Marking a memorable milestone in the island’s conservation efforts, Penang’s Cheong Fatt Tze, also known as The Blue Mansion, offers a unique opportunity to experience George Town’s living heritage. In recent years it has become a destination for a boutique stay combining old-world grandeur with modern-day conveniences. And just as travel is opening up again, the team behind the Cheong Fatt Tze has unveiled The Town Houses by The Blue Mansion.
The stylishly restored townhouses are named Zhang and Tjong, which are versions of the Cheong surname, depending on the dialect. Taking just over two years to complete, the team was inspired by The Blue Mansion with its principles of minimal touch conservation and the belief in the ‘energies of a house.’
Appropriate to their rustic envelopes, the townhouses are populated with furniture that was upcycled from existing furniture in the family—with dining tables and benches built out of the salvaged timber on site and raw planks on concrete at the front of the house repurposed as benches. As one of the fundamental design decisions, the team decided to have an unobstructed flow (of air and energy) throughout the space. This was evident in Zhang, where the bathroom was moved upstairs, creating a large modern open bathroom with a large bathtub and spacious vanity.
For more information on our range of exceptional arts & culture experiences available in Penang, explore our interactive Malaysia ebook.
