Heritage Tourism: For the
Love of Old
Conservation of
heritage buildings is an essential tool in city development. The role of a
heritage site is to define the landmark within the area as well as to generate
an economic return and to support the tourism industry. Conservation of
heritage buildings is vital because it provides a sense of identity and
continuity in a fast-changing world for future generations.
Melaka and George
Town are remarkable examples of historic colonial towns on the Straits of
Malacca. Having just this past week celebrated 12 years as UNESCO-recognised
cities, it is only apt for us to share some work we have done with a recent
client, Liu Men Hotel (Melaka).
Championed by Jason
Pang, boutique hotel Liu Men sits where six individual shop-houses were once
situated along the historic, colourful stretch of Jalan Tokong in central
Melaka. Jason worked with architects and interior designers from Melaka and
Kuala Lumpur to create the master plan for the hotel and is proud of the
property's local roots.
Liu Men Hotel is a
reflection of Melaka’s vibrant past elegantly fusing colonial art deco with
Chinese Peranakan design. Stepping into the hotel, guests are greeted by an open space
anchored by a red cast-iron spiral staircase. The lobby is dotted with antiques
and exaggerated lounge chairs that come in pairs. There are not many places in Melaka
for tourists to experience the charming ways of living that our ancestors used
to have. The rise of new attractions that tell a story like Liu Men would
perhaps reposition Malacca city as a true heritage destination.
Late in 2019 Liu Men
hotel engaged Orchan Consulting to help propel the property through enhanced social
media engagement, as well as select reviews from publications and Malaysian
influencers. Orchan curated a theme-based social media strategy for the hotel, emanating
from the interior design and cultural significance of the hotel, to the street
it sits on, to the surrounding neighbourhood and landscape. We invited
Malaysian television personalities Daphne Iking and Jennifer Ashraf for a
staycation, as well as featuring Liu Men in Harper’s Bazaar magazine, under
Bazaar Cities section.
Liu Men is just a small
hint at why Malaysians need to preserve heritage. Gentrification has led to
increased public interest and appreciation for culture and heritage,
particularly amongst the younger generation. Heritage preservation in Malaysia
has become a means of resistance to further urbanisation; its primary purpose
is to rally and to educate the public about the conservation of the country's
living legacy.
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