Transfer of Development Right (TDR) as a Tool in Heritage Building Conservation in Kuala Lumpur

Abstract

Heritage buildings are significanct forms and elements of a city. Preservation of these buildings is important for its historical values and knowledge for future generations. In the developing country like Malaysia, particularly in the city of Kuala Lumpur, where rapid development is progressing, these heritage buildings are facing the threat of being demolished. The existence of legislations, the latest being the G. O. Malaysia, National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645), 2011, seems not to be effective in curbing the demolition of these kinds of structures. The legislation has succeeded in preserving government-owned buildings but not the private-owned buildings. There are imbalances between the economic development and the heritage preservation. It is believed that the lack of awareness of the buildings’ significance, the lack of incentive to encourage conservation, and the lack of options the heritage building owners could choose in developing their sites contribute to the factor of the disappearing of these invaluable urban fabrics. The aim of this chapter is to study the transfer development rights (TDR) potential which might be used for heritage buildings in Kuala Lumpur. This chapter dwells into the problem by seeking information on awareness and feedbacks in regard to heritage matters from the people involved in the city planning and development as well as the heritage building owners. Subsequently, the study looks into the transfer of development rights (TDR), an incentive program, as a tool used in conservation of heritage buildings. All information was obtained through questionnaires requiring respondent’s opinions and feedbacks to the related matters. It is suggested that the TDR program can be utilized by the heritage building owners as an option to balance the economic and preservation needs and thus, preserving the heritage and historical building in Kuala Lumpur.