Long before Kuala Lumpur rose into a city of glass and steel, Jalan Tun Perak was the city’s lifeline-alive with colour, chatter and the hum of small traders. In the 1960s, this historic stretch was a tapestry of textile shops, trams clattering past colonial facades and family-run businesses where every corner told a story. Just off the main road, on Klyne Street, a modest textile store stood quietly, woven into the everyday life of a city finding its feet.
As the capital evolved, so did that shop. In 1991, it was transformed into the Oriental Bank-a stately presence amid the financial buzz of a modernising Malaysia. At its peak, Jalan Tun Perak was the beating heart of the country’s banking district, lined with towering institutions and the confidence of a city on the rise.
Later, the same space became home to various YTL business divisions. It served as a centre of operations during a period of rapid growth and ambition. And though the teams eventually moved on, the building remained, waiting quietly for its next chapter.
Today, that same structure has been reimagined once more. Now known as Moxy Kuala Lumpur Chinatown, it is a bold and modern lifestyle hotel that honours its past whilst embracing the future. The transformation goes beyond aesthetics. It reflects YTL Construction’s belief in building responsibly-not by starting from scratch, but by rethinking what already stands. Through adaptive reuse, existing spaces are given new purpose, reducing waste, preserving history and creating something meaningful for future generations.
The project retained the building’s original structural frame, preserving major elements such as columns and slabs. Existing fittings were carefully removed and replaced with high-performance materials selected for durability and environmental responsibility. As part of initiatives to decarbonise the old building, the mechanical and electrical systems were completely replaced, ensuring efficient operational energy use and to support long-term resource conservation. To encourage cleaner mobility, electric vehicle (EV) chargers were also installed in the basement car park, aligning with broader goals for sustainable transport infrastructure. To maximise the building’s potential without altering its structural footprint, a few new floor slabs were added, increasing the internal Gross Floor Area (GFA). The facade on Levels 1-3 was reconstructed using glass blocks, introducing more natural light whilst giving the building a clean, contemporary presence at street level.
The transformation was not without its challenges. The original architectural drawings were hand-drafted and, after decades of renovations, no longer aligned with on-site conditions. The project team relied on Building Information Modelling (BIM) to digitally recreate the structure in 3D, enabling better planning, coordination and problem-solving. Located along one of Kuala Lumpur’s busiest roads, the site also required heightened safety protocols to protect pedestrians and ensure minimal disruption to the surrounding community.
Despite the complexity, the hotel was completed within just 12 months-roughly half the time typically required for a new build. The speed of delivery, combined with a low-impact construction footprint, underscores the power of adaptive reuse as a sustainable development strategy.
The project also preserved a signature feature of the building’s history: the original bank vault doors in the basement. Rather than discarding them, the design team incorporated the vault into the identity of a new bar, now known as Lavantha. This thoughtful gesture creates a direct connection to the building’s past, allowing guests to experience a space that holds layers of history within its walls.
Beyond its physical transformation, Moxy Kuala Lumpur Chinatown was designed as a journey through time-a space that invites guests to rediscover the past through immersive, memory-rich design. The vibrant ground floor, which once welcomed visitors as part of a bustling commercial space, has been reimagined as a buzzing communal hub inspired by Kuala Lumpur’s old marketplaces. References to vinyl records, traditional Malaysian games and local memorabilia capture the spirit of the 1960s to 1980s, whilst a wall of antique signage and family photographs invites personal reflection. Even the grab-and-go snack counter offers a nostalgic touch, stocked with classic treats familiar to generations of Malaysians.
Up on Level 2, a quiet zone offers a gentle contrast to the bustle below-a peaceful sanctuary that echoes the calm and assurance once associated with institutions of the past. The breakfast area has been styled like a traditional kopitiam, featuring natural materials, vintage furnishings and familiar textures that evoke the comfort of home. The experience is further enriched by commissioned artworks from local artists, thoughtfully embedding the hotel within Malaysia’s creative and cultural fabric.
One of the most memorable features of the hotel today is its poolside. Now home to Bar Moxy, it offers sweeping views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline and a lively, social atmosphere high above the historic streets of Chinatown. This elevated space adds a refreshing dimension to the hotel experience, reflecting just how far the building has come-from a traditional commercial property to a destination designed for connection, relaxation and discovery.
Today, Moxy Kuala Lumpur Chinatown sits proudly in the heart of the city’s heritage quarter, surrounded by revitalised landmarks, public art and other boutique properties. Since opening, it has been well received by both local and international guests-many of whom remark on the design’s immersive quality, nostalgic charm and thoughtful attention to detail.
At YTL Construction, their commitment to sustainability goes beyond checklists and compliance. It is embedded in the way they approach design, construction and legacy. Moxy Kuala Lumpur Chinatown demonstrates that when YTL Construction chooses to reuse, respect history and design with care, they do more than build.
“This project was never about building bigger. It was about building smarter-respecting the structure that was already there and finding ways to honour the past whilst quietly improving the future. Adaptive reuse allowed us to tell a deeper story-not just of a building, but of the city around it.”
-Tsen Yeoh, Design Director at YTL Construction