings. The ground floor consists of the lounge, reception area, gallery, outdoor caf,

historical room and a few hotel rooms while the upper floor is all the hotel rooms. The interior plan is

centered around an air well which is both a service area and the focus of the buildings circulation; the

air well have evolved from extensions made into open yard and serves the need for ventilation and light.

Private entrance

porch

Lounge

Courtyard 1

Reception

GalleryOutdor cafe History Room

Courtyard 2Cafe Hotel rooms on

ground floor

and upper floor

Hotel rooms on upper floor

Restaurant

8/7/2019 puri hotel

2/19

8/7/2019 puri hotel

3/19

8/7/2019 puri hotel

4/19

8/7/2019 puri hotel

5/19

8/7/2019 puri hotel

6/19

The existing well still remains in the

building but it is not in use anymore and

functions as historical purposes in the

history room.

New toilets were built to cater for

increase of customers visit to the hotel.

The gallery in the hotel is connected by

covered passages.

OLD CURRENT

Ground floor plan

8/7/2019 puri hotel

7/19

A new staircase was built for access to

the rooms at upper floors.

The dining room is converted into a small

exhibition hall where the old furniture

and a horse carriage were display there.

OLD CURRENT

Ground floor plan

8/7/2019 puri hotel

8/19

The study room is converted into the

office and the altar into the reception

counter. Meanwhile the ancestral room

was change into lounge or waiting area.

Courtyard is being conserved all the

while as the policies do not allow

demolition or close up for courtyards.

OLD CURRENT

Ground floor plan

8/7/2019 puri hotel

9/19

Spiral staircase is being remained as it is

one of the ornament and unique features

in these shophouses.

The lounge considered a public area is

separated from the reception of the

hotel by an airwell and decorative carved

screen.

Ground floor plan

8/7/2019 puri hotel

10/19

Change of function: the bedrooms on the

upper floor were converted into hotel

rooms

OLD CURRENT1st

floor plan

8/7/2019 puri hotel

11/19

The hotel garden and the L-

shaped new wing stand today

was an open area. The

compound was used as a stable

for the Tan family horses and

parking area for horse

carriages. In addition, it also

housed a mini zoo said to have

included a tiger and several

deer.

Once a parking

area for horse

carriages

An open side lane where it was

used as the entrance for thehorse carriages and it is still

remained till today.

Once a

mini zoo

Sketch shows the current ground floor plan of 4 lots in Puri Hotel (old

& new wing)

8/7/2019 puri hotel

12/19

Interior detail

The building from the front to the inner court or the Ancestral Hall was carefully reinstated preserving

the original structures together with its carved doorways, windows, partitions and interestingly

sculptured airwell. Chinese couplets of good fortune, health, and happiness adorning doors, windows

and entrances just as the Chinese residences in China, were meticulously restored. The mosaic floor and

wall tiles and marble were arduously cleaned and polished. The mosaic and wall tiles were imported

from 19th century England, hence the similarity to those in the old houses in England of the same period.

The section of the building from the inner court unfortunately had to be demolished as it was in an

irreparable condition. However, new structures were designed to blend in with the old wing to reflect

the original architecture as much as possible. The interiors are discussed in a few aspects as follow.

1. StructureThe roof is supported by timber structure. The whole structure of this building is made of the

combination of timber post with concrete columns and beams. Certain areas still preserve its timber

beams which can be seen in the restaurant and the upper floor which act as an aesthetic feature at the

same time.

2. CeilingThe preserved timber beams at therestaurant give an impact into the design of

the interior

The upper floor which is characterized by its

timber beams and high ceilings.

8/7/2019 puri hotel

13/19

Some parts of the building still preserve the structures of the original timber beams which contribute to

the aesthetic value of the ceiling. The areas where the ceiling is preserved blends together with the

added feature on the ceiling such as at indoor caf while others such as the reception area develop a

new look.

The caf next to the second

courtyard where the modern ceiling

design blend in nicely with the

original context.

The reception area with its new ceiling

8/7/2019 puri hotel

14/19

3. WallThe original wall of this building is made of the Dutch bricks and plastered with lime. One of the obvious

features that shows the influence of the Dutch and British are the preserved brick walls that can be

found in certain parts of the Puri Hotel especially at the courtyard air well that act as a feature wall. The

exposed brick wall shows the different type of bricks being used such as the Dutch and British brickswhich is the current standardized bricks that are being used nowadays. The British bricks are added later

on to cover up the openings of the wall or renovation purposes.

Figure show the combination of the Dutch bricks and

British bricks

Dutch bricks which is thinner and

wider

British bricks which is thicker and

shorter.

The exposed brickworks that act as part of the design features of the Puri Hotel. It can be found at the

courtyards and the restaurant.

8/7/2019 puri hotel

15/19

4. FloorThe Peranakan shophouses reached it richest phase with the addition of coloured tiles on either walls or

floors. It is not known wheather it was the Dutch or the Chinese who first brought or introduced ceramic

tiles to Malacca. Coloured ceramic tiles are not only popular in the Peranakan Cina shophouses of the

Straits Eclectic style but they are also used by the Malays to decorate their main stairs. Flowers andgeometrical designs are usually painted on the tiles. Furthermore, coloured floor tiles made of terra-

cotta are commonly seen in the Straits Eclectic style, particularly in the verandah walkway and inside the

shophouses.

Figure shows renovations that had been done on the floor tiles as there were different types of mosaic

and old terra-cotta tiles. Most of the old tiles in the building are being preserved if there were not

damaged or too aged.

In the shophouses, the ceramic tiles are usually placed on walls below the front windows on the

ground floor facing the street.

8/7/2019 puri hotel

16/19

Figures show the varieties of beautiful ceramic tiles that have been preserved over the years. Some of

the floor shares the same group of tiles but are arranged in different layout to produce a totally

different pattern.

Floor tiles at the courtyard of the waiting areaFloor tiles at the lounge

Floor tiles at the gallery Floor tiles at the restaurant

The upper floor of Puri Hotel is

made of timber floors but is

covered with carpet

8/7/2019 puri hotel

17/19

5. OrnamentsOrnaments in this building can be seen from its timber staircases as well as the openings around the

buildings such as the doors and windows which will be further discussed under the door and window

section.

An ornate timber staircase with

balusters leads to hotel rooms at

the upper level

8/7/2019 puri hotel

18/19

6. Opening TypesDoor style

As can see from the design of door style in Hotel Puri is varied according to the function, ambience its

wanted to create and stylistic trends from different periods. The style combines Eastern and Western

elements can vividly see from the opening design to form a strong Peranakan Melacca architecture.

Clear Glass Door

The main entrance show the new

renovation of the door with use clear

glass as the material to increase their

property values and the louvers

shutters area still remained but in

timber grilles were inserted in the

windows. Previously was the carved

ventilated door.

Timber Flush Door

The door at the guest room area used normal timber flush door as

the material without any decoration on the surface.

Decorative Partition

Partition was beautifully carved to separate the front hall and

reception area. These decorations on the partition reflect not

only the wealth of the owners or tenants but also their status or

position in the local community. One of the main differences

between a Peranakan Cina shophouse and a pure Chinese

shophouse is the presence of these highly intricate ornaments

and carvings. This decorative partition creates a unique

combination of its building architecture.

Decorative Timber Door

The door to go in to the office was adorned with

carving motifs of flora and fauna. Beside the door was

the build in shelf to store the antiques with use

geometrical design to decorate the surface.

8/7/2019 puri hotel

19/19

Window style

One may realized that the early design of the window actually adopt Western architectural styles with

an emphasis on full-length French windows with a pair of full-length timber shutters. This showcase

strong influence from the Straits Eclectic Style.

7.

Casement window with top hung above and

louvers window.

The main intention for using louvers window is

to have good ventilation and control the direct

sunlight.

Sliding window with timber frame.

The window along the corridor to outdoor caf

use same type of window style which can see

this kind of window is actually undergone

renovation and used modern materials.

Casement window with top hung above and louvers window

Normally the traditional shophouses have a continuous row of

windows. The front walls made of masonry which becomes more

decorative with either plaster figures or ceramic renderings.

Casement window

By looking at the picture, actually this is

the modern design of window and

shown this area undergone renovation.