Scale Model of
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 | Early Tansitional style (1840 - 1900's) We can see Chinese influence here by the details on the lower ground windows and the ventilation holes. The trademark was the bat shaped ventilation holes above a pair of windows on the ground floor. The front doors were invariably wooden. Ceramic tiles with geometrical patterns were used as finishing for the five foot way. |
A typical layout of a shop house is shown below. The width of the front elevation is narrow, about five meters across. The length of the buildings can run as long as thirty meters. The reason is because, in the older times, the Dutch colonial master taxed the shopkeepers according to the width of their shopfront. So, minimal width was employed to take advantage of this rule.
The roof used to be attap (made of "rumbia" leaves) because it was much cheaper. However, the threat of fire made this material to be banned because it was easily combustible. Therefore, clay tiles are used instead for the roof. The clay roof tiles are not glazed. They are simple terracotta tiles.
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One of another interesting characteristics of this style is the use of green ceramic tiles to adorn the facade. This style of tiles is very common being used to aid ventilation because of the holes in the pattern.
Below is a scale model of a familiar Chinese Shop House in Penang. It depicts a two-storey shop house. We can see the intricately lathed stairs railing at the staircase. Details of louvered shutters with wooden beams can be seen under the roof tile. Simple bas relief motifs are repeated throughout the border between the floors.
Front elevation of a scale model
a shop house (Early Transitional Style)
The jack roof is visible in this model, as well as the intricate details
of the stairs railing
The model shows the front facade with the five foot walkway, cut-out of side elevation revealing the various areas in the building, as well as a small open-air balcony at the back of the top floor.
This kind of architecture has high roof and a lot of ventilation to cool the building during the hot days in Penang. The building has many areas designated to perform certain functions.
This scale model of the shop house style truly has high artistic value. It is further enhanced by a thorough and detailed workmanship created by ZF Mirage Venture's Artistic Director, Mr. Freddie Lim.
Contact ZF Mirage for a quote or consultation for a similar work of art
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