Guidelines for Conservation Areas and Heritage Buildings

by
the Municipal Council of Penang (MPPP).
Contents

Part 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Planning and Conservation
1.2 Conservation Principles
1.3 Conservation Objectives

Part 2: HERITAGE BUILDINGS

2.1 General Criteria
2.2 Classification of Heritage Buildings
2.3 Identification and Listing of Heritage Buildings

Part 3: CONSERVATION AREAS

3.1 Conservation Area
3.2 Assessment and Designation of Conservation Areas
3.3 Conservation Zones
3.4 Use of Planning Powers in Conservation Areas

Part 4: HERITAGE BUILDINGS CONTROL

4.1 Alteration and Extension
4.2 Use
4.3 Height
4.4 Demolition
4.5 Profile
4.6 Setback
4.7 Facade
4.8 Colour Scheme
4.9 Materials
4.10 Roof

Part 5: CONSERVATION AREAS CONTROL

5.1 Permitted Development in Conservation Area
5.2 Conservation Area Control Over Demolition
5.3 Listed Buildings
5.4 Unlisted Buildings
5.5 Building Height
5.6 Floorspace and Street Furniture
5.7 Car Parking
5.8 Traffic Management

Part 6: ADVERTISEMENT CONTROL

6.1. Location and Size
6.1.1 Fascia Advertisement
6.1.2 Fixed Projection
6.1.3 Hanging Advertisement
6.1.4 Advertisement On Flank Wall
6.1.5 Advertisement On Top Roof
6.1.6 Buildings On A Corner Site With Two Road Frontages
6.1.7 Advertisement On Columns
6.1.8 Signs Of Shopfront
6.2. Installation
6.3. Illumination
6.3.1 Passive Lighting
6.3.2 Light Fittings
6.4. Fabric of a Building
6.5. Business Premises
6.5.1 Definition Of Business
6.5.2 Contents Of Advertisement
6.5.3 Number Of Advertisement
6.6. Examples of Unacceptable Advertisement Displays
Architectural Styles
 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

Guidelines for
Conservation Work
on
Listed Heritage
Buildings

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

Guidelines for Conservation Work on Listed Heritage Buildings

KEY ELEMENTS DESIGN / LOCATION MATERIAL

EXTERNAL

1.0 Roof

1.1 Structure The timber structural members Only faulty structural

include the timber rafters & members or parts are to be
purlins. Timber rafters are inclined replaced.
structural members which support
the pitch roof. They are in turn
supported by timber purlins & roof
beams spanning between the party
walls. Roofs are pitched & finished
with overlapping (V-profile or flat)
natural colour unglazed clay tiles,
following original profile laid on
timber battens & bonded by
mortar.

1.2 Main roof & The original profile, pitch, height, Category I - Traditional
rear secondary party wall & eaves projection shall roofing material of small
roof be retained & restored. size, V-profile, unglazed,
natural colour clay tiles is to
Replacement with new concrete be used.
flat roof is not allowed. Interlocking clay roof tile &
reinforced concrete are
Extension - new roof shall be allowed only if the existing
pitched & sympathetic to the roof is of those materials.
original roof of the existing
building in terms of colour, texture, Category II – Any
material & profile. replacement of original clay
tile roofing shall be of same
or similar material
following the original
profile & pitch.

1.3 Jack roof Category I - Existing jack roof, if Roof tile is to be identical to
any, shall be retained. New jack that of the main roof.
roof is not allowed.

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

KEY ELEMENTS DESIGN / LOCATION MATERIAL

1.3 Jack roof Category II - Existing jack Roof tile is to be identical to

roof may be retained or that of main roof.
removed. New jack roof Side wall shall be solid &
may be allowed subject to finished with plaster or
compliance with the timber board.
positioning, setbacks & Material of the front & rear
maximum allowable openings is to match the
dimensions. original façade.

Extension - jack roof is not ---

allowed.

1.4 Skylight New skylight is not ---

allowed.

Category II – new skylight Transparent material on

may be allowed subject to framework of timber or
location, building use & metal (painted or colour
total area of skylight. coated ) is preferable.

Position of skylight shall be

located on the rear slope of
main roof or on secondary
roof. Total area of skylight
shall not exceed 30% of the
subject slope of the roof.

Extension - skylight is Transparent material on

allowed but subject to framework of timber or
conditions of positioning & metal (painted or colour
total area involved. coated ) is preferable.

1.5 Dormer New dormer window is not ---

window allowed.

1.6 Roof overhang Original features shall be The original design /

retained & restored. finishes / material of the
underside, fascia board,
gutter etc. are to be used

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

KEY ELEMENTS DESIGN / LOCATION MATERIAL

2.0 Forecourt

2.1 Enclosure The original size & ornamentation Original materials, design &
of the wall & gate shall be retained finishing to be used.
& restored.
Category II - Laying of new
ground finishes shall be
sensitive & sympathetic to
the front façade.

3.0 Front / Side

Facade

3.1 Building facade The original façade shall be The original masonry,
retained & restored. Demolition, mortar & plaster shall be
alteration & addition to original / retained ( where possible ).
esthetic façade are not allowed.

Extension - the new façade may be Modern material is allowed

of traditional or contemporary style
but shall be designed in
harmonious & unify with the
existing heritage façade &
surrounding streetscape.
but shall synchronize with
the existing material in
terms of texture, profile,
colour & etc.

3.2 Shop front Category II - Existing sliding & The original timber panel
folding metal grille / panels shall for the ground floor
be retained & restored. windows & doors shall be
Replacement with new roller retained & restored.
shutter is not allowed.
Existing roller shutter which is
visually impaired to the building
façade shall be taken down &
replaced with traditional design &
material.
Existing façade that has been Traditional material such as
altered from the original shall be timber, metal grille / panel
reinstated to original façade in is to be used.
terms of rhythm, materials used,
vertical & horizontal elements.

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

KEY ELEMENTS DESIGN / LOCATION MATERIAL

3.3 Fanlights, The original fanlights, windows, Traditional material or

windows, doors doors & vents shall be retained & similar to original material
& vents restored. is to be used. The use of
Reinstatement of original elements modern materials such as
shall follow the original design & metal frame & tinted glass
position. is prohibited.
New internal elements such as
staircase landing, walls &
partitions are not to abut the
original window openings.

Extension - design of doors & Modern material is allowed

windows shall preferably match but shall synchronize with
those of the conserved building. the existing material in
terms of texture, profile,
colour & etc. Light tinted,
coloured & obscure glass is
allowed.

3.4 Balustrades for The original balustrades for French Traditional material or
French window windows shall be retained & similar to original material
restored. is to be used.
Reinstatement of broken / missing
elements shall follow original
design & position.

3.5 Secondary New secondary windows & doors
Windows & are allowed to match original
doors for all window & door openings. The
floors infill, which may vary in design, is
to be compatible with the main
windows & doors.
Main frame is to be timber
& infill may be timber /
glass. Light tinted, coloured
& obscure glass is allowed.

3.6 Decorative The original decorative features, if Traditional material is to be

features any, shall be retained & restored. used.

3.7 ‘Pintu Pagar’ Existing pintu pagar, if any, shall Traditional materials are to
be retained. New pintu pagar is be used.
allowed & the design shall be of
original / traditional & sympathetic
to the building facade.

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

KEY ELEMENTS DESIGN / LOCATION MATERIAL

3.8 Canopy Original canopy, if any, shall be

retained & restored.

Category II & Extension - New Traditional roofing material

canopy above second storey is to be used. Materials such
opening may be allowed subject to as metal, asbestos sheet or
sympathetic & unobtrusive in PVC are not allowed.
design manner and compliance
with requirement of relevant
department.

3.9 End gable wall The original raised gable wall /

party wall ( of artistic merit ) shall
be retained & restored. Main frame is to be timber
Existing openings, if any, shall be & infill may be timber /
retained & restored. New opening glass.
is allowed subject to approval &
the design to match those of the
front façade.

---
4.0 Five-Footway / Original design of five-footway
Verandahway such as arch way & arcades shall
be maintained. Any original
decorative feature(s) shall be
retained & restored.
Traditional finishes of
4.1 Floors Where the five-footway is not level cement screed, coloured
with adjacent units & the cement with gridded rope
difference in level is more than one indentation, terracotta tiles,
step, a ramp in compliance with the terrazzo tiles, mosaic
requirements of relevant complete with granite slab
departments shall be provided. edging are recommended.
Finishes of highly polished
Original floor finishes shall be gloss ceramic tiles are not
restored. If repair or replacement is allowed.
necessary, finishes used shall be of
material close to the original in
terms of colour & texture.

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

KEY ELEMENTS DESIGN / LOCATION MATERIAL

4.1 Floors Existing granite slab edging shall ---

be retained & exposed without
covering up by other materials.

4.2 Ceiling Original ceiling profile / design Exposed upper floor

shall be maintained. Any original
decorative feature(s) shall be
retained & restored.
structure of timber boards &
timber joists is preferred.
Existing exposed reinforced
concrete floor above, if any,
is allowed to remain.

5.0 Rear Court

5.1 Roof cover New roof of pitch profile over the
rear court is allowed subject to the
roof height requirement. No new
structure is allowed within the air
well space.
Same tile roofing material
as the main roof shall be
used. Materials such as
zinc, asbestos, metal deck &
etc. are not allowed.

5.2 External Existing external staircase, if any, Any material is allowed. If

staircase can be retained or removed. New metal is used, it shall be
external staircase is allowed. anodized or colour coated.

6.0 Rear Facade

6.1 Windows, Category I - Original openings, if New openings shall be of

Doors & vents any, shall be retained & restored. similar material as the front
façade.
Category II – Original openings,
can be retained & restored, or
changed subject to design
requirement. New openings are
allowed.

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

KEY ELEMENTS DESIGN / LOCATION MATERIAL

6.2 Rear boundary Category I – the original height of Plastered brick wall.
Wall wall is to be retained. However, if
the rear court is to be roofed over,
an increase on wall height to
accommodate minimum headroom
requirements is allowed.
Any original decorative feature(s)
shall be retained & restored.

INTERNAL

7.0 Floors

7.1 Ground floor The existing ground floor level

shall be retained.
Original layout / tile works / Replacement of broken
finishes shall be retained & materials shall be of similar
restored. or close to original.

7.2 Upper floor(s) The existing floor level & original
structural members including
timber main beams or steel I-beam,
timber floor joists & timber floor
boards shall be retained & restored.
Traditional material of
timber boards on timber
joists shall be used. For wet
areas eg. Toilets & kitchen,
concrete floor may be used.
If the existing floors are of
reinforced concrete, the
same material can be used.

Category II - Raising existing floor Additional horizontal &

height to meet minimum platform
level may be considered subject to
minimal adverse impact to the
building façade & character of
streetscape.
vertical structural supports
abutting party walls are
allowed & can be in timber,
brick or steel. Reinforced
concrete can only be
considered, provided there
are strong justifications to
show that reinforced
concrete is the only
technical solution.

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

KEY ELEMENTS DESIGN / LOCATION MATERIAL

7.2 Upper floor(s) Extension - New concrete floor(s) ---

is allowed & floor finishes shall
match the existing in terms of
texture, colour & material.

7.3 Mezzanine Existing mezzanine floor can be

Floor retained or removed.

Category I - new mezzanine floor ---

is not allowed.

Category II - new mezzanine floor Any material, except

may be considered subject to
existing floor height & compliance
with requirements of relevant
departments.
reinforced concrete, is
allowed. The choice of
material used shall be
compatible & harmonious
with existing structure.

7.4 Basement New basement is not allowed. ---

7.5 Ceiling Original ceiling profile / design Replacement of broken

shall be retained. Any original pieces shall be of similar or
decorative feature(s) shall be close to original material.
retained & restored.

Category II - Exposed upper floor Traditional material of

structure of timber boards & timber timber frame, timber boards
joists shall be retained & restored. or plaster boards.
Existing exposed reinforced Installation of aluminium or
concrete floor above, if any, is metal frame is not allowed.
allowed to remain. False ceiling is
allowed provided the volume of
internal space is maintained &
original features such as cornices,
arches, capitals & decorative
stuccos are not covered.

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

KEY ELEMENTS DESIGN / LOCATION MATERIAL

8.0 Walls

8.1 Party wall Repair work is allowed but must ---

follow original design, material &
construction method.

Category II - Openings in the ---

party wall for joint units may be
allowed subject to the stability of
building structure & total width of
openings shall not exceed 50% of
the total length of the party wall.

8.2 Decorative The original decorative features, if Traditional or similar

Features any, shall be retained & restored. material is to be used.

9.0 Air Well

9.1 Size The original size & location shall ---

be retained & restored. Level up
the existing floor is not allowed.

9.2 Windows, The original openings shall be Traditional material is to be

doors & vents retained & restored. used to replace broken
pieces. Installation of other
modern materials is not
allowed.

9.3 Floor finishes The original finishes of granite slab Replacement or installation
& edging shall be retained & of new materials shall be
restored. the same or close to original
materials.

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

KEY ELEMENTS DESIGN / LOCATION MATERIAL

9.4 Roof cover A flat moveable roof cover is Light weight transparent or
allowed & the height of the cover translucent roof covering is
shall be lower than the eave of the allowed. If metal
main roof. No other above ground framework is used, it shall
structure or slab is allowed within be anodized or colour
the air well space. coated.
Total cover up of air well or new
jack roof is not allowed.

10.0 Staircase Original staircase positioning & ---

design with fine craftsmanship
shall be retained & restored.

Category II - Repositioning the New staircase made of

original staircase or addition of reinforced concrete shall
new staircase is allowed if have timber finishes
necessary. The original artistic including balusters &
design of balusters & balustrades balustrades.
are to be retained & reused.

Extension - Variation in layout & Any material is allowed.

baluster railing design is allowed.

11.0 Exterior / The original finishes, eg. Tiles, fair Traditional material is to be
Interior faced bricks or granolithic render used to repair or make good
Finishes shall be retained & restored. the original finishes.
Painting over the original finishes
is prohibited.

Category I - The original paint / ---

pigment / colour scheme is
recommended in recoating of
painting work(s).

Category II - The colour scheme or Traditional material such as

paint used shall match & lime washed paint is to be
harmonise with the adjacent used.
heritage buildings & character of
streetscape.

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

KEY ELEMENTS DESIGN / LOCATION MATERIAL

11.0 Exterior / Extension - The new block shall be Material which is similar or
Interior rendered in appropriate & subtle close to existing finishes is
Finishes colour & finishes which blend & preferable.
complement the conserved part &
does not detract from the character
of the surroundings.

12.0 Signages Signages shall be installed in ---

accordance with ‘Guidelines for
Display of Signages’.

13.0 Security Original security devices such as ---

Devices locks, steel bars, grilles & etc. shall
be retained & restored.
Installation of new security devices
is allowed subject to requirements
of suitability, unobtrusive
positioning, visually discreet in
design and colour.

14.0 Mechanical &

Electrical
Systems

14.1 Exhaust fan Exhaust fan shall be placed at rear Metal vents shall preferably
façade facing the rear court or back be anodized or colour
lane. coated.

14.2 Conduits & All utility / conduit pipes except ---

pipes for original rainwater down pipes
are not allowed on the surface of
external front wall.

Rainwater down pipes shall lead

directly into drains. Position,
design, colour & material of
rainwater down pipes & gutters
shall match & harmonize with
building façade.

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

KEY ELEMENTS DESIGN / LOCATION MATERIAL

Utility & air-conditioning conduit ---

pipes are allowed on the surface of
the rear wall or air well.

14.3 Air- Air-conditioning pipes shall be ---

conditioning properly encased & neatly laid out.
units
Air-condensing compressor units
shall be located least visible from
the exterior. Installation of
compressor unit(s) at front façade
is strictly prohibited.

Air-condensing compressor units Material such as timber

may be installed at the rear court ( lattice or metal screen
below the rear boundary wall / air which harmonized with
well / roof ) or being covered up by building façade is preferred.
a frame with suitable design &
material ( not applicable to front
façade ).

For building without rear court, a ---

balcony may be designed to place
the condensing unit(s).

14.4 Water tank / Water tank, cooling tower & other Material such as timber
Cooling tower external installations, if any, shall lattice or metal screen
be covered / screened & placed which harmonized with
least visible from the exterior. building façade is preferred.

14.5 Lift Installation of lift is allowed for ---

extension / annexed building. The
lift shaft shall not protrude from
the front slope of the roof of new
building.

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

KEY ELEMENTS DESIGN / LOCATION MATERIAL

15.0 Others

15.1 Drainage Provide proper drainage at the ---

building perimeter to ensure that
water does not splash against
building or foundation walls nor
drain towards the building.

15.2 Night Lighting Light fittings, if any, shall be ---

placed at least obtrusive place & in
harmonious with the character of
building façade.

15.3 Piling The method of piling & excavation ---

works shall be approved by the
Council before commencement of
work. Hammer piling close to
conservation buildings is not
allowed.

All reasonable care & protection

shall be accorded to adjacent
heritage buildings to ensure
retention of their structural stability
& integrity.

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 Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

SKETCH 1

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Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

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Guidelines For Conservation Areas & Heritage Buildings
Municipal Council of Penang Island

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6.5.3 Number Of Advertisement

Not more than one advertisement parallel to a wall and one projecting at right angles from
such a wall subject to clause 6.1.6.

6.6 EXAMPLES OF UNACCEPTABLE ADVERTISEMENT DISPLAYS

218, LEBUH CARNAVON 32, LEBUH ACHEH 15, JLN, MASJID

KAPITAN KELING

49, JLN, MASJID 306, LEBUH PENANG 427-429, LEBUH PENANG

KAPITAN KELING
Annexure E