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Hotel Penaga under construction

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Above: the interior of the one the houses on Lebuh Clarke, after renovation.

Hotel Penaga is expected to be open for public bookings from early 2011.

We have been awarded a tender of 15 units of pre-war terraced houses and shophouses in Georgetown, Penang. They are outside the conservation zone, but just a close walk from all the markets and activities in Penang Road. The proposal is to restore and convert them into a luxury boutique hotel, which will help to support ongoing activities at Rimbun Dahan.

Update June 2010

Below: Exterior of the construction site on Jalan Transfer, seen from Lebuh Clarke.

Right and bottom: Completed interiors in the terrace houses along Lebuh Clarke, featuring contemporary Southeast Asian art and Chinese and modern furniture.

Update 16 November 2009

After an extremely positive meeting with the Penang city council, our project has received the go ahead. Among the issues that had been preventing approvals was adding two extra floor to the row of shoplots along Lebuh Hutton. According to planning guidelines, extra floor needed to be set back further than the ridge-line of the roof, which would have compressed the much-needed expansion so much that the hotel would probably have so few rooms it would be financially unviable. The council has agreed to our plan to add two extra floors with a 3 meter set-back, rather than to the ridge-line.

The Jalan Hutton row will also accommodate a swimming pool at the back, as well as a restaurant, bar and reception area on the ground floor.

The row of houses along Jalan Transfer will have only one additional floor, with the original roof remaining to the ridge line. The ground floor of the row in Jalan Transfer will be ocupied by a spa opening onto the garden at the back, and shops facing onto the road.

Our next proposal to the council will request approval for our lanescape idea, re-orienting the hotel's views from the shabby surrounding streets to the inner t-shaped laneway. Our objective is to create an interesting open space between the three rows of terraces, with landscaping and trees for guests to enjoy, overlooked by the restaurant, swimming pool and spa.

An overall view of the entire boutique hotel concept.

A section showing two additional floors added to Jalan Hutton, with a 3m set-back line.

A proposed exterior view of the Jalan Transfer row, with an additional floor behind the ridge line.

Proposed view of the lanescape between the three rows of houses.

A plan of the groundfloor of the Jalan Hutton row, showing the restaurant, reception, bar and swimming pool.

Update 22 Feb 2009

A recent photo of the strip of shophouses on Jalan Transfer, showing the new floor being added above, set back behind the ridge line, and roof tiles being laid.

Update 29 Sept 2009

Progress in Penang has been hampered by the slowness of the approvals from Council. But work has begun on the four terraces in Transfer Road that will accommodate a spa on the ground floor, and have two floors of suites, eight in all. New reinforcing and piling has been installed to take an extra floor. Angela has started planning the courtyard garden, working on the name of the hotel, Tanjong Penaga, the old Malay name for George Town that was named for a tree that was common there.

The outside of the row on Lebuh Clarke, with fresh paint and window boxes.

The new structure on Jalan Transfer.

Update 30 March 2009

Hijjas and Angela slept their first night in 34 Lebuh Clarke, the first of five houses to be finished in the Penang hotel development cum restoration. The other four will be ready in coming weeks.

Wherever possible, materials such as timber and roof tiles are recycled, and other materials like the new encaustic floor tiles are more labour intensive than material intensive, fitting Angela's environmental parameters. Interiors feature Chinese recycled cabinets and tables along with selected pieces of Rimbun Dahan's collection of contemporary paintings. The first work to be hung is a large painting by Putu Sutawijaya, 'Aksesoris Dalam Gerak'. Other works by Malcolm Utley and Margot Wiburd were also hung in number 34 this weekend.

Above: The lounge area at 34 Lebuh Clarke, showing the encaustic floor tiles and restored windows, and contemporary art from the Rimbun Dahan collection on the wall.

Above: One of the bedrooms at 34 Lebuh Clarke, showing the restored wooden shutters with multicoloured glass inserts.

Update 9 Jan 2009

We have started to renovate the five terrace houses in Lebuh Clarke. They had fibre board roofs that we have removed and replaced with the traditional tiles, adding as well a jack roof to accommodate water tanks and airconditioning. New electrical wiring is being embedded in plaster, and new bathrooms installed upstairs. Downstairs is a large living room, opening off the front 5-foot way. The back door opens to a small lanai and spa bath. The lap pool will be between the back of the five houses and the laneway.

It may require a little imagination at this point, but considering work began just a few months ago, so far so good!

The tops of two houses, showing the new roof on the right, and no roof on the left.

The back of the first house on Lebuh Clarke. This is where the lanai, spa bath and small back garden will be placed.

The outside wall onto the laneway of the first house to be renovated on Lebuh Clarke.

The architect onsite, in the doorway of the front downstairs room. Note the original door frames and decorative kidney window.

The row of five terrace houses along Lebuh Clarke. Work is well advanced on the first house, which can be seen here with fresh paint, and windows reinstalled.

The outside of the first house to be renovated on Lebuh Clarke.

The new roof tiles and new jack roof on the first house.

Last updated 16 Nov 2009.

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