M I C H E L L E
Foundation in Natural Built Environment
(FNBE)
ART // ARCHITECTURE // CULTURE
Tutorial Session 4
Tutorial Session 4:
This is a progress continuation from the last tutorial. In the last tutorial, I have picked 6 buildings to show 20 photos of fusion architecture of shophouses in Melacca.
In this tutorial, I have finalized the last 10 photos that I would like to use which consists of details and an overview of three different shophouses. The three buildings are from the same style (Straits Electic Style which are divided into "Early Straits" Electic Style & "Late Straits" Electic Style) in the timeline which I have researched and mentioned about in my last tutorial.
There are also explanations about fusion architecture (mainly on cultural influences) on each photo that I have chosen.
Shophouse 1
This is the first building which shows an overlook of the entire row of shoplot with the same setting.
The fusion architecture is a combination of both Early and Late Straits Electic Shophouse Style as if it is a transformation from one style to the other.
General physical appearance:
- Simple facade
- Traditional setting (more towards early straits electic style)
- Few decorative carvings and ornaments
The fusion in this architecture:
1. Windows
Western Influences:
- Full-length french windows
- Full-length timber shifters
- Arched over windows openings
Chinese Influences:
- Air vents
2. Columns
Peranakan Influences: (combination of Early & Late Electic Straits Style)
- Pilasters decorated with plastic rendering (Late Electic Straits Style)
- Simple decoration with irregular geometric shapes (Early Electic Straits Style)
3. Door & Window Facade
Chinese Influences:
- Air vents
- Carved timber doors
4. Decorative Carvings & Patterns
Peranakan Influences:
- Simple carvings on the wall near the roof
Shophouse 2
This a close up shot of the building which focus is on the second storey where the windows, pillars // columns and carving projection is the strongest.
The fusion in this architecture shows Late Straits Electic Style because of the window and carving designs.
Genaral Physical Appearance:
- Simple
- Few ornaments and carvings
Cultural Influences on Architecture
1. Western Influences:
- Full-length French windows
- Full-length timber shifters for windows
- Arched / rectangular transom over the windows openings
2. Chinese Influences:
- Air vents in windows
3. Peranakan Influences:
- Pilasters decorated with plastic rendering of irregular shapes (simple)
- Carvings near the roof
This is the second building which shows an overlook of the entire row of shoplots with a similar setting. The picture focuses on the second storey floor where coloured tiles, windows, etc parts of the building is visable. The building portrays peranakan (babanyonya) architecture style which is a fusion of / is implemented with Western culture, Chinese culture, and their own culture.
The fusion in this architecture is also a combination of both Early & Late Straits Electic Style because the doors and windows of each units differ with one another.
General Appearance:
- Vibrant in colour: Blue Colour
- Decorative Ornaments
- Different window design with similar style
- Combination of different styles for doors and windows of the first storey from both Early & Late Straits Electic Style
Cultural Influences in Architecture:
1. Western Influences:
- Full-length French windows
- Full-length timber shifters
- Arched / rectangular transom over the windows openings
2. Chinese Influences:
- Air vents in windows
3. Peranakan Influences:
- Coloured tiles on the walls
- Simple decorative plaster wall with geometric shapes (lines, circles)
- Wall colour: vibrant blue
This is a close up shot of the second building which shows focus on the first storey of the shophouse. This picture shows the shophouse's doors and windows.
This part of the architecture shows Early Straits Electic Style which is more simple and traditional compared to Late Straits Electic Style.
General Appearance:
- Simple
- Traditonal
- Less fancy
- Few additional decoration / carvings
Chinese Influences:
1. Carved timber doors
- Engraved Chinese wordings
- Simple carved ornaments on the door
- Material used: timber
2. Chinese air vents (Early Straits Electic Style)
- Placed above windows
- Carved dragons as decorations
3. Carved timber ventillated windows
4. Iron bars over windows (painted black)
This is a close up shot of another window of the same row of building which is part of a different shoplot (different part of the overall building).
This part of the architecture shows Late Straits Electic Style which is more detailed in decorations and ornaments compared to Early Straits Electic Style.
General Appearance:
- Detailed
- Fancy and elegant
- Additional elements
Chinese Influences:
- Carved timber windows
- Engraved chinese wordings on the windows (more elegant and traditional with the gold colour selection)
- Timber bars over windows
- Air vents is replaced with hung chinese name plaque (above window)
This is a close up on a Chinese doorknob which is part of a timber door. The Chinese doorknob acts as an additional ornament as part of the decoration for the timber door. In ancient China, it is commonly used in Chinese temples, palaces and large scale shophouses. It was then brought forward and implemented in traditional shopbouses as part of the artchitecture in peranakan style shophouses here in Melacca.
Chinese Influences:
Physical Appearance
- Gold: indivates wealth and prosperity
- Simple detailed carvings shown on doorknob
- Ornament on timber door
- Elegant and traditional decoration
This is a close up of the front facade of the first storey of one shophouse. The lantern acts as decoration for the front facade of the shophouse. In Chinese culture, lanterns are used to chase away evil spirits and ghouls from houses. It is known to keep bad luck from occuring in premises as part of taboos which are still practiced until today. It also acts as a decorative item to beautify and decorate the front facade of the shophouse.
Chinese Influence:
Physical Appearance:
- Red: Chases away bad spirits and ghouls (believe to be bad luck)
- Chinese cultural activities is drawn on the lantern as design
- Chinese wordings are written on the lantern
- Chinese inspired patterns are drawn as decorationon the lantern
Shophouse 3
This is the third building which shows the overall view of a single shophouse in an entire row of shoplots. This shophouse's facade shows peranakan style architecture which is a fusion of different architecture culture.
This shoplot's era is part of the Late Straits Eletic Style.
General Appearance:
- Colourful: Blue & Yellow
- Highly intricate carvings and ornaments
The Fusion in this Architecture:
1. Windows
Western Influences:
- Full-length french windows
- Full-length timber shifters
- Arched transom over windows openings
Chinese Influences:
- Air vents on windows
Chino-Portugese Influences:
- Window style and design
2. Walls
Peranakan Influence:
- Vibrant colour: Blue & Yellow (colourful)
- Coloured tiles
- Intricate ornaments and carvings
3. Pilasters
Peranakan Influence:
- 3D decorative plastered pilasters
- Intricate ornaments & carvings of similar patterns
4. Lanterns
Chinese Influence:
- Front facade lighting
- Decoration
- Carved patterns and decoration on lanters
This is a close up shot of the second storey of the shophouse which focuses on the windows, pilasters, decoration, carvings and ornaments. It brings out a unique peranakan style which consists of different cultural implementations in the archituectue building design.
General Physical Appearance:
- Colourful
- Decorative
- Many intricate carvings
Cultural Influences in Architecture:
1. Western Influences:
- Full-length french windows
- Full-length timber shifters
- Arched transom over windows openings
2. Chinese Influences:
- Air vents on walls
- Intricate decorations on walls
3. Peranakan Influences:
- Pilasters decorated with plastic rendering of irregular geeometric shape and floral patterns
- Coloured tiles on walls
- Highly intricate carvings and ornaments on walls
4. Chino-Portugese Influences:
- Window style and design
This is a close up of the front facade of the first storey of one shophouse where a lantern like lamp is hung. The lantern acts as lighting and decoration for the front facade of the shophouse. It's main purpose is to light the walkway or doorstep area. Such lanterns are influenced from Chinese culture and design.
Chinese Influences:
Physical Appearance:
- Used mainly for lighting purpose
- Acts as decoration for the front facade
- Shows Chinese design (Scenery from China)
- Acts as a highly intricate ornament
- Lantern is carved (as pattern) from timber