GEORGE TOWN, March 20 — Back in the 19th century, Muslims from the Middle East, Pakistan, Central Asia and the Gulf states came to Penang as traders and workers.
Many of these Muslim families made their fortunes here and built luxurious bungalows in George Town.
This was how a narrow lane known as Hutton Lane today, became the Malay millionaires’ row with its many impressive bungalows built more than a century ago.
Today, some of these bungalows still stand proud amid the row of pre-war shophouses and one of them is the Jawi Peranakan Mansion boutique hotel.
The regal mansion was falling apart and in deplorable condition when work to restore it started more than three years ago. Under the hands of multi-award winning hotelier Chris Ong, the mansion has been beautifully and painstakingly restored, strengthened and turned into a posh boutique hotel in the city.
Similar to Ong’s other masterpieces — Muntri Mews, Seven Terraces, Muntri Residences and Muntri Grove — the Jawi Peranakan Mansion is an impressive testimony to his talent in restoring heritage mansions and turning them into fabulous hotels.
Ong’s attention to detail is apparent in every nook and cranny of the Anglo Indian mansion, from the gleaming bolts to the wooden shutters to the Mughal India inspired decor and wood lattices seen all around the building in a throwback to the 19th century.
Thought has been given to the finishing to create a comfortable environment with the emphasis on Muslim design features accentuated by Mughal motifs.
“The interiors have influences of Mughal India, the Muslim period of India, and I sourced most of the antiques, furniture and finishings from India and some from Penang,” Ong said.
Large pieces of furniture that could not be sourced? Ong had them made by a local traditional carpenter who would made the roll top desks and wooden panel partitions, based on samples Ong provided.
A departure from his previous Baba Nyonya Peranakan work in the other hotels, the Jawi Peranakan Mansion really stands out.
The end result is a mansion that pays homage to another type of Peranakan in Penang, the Jawi Peranakan which refers to Malay-speaking Muslims of mixed South Asian and Malay ancestry.
The mansion originally had wooden lattice panels along the top for ventilation and it was this pattern that became the central theme for the mansion. The side entrance to the water feature is a latticed door and fencing. Some of the lighting casts diamond shapes on the walls and some furniture sport latticed cast-iron work.
Entering the mansion, the first thing to catch the eye is an intricately carved ancient wooden arch, fixed over the doorway. A few more of these arches are fitted perfectly to doorways in the mansion, something that Ong did not expect as he had bought these from India without measuring them.
“Yet they fitted perfectly without needing to widen the doorways and this could be due to the Anglo Indian architecture of the building,” he said.
The staircase leading up to the second floor is also another eye-catching spot with colourful, Malay-style tiles lining the steps up to a landing with a latticed-covered opening spilling patterned light on the steps.
The rooms, fully equipped with comfortable king-sized beds and modern amenities such as Bluetooth speakers and chargers for smart devices, are simply furnished with gorgeous indigo linen hand block-painted bedspreads and cushion covers complementing the entire decor.
As in all of Ong’s boutique hotels, the rooms here have plush comfy daybeds to lounge and relax in.
“I always believe in providing very comfortable places to sit on instead of stiff chairs so guests can relax in their room and listen to their own music using our Bluetooth speakers,” Ong said.
There are four family suites on the first floor and each suite has a separate loft room connected by a small wooden staircase from the main room. The family suites have separate toilets, showers and even a Victorian-style claw-footed bathtub.
There are also six mansion rooms, with one king-sized bed each, on the first and ground floor of the mansion.
“Family rooms are rather popular for Asian travellers and those who travel in groups and due to the high ceilings, I built the lofts so that we can have four family rooms here,” he added. Each family room can comfortably fit four adults.
Though the main hotel building was completed early this year, construction is still ongoing for an accompanying restaurant on an open space next to it. This is located next to the mansion and behind a row of pre-war shophouses that Ong is also restoring at this moment.
Ong has taken a long lease for the open space and the shophouses with the intention of adding more rooms in the shophouses. He will also rent out some units.
“The restaurant will serve new concept food such as modern Eastern food,” he said. As for the shophouses, he plans to rent the space out to traditional trades or traditional food sellers who want to modernise their trades.
The restaurant and the shophouses are expected to be ready by the third quarter of this year while the Jawi Peranakan Mansion will be opening soon.
Jawi Peranakan Mansion
153, Jalan Hutton, 10050 George Town, Penang
Tel: 04-218 9858
