Jiang Lai Ginger Gallery, Bentong

First City UC

Project idea

Bentong town is a small and quite town which focuses on the tourism industry which may be a notable transformation that contributed to rising living standards and economy for the local residents since 2015. But, the lack of tourism attractions reduce the visiting, hence, affected their income. Also, as the average age of the resident is old, the local culture maybe lost follows with their local identity.

By that, the aim of this project is to enhance the Bentong town eco tourism to sustain the local community living as create and consulate a new form of tourism, create new opportunity for local and sustain their local identity.

Project description

Jiang Lai, homophonic meaning of 'future' in Chinese, which transforms an old local Chinese association building to a new tourism spot proposed in Bentong Town. It is an education based and experience gallery in introducing the uniqueness of Pahang’s geographical indications agriculture product, Bentong ginger to the tourists.

Technical information

The site chosen for the new proposed project is belongs to Kochow Association Bentong which is a four-storey shophouse that renovated since 1979. By that, the main structure is remained but proposed with few new idea to enhance the experience.

1) The facade is renovated with a new logo that comes with glass for second and third floor to attract tourists and interacts with the interior space that allows nature sunlight to get in.
2) New staircases and voids are proposed in the building for the one way flow of the gallery experience.
3) A lift is installed inside the building for the tourists to access directly from the ground floor to the third floor and also for the disabled-person and old people.
4) There is a new steel structure made with I-BEAM located at the rooftop as symbolize a new life for the old building with proposed function as courtyard and gallery.