Muntri Mews – Hotel

Muntri Mews was the second project undertaken by Chris Ong back in 2009. Formerly, it was a communal parking for horse carriages. Under Ong’s skillful touch, the collection of Edwardian era buildings, which were in various stages of disrepair at that time, was transformed into contemporary accommodation, complete with original wooden windows, doors and roof trusses.

The Grade II heritage building was originally the mews meant for the row of grand terrace houses built along the street during an era of affluence. The rooms upstairs were originally built as quarters for drivers and syce at that time. The long verandah that connected the rooms had remained, lending a feel of communal living amongst the workers during that period. This led to a common set of bathroom and kitchen that serviced the people that lived there.

Muntri Street is one of the oldest streets and the first sub-divisions outside the original settlement that was bordered by Pitt Street. It was the first middle-class housing development built in the late 19th century sometime between 1880 and 1900. The road was named after the former Menteri of Larut, Ngah Ibrahim, in which Menteri was spelled as Muntri.

The architectural style of most of the buildings was Straits Eclectic. These terraced houses were larger and had a feeling of grandeur. They were not used as places for business on the ground floor and living quarters on the upper floor. Instead, these were grand homes at the height of the Peranakan period. These houses featured imported tiles, cast iron lacework from the UK, ornately carved, gilded doors and screens from China, a sign of the owners’ prosperity.

Early regional and provincial associations, guild and trade halls were also clustered around this area with a Mazu Temple at one end and the Goddess of Mercy Temple at the other end.