Relau
villa | 1925-1930's
The Relau villa was a 1930's summer get away for Chung
Thye Phin, the son of the wealthy tin miner Chung Keng Quee.
The villa was constructed by noted Penang architect, B.H.Ung.
The original grounds of the villa were landscaped with gardens,
orchards and ponds.
The villa itself looks some what like a Roman villa with its
central fresh water swimming pool, a first in fact for Penang
at the time.
The roof of the villa has long since collapsed but the original
Corinthian columns still stand proud, pointing to the sky,
in fact just like a Roman ruin. The quality of these columns
with the detailing of the capital section and their foliated
motifs is of high quality.
Today the villa sits amongst modern high rise flats and there's
even a public park nearby.
The interiors of some of the rooms have become dumping grounds
for junk, piles of clothes are strewn everywhere.
Unfortunately tales of hauntings hang over this site giving
it a more sinister reputation than that of a historic site
of interest. Of course in any other setting this villa could
be preserved and even incorporated into the park next door,
but with its alleged dark reputation and the suggestive effect
of it on the populace, I think it would be difficult.
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