IN what is believed to be one of the first heritage landmarks in Penang to be restored through a fully private sector initiative, Logan Heritage stands proudly in the busy Beach Street in George Town.
The classy neoclassical commercial structure, which reopened to the public in December 2010 after an intensive year of restoration, was formerly a symbol of hope and justice in the mid-19th century.
According to Ken Lim (pic), a business executive for Tec Century Sdn Bhd who is currently the building’s property manager, the historical structure used to be occupied by a lawyer named James Richardson Logan in the 1800s.
“A lot of people from China and India were over to Malaya during that era to find work and there was no one to defend them or fight their cases when trouble occurred.
“It was Logan who stepped up to represent many of them,” he said in an interview.
Lim said the century-and-a-half-year-old structure, which was known as Logan’s Buildings in the past, contained an inner courtyard and was originally three stories tall.
“The building was damaged during the Second World War when the Japanese dropped a bomb near Union Street.
“It was later rebuilt into a two-storey building,” he said.
On the restoration of Logan Heritage, Lim said the original structure of the clay and sea sand building had been retained.
“The condition of the structure was quite bad. We had a big tree growing out of one side of the building while the timber flooring needed a lot of attention.
He added that the restoration project had cost RM6.8mil with building owner OCBC Bank forking out RM5mil and Tec Century footing the RM1.8mil balance.
The restoration also won firm y.Architects Sdn Bhd a Mention in the PAM (Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia) Awards 2010 in the Conservation Buildings category.
Logan Heritage, along with the neighbouring century-old Whiteaways Arcade, is among the many heritage sites that will be passed by non-competition Starwalkers in a new 6km route this year.
Other sites include the Acheen Street Malay Mosque, the Clan Jetties, Tan Kongsi, Wisma Yeap Chor Ee, Customs Building (formerly Malayan Railway Building) and Pinang Peranakan Mansion.
Penang Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas will flag off Penang Starwalk at Birch House, Penang Times Square, at 6.30am on Sept 17, a replacement public holiday for Malaysia Day that falls on Sunday. - The Star
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