Eight National Heritage monuments and award winning conservation and restoration projects will be open to the public free of charge. Visitors can go behind the scenes and explore places which are normally off-limits to the general public. All tours will be led by architects and owners.
Many major cities throughout the world have held Open House festivals where owners of hundreds of buildings of all types and periods open up their doors to the public, completely for free. Entry times and conditions are controlled by individual owners. Participants benefiting from this festival are asked to respect the building owners and their privacy, and to be mindful of photo-taking.
Festival Programme
Free Admission
Saturday, 21 May 2011
1) Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman, No 2 Jalan Stonor, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Opposite the Royale Chulan Hotel (nearest monorail station-Raja Chulan)
An award winning conservation project of a Malay headman’s house relocated from its original village setting and restored in the grounds of Badan Warisan Malaysia’s Heritage Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Tour times: 11.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m.
2) Stadium Merdeka and 3) Stadium Negara, Jalan Stadium, 50150 Kuala Lumpur
Meet at the Stadium Merdeka entrance (nearest Monorail Station - Maharajalela)
The iconic Stadium Merdeka built to hold the nation’s independence ceremony on 31 August 1957, together with Stadium Negara, the city’s first indoor stadium built in 1962, are gazetted National monuments. Winner of the Award of Excellence in the 2008, UNESCO Asia Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
Tour times: 10.30 a.m. and 3.00 p.m.
4) Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja (Padang area), Kuala Lumpur
Meet at the old fountain beside the tall flagpole (in front of Restoran Warisan)
Gazetted as a National Heritage commemorating the historic occasion of the lowering of the Union jack and the hoisting of the newly independent nation of Malaya at midnight on 31 August 1957, the original Parade Ground in the British Colonial heart of the city is surrounded by what are probably the most photographed heritage buildings in KL.
Tour times: 9.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.
5) PAM Building, 4 & 6, Jalan Tangsi, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Meet at the entrance
Originally a mansion built in 1907 by prominent businessman and municipal councillor, Loke Chow Kit, this sprawling mansion now the Centre for the Institute of Architects Malaysia.
Tour times: 10.00 a.m., 2.30 p.m., 4.00 p.m.
6) Victoria Institution, Jalan Hang Tuah, 55200 Kuala Lumpur
Meet at the school porch (nearest Monorail Station-Hang Tuah)
Victoria Institution (founded 1893) is one of Kuala Lumpur’s premier schools. This present building was built in 1929 and was gazetted as a National Heritage in 2009.
Tour times: 8.00 a.m., 11.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m.
7) KTM Berhad Corporate Headquarters, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, 50621 Kuala Lumpur
Meet at the entrance (nearest KTM station-Kuala Lumpur)
One of Kuala Lumpur’s most distinctive buildings, designed by AB Hubback, this majestic gazetted national monument is representative of the British Colonial Raj style and complements the old KL Railway Station across the street from it.
Tour times: 9.00 a.m. and 11.00 a.m.
8) Rubber Research Institute, 260, Jalan Ampang, 55000 Kuala Lumpur
Meet at the entrance.
Gazetted as a National Heritage, this Art Deco style building (built 1937) with its fair face red brick is worth visiting to see its hidden gem – the five distinctive bas-relief panels depicting the origins of rubber and planting, tapping and smoking, as well as the application of rubber in everyday life, on the sides of the Library block, designed by Italian sculptor, R Nolli.
Tour times: 10.00 a.m., 12.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
1) Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman at No 2 Jalan Stonor, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Opposite the Royale Chulan Hotel (nearest monorail station - Raja Chulan)
For description, please see above.
Tour times: 11.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m.
2) Stadium Merdeka and 3) Stadium Negara, Jalan Stadium, 50150 Kuala Lumpur
Meet at the Stadium Merdeka entrance (nearest Monorail Station - Maharajalela)
For description, please see above.
Tour time: 10.30 a.m.
4) Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja (Padang area)
Meet at the old fountain beside the tall flagpole (in front of Restoran Warisan)
For description, please see above.
Tour times: 9.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.
Please call the Secretariat at 03-2144 9273 or email projects@badanwarisan.org.my to register your interest.
[Any owner or custodian of a heritage building who is interested to participate in this programme can contact Elizabeth Cardosa at Badan Warisan Malaysia (telephone 03-21449273 or e-mail heritage@badanwarisan.org.my for more information.]
