Gan keen on preserving history of heritage buildings

WHAT happens when you appoint a history buff as hotel manager of The Heritage Station Hotel? Obviously, one would expect a lot of digging around and sure enough, Lloyd Gan, 36, has already amassed a few folders of old documents and photographs since he joined the management team in March 2008.

According to Gan, the purpose of this history project was to collect as much data as he could and to table the results of his findings to the public. So far, Gan’s focus has fallen on the late Arthur Benison Hubback, who was the appointed architect for the Federated Malay States from mid 1800s to 1909.

Big collection: Gan and Rosli looking through documents and pictures for their history project

Hubback’s work included Masjid Jamek Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and Gan’s workplace, which was completed in 1910. Obtaining some of the original documents and photocopying them has taken Gan to the United Kingdom to meet Hubback’s daughter, Yvonne, now 95. Most of the research work was personally borne by Gan who has spent close to RM14,000 thus far.

“What started me on this project was my experience of working with the Angkor Star hotel in Siem Riep, Cambodia, before joining The Heritage Station Hotel. The Angkor Wat was only 15 minutes’ drive from us and I was touched by the people’s reverence for the place although there was not much left of these ancient city ruins. It made me think of our own heritage buildings and realised that they too are standing monuments of history,” said Gan.

Ancient: The Heritage Station Hotel¿s 100-year-old lift.

His interest was further stoked when he was approached by architecture students and Arch Collection, a local premium gifts supplier, to provide information on the building where he worked.

“That was when I discovered that that was a huge lack of accurate information. Even the name ‘Hubback’ was constantly spelt ‘Hubbock’ which was wrong,” said Gan who had it clarified with Yvonne when he met her in UK in August.

What spurred Gan for the task is the firm belief that every building has a story to tell.

“I hope that my efforts will act as a community model for others to follow suit. I believe that we should do something about documenting the history of not only old buildings but new ones as well, before it is too late. Imagine, another 100 years from now, KLCC will become a heritage building and I foresee that the future generation would also like to know what took place in there and who came and went,” said Gan.

He also pointed out that old buildings possessed a charm which reminds one of the olden days.

Grand: The wooden staircase leading to the hotel rooftop.

“Some features, like the lift, timber staircases and the architecture of The Heritage Hotel for instance, are unique and can no longer be seen in modern buildings,” Gan said.

In addition to official records, Gan also pointed out that it was always interesting to gain personal knowledge on the people behind these stately structures. For example, Gan pointed out that Arthur also had a brother, Theodore, a big game hunter who later traded his guns for wildlife photography. Tragically, Theodore’s life ended under mysterious circumstances and his unmarked grave is believed to be somewhere in the jungles of Pahang.

As for Arthur himself, Gan found out from Yvonne that the famous architect was rather straight-forward and direct. This was in contrast to Theodore who was suave and diplomatic.

The final outcome for Gan’s history project, for which he has the assistance of another colleague, Rosli Mohamad, 42, will be displayed in a blog in the future.

Meanwhile, Gan is appealing for volunteers and funding to ensure the project’s continuity.

For enquiries, call 019-244 5357 (Gan) or check out his blog at thehubbacks.org.