V I S I T O R I N T E R P R E T A T I O N C E N T R E
C L A N J E T T I E S , P E N A N G , M A L A Y S I A
as time goes by, things changed. clan jetties was once a prosperous and high population port, it is a clan-based seaside settlements that built by the Chinese from FuJian. everyone came here for business. but slowly, due to unstable and for better future, the population at clan jetties decreased. now, the clan jetties are not longer as a prosperous port.
there a small little area in front of the houses for them to worship their ancestors. there are also photos of ancestors hanging on the wall inside the houses. people here know what are appreciate and be cherish.
the Visitor Interpretive Centre act as a place of re-create the sense on the jetties, and also a place not only for tourists, but can also for the local residents and community to use. the intention is for the users to draw the conclusion that every single things should be appreciate before they gone.
back to the past
the first space is a gallery which introduced the history of Penang. there is timber columns and timber slats at the roof, to create a feeling of under the jetty and understand all the hardness that ancestors had done. the timber columns are slanted and with gaps, this only allows the users to have a certain view when they stand at a certain angle or position.
narrowness
the space if fully opened air, and also small gaps on the floor which brings the salty air and the sea breeze sound into the space. reminding the users that they are standing above the sea. distance between two gallery panels are slightly narrow, strangers stand close to each other just like how they passing by on the jetty. it is a bit awkward but interesting.
separation
users have to walk across the connection gaps to reach the another space. two sides of the wall are in contrast, it seems like it is separated and totally different, created a strong feeling of contrast of the past and present it is a transition and also a recreated space from the beautiful little corner on the jetty.
exploring
the another space is mainly concrete, this created a feeling of stable but slightly dimmer. lights penetrate in through the glass from the reading area. the contrast of light and shadow is strong, that makes users curious about the source of the light and start to explore. louvered can be opened for better light penetration due to different events.
embrace the view
first floor is the idea of an observation deck. it is full of glass, with timber slates, like framing and also protecting the precious view. from here, users can almost have a 360 degree views. the orientation of the space is pointing the directions of east and west, leading the users towards these two directions, which are viewing the Butterworth (new port) and the contrast of the old jetties with high rises.
