Nadiyanti MAT NAYAN
Kuala Lumpur has been capital city for Malaysia since 1963. It was an excessive tin-mining town during 1880’s. During this era, lots of buildings have been built by the British to accompany needs at that time. Shop houses, government buildings and places of worship were some of major development done at that time.
Nowadays, Kuala Lumpur skyline is filled with mega structures. These buildings have overshadowed the popularity of Kuala Lumpur as one of the popular mining town during its old time. And even the new generations hardly identified the historical elements of this town.
Today, as part of conservation plan for this city, 18 buildings in Kuala Lumpur has been listed under National Heritage for Malaysia. However, during conservation activities, practitioners usually ‘miss’ the space that surrounded these built heritage. This space should be conserved as well as the heritage building because its also contributes to the history of Kuala Lumpur. Heritage curtilage conservation that has been practiced by NSW might be a good example for conserving the ‘space’ in Kuala Lumpur as part of its place making and town identity.
Thus, by applying this curtilage concept, it will ensure that this historical town will remains its valuable heritage buildings and retains its identity and genius loci of the place for future generations.