Spiral Staircases in George Town, Penang

George Town is the capital of Penang and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As well as being home to some of the finest colonial-era architecture in Southeast Asia, the city abounds with heritage features, including several beautifully-preserved spiral staircases.

This article takes a look at spiral staircases in five locations in George Town, Penang, ranging from period pieces to contemporary examples which, while less impressive than their older counterparts, are still interesting and worthy of mention.

Spiral Staircases in Penang MacAlister Mansion

Imagine waking up one morning and finding a spiral staircase in your bedroom. Well, that's exactly what happens to guests staying in suite 4 at Penang's MacAlister Mansion hotel. Made from galvanized iron, the staircase is an authentic period feature designed to offer access to a turret on the building's roof. It was retained when the hotel (formerly a sprawling colonial-era mansion that had suffered years of neglect) was rehabilitated and converted into the award-winning boutique residence it is today.

The MacAlister Mansion is an eclectic fusion of old and modern, and some decidedly quirky installation art. It's far from cheap but its eight, all-unique guestrooms are often fully booked. The hotel is especially popular with wealthy locals who use it as a venue for weddings, functions and private parties.

The hotel's turret, which the spiral staircase in suite 4 winds its way up to, is shown below. As with most of the hotel's original features, it was impeccably restored by the Singaporean team that oversaw the building's transformation from its previous dilapidated state to a byword for luxury in Penang.

Spiral Staircases in Penang The House of Yeap Chor Ee

Yeap Chor Ee was a Chinese immigrant who arrived in Penang in 1885 and began working as an itinerant barber. Five years later he opened a small shop selling provisions imported by the British, and shortly after formed a partnership with a wealthy sugar merchant from Java – a position that enabled him to dominate much of Malaysia's sugar market. He eventually moved into banking and became one of the richest men in Penang.

Yeap Chor Ee's first privately-owned home was a shophouse in Lebuh Penang, George Town. It fell into disrepair after being abandoned during the 1990s, but was restored by his family a few years later and in 2008 (the year George Town was granted UNESCO World Heritage status) re-opened as a small museum.

The centerpiece is a magnificent, cast iron spiral staircase that provides seamless access from the ground floor to the two levels above, as well as a mezzanine level added during restoration. An embossed stamp on the back of one of the upper steps indicates it was made by a Chinese foundry in Becoolen Street, Singapore, but unfortunately no date is given.

Spiral Staircases in Penang Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

A short walk from Yeap Chor Ee's former shophouse is the iconic Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (also known as the Blue Mansion), a hotel and George Town landmark whose two spiral staircases are the best known and most photographed in Penang. Both staircases were made by Walter Macfarlane & Co in Glasgow and presumably shipped to Penang sometime around the late 19th century when the mansion was being built.

Like many other grand old homes in Penang, the Blue Mansion was abandoned and left unoccupied for a long time. Photos of it in the late 1980s show how badly it had decayed and succumbed to the elements. But fortune intervened in 1990 when a group of local conservationists bought the building and spent the next few years lovingly bringing it back to life.

As well as exporting spiral staircases to Penang's Blue Mansion, Walter Macfarlane & Co shipped a fair amount of ironwork to other clients in George Town. Examples include decorative columns and fountains, ornate railings, balusters, doorway arches and rainware, and some fine old streetlamps that once lined the Esplanade.

Spiral Staircases in Penang Georgetown Mansion

This is a newish and rather unusual museum that's difficult to gather information on. It's housed in an attractive, two-storey building dating back to 1897 and located on Clarke Street – roughly a ten-minute walk from the tourist ghettos in and around George Town's Chulia Street and Love Lane. Its exhibits represent a fine collection of local antiques and heritage artifacts, all presented in pleasant, photogenic settings.

As well as displays of everyday items, kitchen utensils, furniture and dining table ensembles, the museum is home to two of the most elegant spiral staircases I'm aware of in Penang. They're both Victorian-era features but not originally part of the mansion. They were added when the building (which had been gutted by fire and reduced to a empty, roofless shell) was reconstructed and given its new lease of life as a museum.

Spiral Staircases in Penang East Indies Mansion

The East Indies Mansion in George Town's China Street is a charming boutique hotel that somehow managed to survive a demolition order in the year 2000. It was later purchased and restored by a local artist. The hotel's centerpiece is an open-air courtyard adorned with potted plants, comfortable seating and some pleasant, Chinese-themed decorative touches.

The hotel has ten suites, three of which have spiral staircases. It's a nice play to stay when in Penang; prices aren't excessive and the staff are friendly.