History Komtar

1 history

1.1 background
1.2 design
1.3 construction
1.4 decline
1.5 revitalisation

history

the komtar tower dominating skyline of george town.


background

komtar brainchild of lim chong keat, younger brother of lim chong eu, second chief minister of penang. meant revitalise city of george town creating complex house administrative, commercial, retail , transportation functions under 1 roof, projecting penang s relatively new modernist architectural scene in post-independence era.

this massive urban renewal effort first proposed in 1962. report robert nathan recognised george town beginning show signs of decline, majority of city s residences consisting of 19th century shophouses in derelict conditions , had turned slums.

by time lim chong eu took on chief minister of penang in 1969, state of decline in penang had been exacerbated revocation of penang s free entrepôt status. thus, komtar project seen attempt reverse declining fortunes of george town, , revitalise both city , state of penang whole.

design

komtar seen penang road in george town.

a masterplan george town drawn in 1960s called conservation of historic city centre heritage site, whilst 11 hectare area bounded 4 roads - prangin, maxwell, penang , magazine roads - developed penang new urban centre consisting of four-storey podium, 3 17-storey residential blocks , central 65-storey skyscraper. proposed complex included geodesic dome inspired designs of buckminster fuller, colleague of lim chong keat.

the central skyscraper house administrative offices of penang state government, while geodesic dome contain multipurpose hall. noted dr. gwynn jenkins in book, contested space, 3 residential blocks provide ‘socially-engineered residential community’ in flats of mixed income , ethnicity. in addition, complex planned serve commercial district , public transportation hub, of condensed under 1 roof.

the complex designed architects team 3 (at3) of singapore, led lim chong keat. lim recounted responsible in making sure appointed consultants competent, , of sufficient national , worldwide standing required accomplish project. experts of other fields, including social researchers university of science, malaysia (usm) , traffic consultant roped in.

construction

the komtar project got off ground in 1970, during tenure of lim chong eu chief minister of penang. single ambitious urban renewal project undertaken penang development corporation, development arm of penang state government. master plan divided 5 phases implementation.

however, komtar project entailed destruction of hundreds of colonial-era shophouses, schools , temples around 11 hectare site, displacing more established neighbourhoods in process. notably, gladstone road, once ran through area, wiped off map when construction of komtar commenced.

the prime minister of malaysia, tun abdul razak hussein, officiated first piling ceremony on 1 january 1974, during made clear “this project change face of city, discarding colonial heritage image in favour of 1 reflects identity of malaysia , multi-ethnic culture”.

komtar tower topped out in 1985, making tallest skyscraper in malaysia @ time. 65-storey, 232 m tall skyscraper second tallest in asia @ point, behind sunshine 60 in tokyo, japan. komtar tower officially completed following year , remained tallest skyscraper in malaysia until 1988.

komtar tower, podium block partly visible @ bottom.


decline

as part of phase 1, komtar tower had been completed in 1986. however, out of original 5 phases, phases 1 , 2a, latter involved creation of komtar walk, 155 metre-long walkway lined food outlets, ever completed according plan. phases 3 , 4 jointly developed private firms prangin mall , 1st. avenue mall respectively.

while komtar built revitalise george town, 2000s, became white elephant itself. displacement of entire neighbourhoods , businesses during construction of komtar in 1970s , 1980s caused vicinity of komtar become depopulated, depriving retailers within komtar of catchment area. 1997 asian financial crisis exacerbated decline of komtar, while completion of newer shopping malls throughout george town led retailers in komtar shutting down in droves. potential tenants , general public alike unimpressed komtar s poor maintenance, confusing interior layout , dark, garbage-strewn corners.

it estimated that, of 2008, 40% of retailers in komtar had left skyscraper, while many others left shoplots closed.

revitalisation

as part of penang state government s initiative regain glory days of komtar, revitalisation effort launched in late 2012. world group (owg) awarded rm50 million renovation project, included construction of banquet hall @ level 5, 30,000 sq ft boulevard house food , beverage (f&b) outlets, international-themed restaurant @ levels 59 , 60, sky restaurant @ level 64 , sky lounge @ level 65.

in 2015, 3 new floors added onto komtar tower, increasing height 249 metres. top floor (68th floor) topped rooftop sky bar, highest glass skywalk in malaysia. dubbed rainbow skywalk, 16 metre-semi-circular glass skywalk first of kind in southeast asia. u-shaped glass walkway constructed same glass material of grand canyon skywalk , designed withstand total weight of 16 adults.

three high-speed bubble lifts installed, 2 of connect theme park @ level 5 levels 65, 66 , 67, while other links level 59 level 68 summit. while bubble lifts designed transparent glass wall allow panoramic view of george town on way up, lifts modified in 2016 following safety advice department of occupational safety , health bubble lifts concealed.

in 2017, owg, endorsement of penang state government, engaged 5 local artists create world s tallest mural painting upper 230 metres of komtar tower. part of owg s komtar revitalisation efforts, mural intended showcase aspects of penang s culture, lifestyle, historical landmarks , natural attractions. mural project, cover metal facade of komtar s bubble lift, expected commence late march of 2017 , take between 5 6 months complete.