‘Returning Taiping’ is a documentation that was from a study done by a collaboration between University of Malaya and National University of Singapore. One of the heritage building studied was Ng Boo Bee House, which once belong to a respectable and wealthy philanthropist who contributed significantly to the development of Taiping Town.
Consist of 4 UM students and 4 NUS students, worked altogether in measuring and recording the house in every aspect. It took 10 days to measure and do a detailed on-ground research on the history and significance of the house to the Taiping community. The results were a deliberate and focused findings.
Dating back to the late 19th century, this house was built by Ng Boo Bee after a massive fire ravaged the town. Originally, this house contains inside a lush garden courtyard and occupy up to 3 shop lots, which presently is where the hardware shop and the 4-storey shop were located.
The front facade of the Ng Boo Bee house is a modest affair except for the ornamental front door. The front facade has a front door flanked with two large windows on the ground floor and windows spanning the entire length of the wall on the first floor.
The many windows in the Ng Boo Bee house take on three different looks. The original windows installed in the house are the traditional louvered windows, with sun shades. The front portion, the newest, said to be renovated in 1958, incorporate two columns of tinted glass panels to allow lights to enter and some ventilation holes on top.
Ng Boo Bee was a businessman in bricks manufacturing and timbers supply company. He was the contractor responsible for constructing the first railway in Malaya which connects Taiping and Port Weld. He was also well-known for his tin mines in Kamunting where he employed 3000 Chinese miners. Even after Ng Boo Bee’s death, his family lived a wealthy life; they traveled frequently, own branded goods and received the best education. The family’s belonging tells the story of the family’s excellence in music, sports and academic.
