Lessons from Penang | Malaysian academic provides inspiration for Macau’s urban renewal

Dr. Laurence Loh

Malaysian-born Dr. Laurence Loh, adjunct professor at the University of Hong Kong, has hosted a lecture on his experience in urban regeneration and the lessons it may be able to offer Macau.

Apart from teaching, Loh also works as an architect. He has spent the past 26 years conserving Malaysian cultural heritage. His expertise and contributions have been acknowledged worldwide.

His restoration of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Penang, Malaysia was awarded “Most Excellent Project” at the inaugural UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2000.

He is also a director at Think City, a “think and do tank,” in Loh’s own words, which works on regeneration projects in various cities. Loh and Think City have completed many projects, which may be of inspiration to Macau.

Loh and Macau first crossed paths around 14 years ago, when Macau was applying for World Heritage accreditation. Loh was appointed by UNESCO, the accrediting body, as the on-site assessor.

Usually the first steps of a project are the most difficult. In one of Loh and Think City’s first projects, “we went into the back lanes of Malaysia, which you have a lot of in Macau, and worked with the community to transform the lanes.” After working on a couple of the lanes, the government finally noticed the project’s feasibility and took over.

Another project involved a grassroots, relatively messy district in Penang. A lot of theft and petty crimes formerly took place there, and many businesses were under mafia control. In order to rejuvenate the district, the Think City team had deep conversations with not only community leaders, but also citizens about their ideal image of the district. “It was a conversation of two years.” Loh said.

They eventually succeeded in rejuvenating the district, and tourists were attracted by the district’s new character.

These two examples illustrate the importance of “community-led regeneration,” according to Loh, which is one of the two core mottos of Think City. “You need to keep the people in the heart of your solution.” Loh said.

The other core motto is “evidence-based planning,” which almost echoes the Macau government’s slogan of “scientific policymaking.”

In other projects, Loh only acted as inspiration. “Think City does offer grants, but it’s only 10 to 20% of the total cost. That means the owner or developer should have their financial foundation. Also, we have a ‘pay-back’ clause in our contracts. If they sell the rejuvenated projects within a given period of time, they need to pay us back the grant,” Loh explained.

Loh emphasized that a quasi-philosophy that UNESCO applies to World Heritage listing is the government’s ability to “manage change.” In his lecture, Loh expressed his wish that more effort had been applied to better conserving Macau’s heritage sites. Staff Reporter