THE SHINS OF PETALING STREET
ON A MISSION TO POUR THEIR HEART AND SOULS INTO REVITALISING PETALING STREET, ARCHITECT DUO SHIN TSENG AND SHIN CHANG REVEAL HOW REXKL IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THEIR BIGGER PLANS, WRITES NASEEM RANDHAWA.
Architect duo Shin Tseng and Shin Chang reveal how REXKL is only the beginning of bigger plans to revitalise Petaling Street
WITH THE SAME FIRST NAMES, SIMILAR HAIRSTYLES, SIMPLISTIC FASHION SENSE, AND DISCREET PERSONAS, IT’S NO WONDER SHIN TSENG AND SHIN CHANG OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS REXKL GET MISTAKEN FOR BROTHERS ALMOST ALL THE TIME.
“Yes, we’re The Shins and we’re also a band,” jokes Shin Tseng, who explains that both their surnames have different Chinese pronunciations. However, they don’t mind the comparison much if it means their presence brings the REXKL name to the forefront of everyone’s mind.
A historical landmark that has been around since the ‘40s, The Rex – as it was formerly known – was the spot where KL-ites frequented as a bustling trading hub. It then became an iconic cinema which screened blockbuster Hollywood films like Jurassic Park and Star Wars, before eventually facing a reputational decline when it turned into a questionable backpacker hostel and migrant housing complex.
Surviving two major fires, the building never seemed to want to say farewell to its heydays. Breathing new life into its surrounding areas, the revamped and aesthetically pleasing REXKL of today strives to be more iconic than ever as a contemporary multi-space institution hosting events, markets, F&B establishments, and even an art space.
Being the two out of seven partners who co-founded REXKL in late 2018, Shin Tseng and Shin Chang inconspicuously became the faces of the establishment’s reincarnation.
“Out of the seven they are actually four architects in total. The other two are Ng Sek San and Kamil Merican, who are also the early investors, and most importantly the mentors and advisors to REXKL, lending their experiences from the Kong Heng development in Ipoh,” says Shin Tseng.
Running as a social startup towards a creative urban development, Shin Tseng and Shin Chang had to roll their sleeves up to remodel REXKL from scratch, splitting tasks from design and build, marketing, F&B operations, to retail and event management.
“We are learning as we go,” says Shin Tseng. “There are new skills we need to quickly acquire every few weeks to get the place going, but at least we are our own clients, realising the business model we used to preach in our architectural thesis.”
This flourishing partnership started with the two architects’ first meeting in Petaling Street and found that they shared the same sentiments in revitalising old yet historical structures that had great potential.
Malacca-born Shin Tseng recounts his childhood surrounded by heritage buildings, but it was only after spending time studying and working abroad in London, Hong Kong, Melbourne, and then the United States, he eventually realised the boundless potential Malaysia had to offer.
“Growing up, Wawasan 2020 was all about taking the old and making new narratives out of it for the nation. That was the reason I got into architecture and the vision of building a new country,” reflects Shin Tseng.
Shin Chang on the other hand studied architecture in the University of Melbourne, but attributes his current perspective to his father who worked as a contractor.
“WE FORESEE REXKL AS OUR FIRST AND CONSTANTLY EVOLVING PROJECT FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.”
Shin Tseng
“ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS WORKING ON REXKL IS THAT IT MADE US THINK ABOUT PETALING STREET AS A WHOLE AND HOW IT HAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL TO KEEP GROWING.”
Shin Chang
“He is the reason I got into architecture. I grew up in the Jalan Raja Laut area, and similar to these times, the economy back then wasn’t so great. My father started a kopitiam and used to bring me to the area every night,” says Shin Chang.
“It was then I realised that KL constantly needs new ideas and change to stay relevant, or else people would easily tire of the same old thing. So when Shin Tseng came along with a similar vision, we recognised that it was a good opportunity for us to revitalise the Petaling Street part of the city.”
Shin Tseng and Shin Chang run their private design firms, Urban Agenda Design and Mentah Matter, respectively, but come together to work on REXKL projects. Both have also been dabbling in the F&B sector with their individual ventures.
Shin Tseng and his father co-own the renowned Geographer Café in Malacca, but most of his time is spent on urban planning and architectural projects from conceptualising urban transit-oriented-developments in the region, contemporary residential developments, to the upcoming premium supermarket, Qra, as well as several lifestyle developments. He also runs ST/ARCH, where he expresses his design philosophy through smaller projects and art installations.
Shin Chang is the investor/co-owner of several hip restaurant-bars in KL such as Chocha Foodstore, Joloko, and the fairly new Licky Chan ice cream parlour that his Mentah Matter firm also designed.
Clearly, it doesn’t take a genius to see that the synergy and experience between their two areas of focus is perhaps the secret behind REXKL’s recipe of success.
“I have actually been turning down a lot of other projects to focus more on growing REXKL,” says Shin Chang. “When it first opened, it was doing really well and was the place to be. With the implementation of several Movement Control Orders, a lot of changes have taken place, so we have to constantly evolve with it,” he adds.
Despite the pandemic related challenges, the duo still managed to keep the momentum going and introduced two new additions to REXKL.
The first is the floor to ceiling 6,000 sqft spanning, mazelike bookstore, BookXcess, launched in May 2021 as part of REXKL’s second rejuvenation phase.
While there was always a food court on the ground floor of REXKL, the rebranding of it to The Back Ground early this year, is a community driven initiative in creating an all-day dining marketplace that seeks to curate a wholesome foodie experience for everyone.
Among the exciting F&B establishments one can find upon their visit to The Back Ground, is Flaah Flaah Flaaah Bakery, Phil’s Pizza, Pastalah, Barbacoa (barbequed meals), Lauk Pauk (plant-based Malaysian warung), Hey Peach by Parklife (fruit and vegetable based) Ticklish Ribs & ‘Wiches (pork ribs), Fake Bro Real Pork (roast pork), Stellar (coffee roasters), PURO (natural wines) and The REX bar, which offers artisanal crafts beers, tuak on tap, and a variety of cocktails.
“Situation-willing, we are looking to officially launch The Back Ground sometime this June,” says Shin Tseng.
“We foresee REXKL as our first and constantly evolving project for the next 10 years,” he adds.
The duo are also looking outward, particularly at changing the perception of the area branded as Chinatown. With a nickname they feel is untruthful to its actual history, Shin Tseng and Shin Chang aim to revamp it into a scene that is more open and inclusive for all Malaysians.
“We plan on looking at Petaling Street through a wider lens. It doesn’t just stop at REXKL, and so now we’re working on several initiatives with our neighbours and creative hubs around the country,” reveals Shin Tseng.
Next on their agenda is to revitalise the neglected alley behind Chocha in Petaling Street that leads all the way up to Central Market. They plan to work with the community for more on-ground activations, more green spaces, and eventually cleanup the entire part of town.
While many attribute REXKL as the catalyst of Petaling Street’s recent transformation that’s seeing more restaurants and bars popping up in the area, Shin Tseng and Shin Chang remain modest in their views.
“Even without our involvement, there are already a lot of things happening at Petaling Street. Because of the pandemic everything is taking a longer time, yet it’s good, because everyone is adjusting and adapting, and thus giving a platform to our local talents,” says Shin Tseng.
“One of the greatest things working on REXKL is that it made us think about Petaling Street as a whole and how it has so much potential to keep growing,” adds Shin Chang.
“There is movement and people are starting to see the charm behind old buildings and the rich history our country holds.”