History Made Modern

A hidden gem in a city full of them, NOMAPS is a fascinating amalgamation of past and present expressed in the form of a tight series of interior-scapes.

Rich with ancient landmarks comprised of heritage buildings and structures dating back to its colonial days, Malacca has more than earned its unofficial status as Malaysia’s Historic State. It is therefore no surprise that Malacca City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination. Addressing the resulting need for tourist accommodations while simultaneously paying tribute to the wealth of history around it, NOMAPS is a flash-packer hostel situated in the heart of the city.

Originally a double-storey pre-war shophouse, the establishment represents the successful result of a concerted effort to transform a piece of history into a contemporary masterpiece that engages every single sense. Extreme care was taken by DRTAN LM Architect and SLT Architects Sdn Bhd to preserve as much of the existing building’s character as possible even as new architectural work was incorporated into the structure.

As such, to call it a superficial makeover that does the bare minimum to bring back the shophouse’s glory days would be disingenuous; the transformation wrought upon it is metamorphic in nature, addressing modern day needs while still staying true to its spirit and what makes it special. Designed to appeal to the adventurers exploring Malacca, the hostel is light and airy, simple yet complicated but most of all fun and lively.

The core of the refurbishment work revolved around the creation of a new and easily recognisable spatial identity for the old pre-war building. This was accomplished by introducing new key elements that played off or incorporated existing antique ones to the design which ranged from furniture and light fittings to artworks and murals. Although a modest budget seemed like a limiting factor at first, it was mitigated by the minimal need for modern air conditioning units due to the structure already being well-ventilated courtesy of its three air-wells. This also inspired the decision to reuse existing materials in order to both rejuvenate the interior and preserve the building’s core personality.

For example, original terracotta Marseille tiles and V-Tile profiles taken from 18^th century homes were used to reconstruct the roof. Being in good condition, the party walls were preserved in their entirety, their layers of plaster and patina proudly exposed with each layer representing a piece of the former home’s illustrious history. Similarly, the 170-foot-long meandering hallway sports a beautiful patina on its walls that is a visual adventure in art and design all on its own. In one of the courtyards where guests love to hang out, a brickwork collage has transformed a plain surface into an exciting feature wall.

Other design highlights include the off-form concrete reception counter juxtaposed against the old water-well in the lobby and a large trestle timber table made from reused old floor joists in the dining hall. Even the building’s new bathrooms sport vintage pendulum lights that hark back to Malacca’s colonial era. In the case of the traditional rear façade, a brise soliel made from modernised Malaccan vintage window frames helps keep the interior cool by deflecting sunlight. Arranged to form a giant art piece, the vivid-coloured frames perfectly capture the establishment’s seamless unification of the old and the new.

NOMAPS
Location: 11, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Taman Kota Laksamana, Malacca, Malaysia
Architects: DRTAN LM Architect (in collaboration with SLT Architects Sdn Bhd)

For more information, visit DRTAN LM Architect .