Logan Heritage Building

Logan Building along Beach Street, George Town (17 July 2010)


Logan Heritage Building (GPS: 5.41833, 100.34286) is a two-storey block of shops fronting Beach Street, between Union Street and Bishop Street in George Town. Located within the core zone of the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was completed around 1883, and was one of the properties of Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee¹.

Though built by Chung Keng Kwee, the building became known as the Logan Building because Daniel Logan, a Crown Prosecutor and Solicitor General, had his legal firm in the building.² One of the most charming - yet often overlooked feature of the Logan Heritage Building is its central arch defining a granite-paved porte-cochère, which in the old days led to a courtyard for carriages.

Logan Building, Beach & Union Streets junction, before restoration (18 June 2008)


Logan Building, Beach & Union Streets junction, after restoration (17 July 2010)


This two-storey building used to be three storeys tall (you can check old postcards!) when it was built in the 1880's. However, by the 1930's, it had become dilapidated, and was served a "dangerous building" notice. The owners, the Chung Keng Kwee Estate, brought in the architect Lim Soo Loon to renovate the building.

The result of the renovation is that the upper floor was removed. The parapet was then redesigned in the Art Deco style which was fashionable in the 1930's. Rusticated plasterwork starts from the ground floor right to the moulded cornices that underline the parapet.

Central arch and porte-cochère of Logan's Building, before restoration (12 August 2006)


Central arch and porte-cochère of Logan's Building, after restoration (17 July 2010)


Logan's Building used to house upmarket shops and offices during the British administration. Today, one corner of it belonged to Barkath Stores which closed down during the 1980's, and has remained shut till today (18 June 2008).

Update on the Logan Building

19 January, 2011

The Logan Heritage Building won the PAM Awards 2010 for Excellence in Architecture from Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia, with a Mention for Category 5 (Conservation Buildings).

Logan Heritage Building ready for occupancy. (19 January 2011)


PAM award was given to Logan Heritage Building (19 January 2011)


Interpretive board on the conservation carried out at the Logan Heritage Building. (19 January 2011)


Courtyard inside Logan Heritage Building (19 January 2011)


Water feature in the courtyard of Logan Heritage Building (19 January 2011)


Logan Heritage Building, as seen from Beach Street. (19 January 2011)


23 November 2010

Logan Building, which is now owned by OCBC Bank, will be known as the Logan Heritage following a RM6.8 million restoration project that brought it to look as good as new. The funding of the restoration includes RM5 million from OCBC Bank and RM1.8 million from TecCentury, a property management company. The building will become an arcade housing food & beverage outlets, a money changer and other retail outlets.

Union Street façade of Logan's Building (17 July 2010)


Building rechristened Logan Heritage (19 January 2011)

Getting there

The nearest bus stop is along Beach Street, a short distance from Logan Building. It is served by Rapid Penang bus CAT.

Logan Heritage Building is on the Map of Beach Street, Penang

References

1. A Guide to George Town's Historic Commercial and Civic Precincts
https://gtwhi.com.my/images/pdfs/George%20Towns%20Historic%20Commercial%20and%20Civic%20Precincts.pdf

2. Penang: Then & Now, by Marcus Langdon and Keith Hockton.