The air well allows light in and is home to an indoor garden (All photos: Noordin Mews)
Penang, part of the British Straits Settlements in the early 19th century, is known for its historical architecture, most of which is well-preserved and has been revitalised and repurposed. The century-old shophouses along Lebuh Noordin spotlight the Sino-Portuguese design, whose elements include intricate plaster walls, chiselled timber doors and colourful ceramic tiles.
Ensconced in this neighbourhood is quaint Noordin Mews, a boutique hotel established in 2012. Housing the reception, living and dining area, and two family suites on the upper floor, its main building — acquired from the fifth generation of the proprietor — is quintessentially Penang. Upon arrival, guests will appreciate the welcoming and cosy ambience, exuded by its Peranakan-style vintage furniture and objects that adorn every corner.
Another 14 rooms are located next door — just a few steps from the concourse across a mini courtyard and pool — inside what used to be the mews (hence, the hotel’s name). More than a decade since it opened, the establishment recently undertook extensive renovations in this section after considering the shifts in travel habits, especially after the pandemic.
“Noordin Mews is more well-known among international tourists compared with the local market. And we noticed the way they travel — and Penang itself — has changed after Covid. People are willing to spend if they see value. After 10 years, I think it’s about time we did a refurbishment to present a better experience to our customers,” says Noordin Mews’ group general manager Belinda Boey.
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With its centuries of history and stories, Penang certainly has a lot of attractions, from its vibrant street food scene to interesting landmarks and beaches. Naturally, holidaymakers will want to check out all that the state has to offer. “But at the end of the day, when it’s time to wind down, you want to go to a place with ultimate comfort. So how do we provide the desired comfort levels for guests who check in here?” she asks.
The answer was to revamp the rooms, and architect Neoh Kim Hin of Studio Eleven was chosen to spearhead the restoration project. “It was the first time we were doing a major refurbishment — we spent around RM160,000 on each room. It was actually a big decision for us, so we did feel a sense of fear about having someone come in and changing the appeal of the space,” Boey says.
“I don’t like fake heritage. And I don’t like the original structure to just be covered up. These buildings were built in the 1920s and a lot of the features are original. So we wanted somebody who is able to respect the architecture and work [around] the historic design.”
Boey and Neoh started having conversations about the renovations more than two years before the actual work began. “We had a mutual understanding about what she wanted and what I could do. The approach for me is always less is more. You don’t touch too much. You don’t interfere too much,” says Neoh.
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“These buildings have so much character and they speak for themselves. The moment I walked in through the front door for the first time, I instantly loved it. So the challenge for me was striking a balance between classic and contemporary.”
Before it became a sanctuary for travellers, the mews was home to six different families and was utilised for different purposes, as hand-cart stables and servants’ quarters among them. “Of course, past owners added a lot of things inside. We took some of that out and returned the rooms to their almost original state. Then we proceeded from there,” Neoh says.
The former layout, which served guests well in the last 10 years — “even until the day we closed for renovations, we had not had anyone complain about the condition of the rooms,” Boey shares — came with two concrete bedsteads, terrazzo tiles and antique furniture.
“When I saw the previous room configuration, the first thought I had was, ‘How to make it more cosy?’ because to me, it felt a bit cold,” Neoh divulges.
Keeping in mind the brief to maintain the buildings’ historical charm, the architect introduced contemporary elements by installing wall panels to create angular lines, complementing the earlier construction. The concrete beds were replaced with wooden units with two side tables and the old dresser was swapped for a multifunctional customised piece that has storage for vanity, pantry and other functions.
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The walls are now a mix of sage green and white. “I love the green pocket outside as it reminds me of the word halaman, which is so charming. In a way, because the room is small and we don’t have more space for plants, I wanted to bring some green elements inside,” he adds.
The flooring materials for the ground floor — where the pet-friendly rooms are — and upper floors are vinyl and herringbone, respectively. “We were thinking about maintenance in the long run. Timber will not be able to withstand the rising dampness and humidity on the lower level.”
Another factor Neoh had to take into consideration was the slight difference in dimension for each of the 14 rooms. “There’s no one design that could be applied to all. So, we had to tackle the peculiar details for every room, with their imperfections — the patchy and crooked wall, nothing is straight, which is interesting.”
Once the decision to remodel was made, what Boey wanted to do was collaborate with small businesses on the island, as well as in the rest of the country, for amenities and supplies.
“We work with traditional and artisanal makers for a range of products to curate our customers’ experience. We want them to be able to see what Penang has to offer. For example, the ceramic cups and coffee for our refreshments are supplied by Buttersage Pottery and ae coffee,” she says.
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The benches and chairs in the rooms are supplied by furniture company By Hogen, co-founded by Neoh. In the cupboards, there is a laundry basket produced by recycling design-based brand Bungkus, using waste collected from the property. This practice allows guests to discover the unique creations by Malaysians.
A celebration of creativity and change, the restoration marks a fresh beginning for Noordin Mews. “The work was completed about three months ago and it has been good so far. We have regulars who have seen the old and new rooms, and they are pleased with the change,” Boey enthuses.
This article first appeared on Nov 4, 2024 in The Edge Malaysia.
