Newly arrived clansmen from China would need a safe place to stay, and the famously clannish Khoos would quickly offer their kin assistance, a social security blanket and access to a network of aid, without which migrant survival in a new and unknown land might be near impossible. This concept, it must be noted, was not unique to the Khoos. Other prominent Chinese families, namely those bearing the surnames Lim, Cheah, Yeoh and Tan (together, the quintet was collectively referred to as the Goh Tai Seh or Five Big Clans), also boasted their own grand kongsi (clan house), several of which may be explored today within George Town’s Unesco World Heritage zone.
Growing up as a child in one of the shophouses surrounding Penang’s awe-inspiring Khoo Kongsi has left an indelible impression on Chan Soo Khian. The celebrated architect and principal of Singapore-based multidisciplinary practice SCDA returns to the island in triumph as his latest luxury boutique hotel, Soori Penang, is unveiled.
But beyond the ornate wing-shaped ridges of the xie shan roofs or perhaps the grand staircase of the main hall, the Khoo Kongsi also comprises 62 terraced houses and shophouses. The close-knit setup and subtle defensive formation of the clan house is a throwback to bygone days when gangland wars were prevalent and public security was deemed inadequate in British-ruled 19th-century Penang.
To continue reading our premium articles,
Upgrade your subscription to as low as $8.33/month to gain unlimited access to ALL of our premium articles!
Have an account? Sign In
