Kaizen Architecture has designed Rumah Kechik in Malacca, Malaysia.

This project is situated in Malaysia's UNESCO World Heritage City, Malacca, and rejuvenates three 200-year-old shophouses adjoining an existing hotel.

The new hotel, restaurant and social spaces are located in the shophouses, employing insertion and subtraction strategies that accommodate modern requirements while showcasing its heritage.

The original layout of three shophouses guides a linear spatial arrangement culminating towards the open rear courtyard.

Steel framing was inserted to reinforce the structural integrity, and a double-height internal courtyard was reintroduced for a dramatic entrance.

Internal fenestrations and portals enhance visual connectivity while Rumah Kechik's preservation reveals original brickwork, using local materials like tiles and timber, promoting sustainability and craftsmanship.

This project has been longlisted in the heritage project category of Dezeen Awards 2024.

Studio: Kaizen Architecture
Project: Rumah Kechik
Credits: Baba Residences, Hungry Ventures, Idea Workshop, HYJ Engineering,  Gen Engineering Consultant, JQS International and LE Builder