Cover The light-filled, clutter-free spaces of P.66
The light-filled, clutter-free spaces of P.66
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How a heritage shophouse in George Town is transformed into a modern retail-café space that celebrates mindfulness and Malaysian craftsmanship
Along the bustling Campbell Street in the heart of George Town, Penang’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, P.66 is a unique establishment that marries retail, café culture, and the art of journalling, inviting visitors to slow down in a world that rarely does.
Founded by Dennie Yeap and designed by Studio Eleven, every element in the light-filled, clutter-free spaces has been carefully orchestrated to navigate the delicate balance between preservation of the traditional Malayan shophouse and modernisation for a contemporary sanctuary.
Read more: 7 heritage-inspired boutique stays in Penang, Malaysia
Tatler Homes sat down with Yeap and Neoh Kim Hin of Studio Eleven to explore the design journey behind P.66—from its international inspiration to the intricate challenges of reimagining a heritage space for modern sensibilities.
What inspired the establishment of P.66?
Many years ago, we visited the Traveler’s Factory at Nakameguro, a specialty store for Traveler’s Notebook (TN) users. We love how they serve coffee inside the store, and when we went upstairs, we were pleasantly surprised by the large table with seating for customers to journal. The whole building seemed to work cohesively as one to provide a wholesome experience. That visit changed our perception of a retail store and laid the foundation of our dreams to start P.66.
See also: Crafting Memories: The art and therapy of scrapbook journaling with Tercia Goh
P.66’s store design illustrates the brand values of “slow living”
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What’s the inspiration or vision behind the store’s physical design?
The design draws inspiration from the existing features of the shophouse itself. For instance, we took advantage of the length of the property to create layered spaces with different sections, each offering something different as you progress from the entrance to the rear of the property.
Some additional touches done by the previous owners [of Writer Store] were retained intentionally. We also recreated a metal-grilled pattern for the new entrance door that’s reminiscent of those from the past—a gesture in preserving some of the history of those who lived here long before the store was founded.
Don’t miss: Malayan shophouses: The architectural heritage of Singapore and Malaysia
Above The rich natural hues of Nyatoh timber
Above The silo-shaped changing rooms
The rich natural hues of Nyatoh timber
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What elements were most important in creating the store’s laidback atmosphere?
An interplay of space and light to accommodate the flow and aid discovery naturally was essential. All these sections share a similar curved design—the arched doorways, circular display benches, silo-shaped changing rooms, as well as the smaller detailing for the customised furniture.
In addition to the reprisal of the curved elements, the colour scheme of the internal space took cues from the rich natural hues of Nyatoh timber from the preceding store.
Here, guests can take their time to shop [at the front of the shop], and take a breather in the cafe [toward the rear]. Whether it’s to have a cup of coffee or to sit down and do their journalling, our store design illustrates our brand values of “slow living”: take your time, don’t rush, there is beauty—sometimes hidden—all around you [waiting to be discovered].
Read more: Home tour: A designer couple’s meditative home in Selangor, Malaysia
The airy cafe space toward the rear of the property
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What were some of the challenges in modernising a traditional shophouse?
The main challenge of modernising a traditional shophouse is striking a balance between making the space relatable to contemporary settings while at the same time, retaining the authenticity and character of the shophouse itself and its storied past.
As P.66 is located in the core zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Penang, we faced specific challenges working with the authorities. We needed to maintain the integrity of the traditional shophouse elements while addressing the needs for modernisation. There are rulebooks literally as thick as an encyclopaedia that we had to follow. That being said, with time, patience, some open-mindedness, and a little bit of luck, everything is achievable.
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Credits
Photography: TWJPTO / Courtesy of Slow Life
Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.
Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.
