Food is a key part of all cultures, a major element of global, intangible heritage and an increasingly important attraction for tourists. It has a huge impact on the Architecture of food enterprises as well as the experience of food consummation. Located perpendicular to Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Alor, jalan Changkat is well-known for its charming pre-war, colonial buildings which have been converted into an international potpourri of upmarket restaurants and pubs, some of which transform into vibrant nightspots as night falls. The most significant facet of Jalan Changkat is its cultural diversity, which is not surprising considering that KL is a melting pot of tourists and locals. There are contemporary upmarket pubs and restaurants, most of which serving western and middle eastern food. There are also several numbers of Middle- eastern, Asian, and local cuisine (such as the mamak stall, an indian-muslim restaurant that serves authentic Malaysian food and drinks such as roti canai, mee goreng, nasi kandar etc.) which encourages this investigation on the impact of the diversity of people and how it has affected the characteristics of the area, be it food, culture and architecture.

 

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The objective of this research paper is to identify the diversity of architecture in Jalan Changkat that provides different experiences in food consummation, influenced by the different demographics (such as tourists, migrants living in Kuala Lumpur and locals) and how it has significantly revolutionized the food available in the area and the styles of architecture. Some of the popular bar’s in the area include Al cerdo bar, Opium, Havana, the whisky bar and many more. Restaurants include Ciccio Pasticcio Bar & Pizzeria, thai somtam seafood, Japanese daikanyama restaurant etc.. which proves the vast diversity of cultural merge that is occurring in changkat, where cuisine and food lovers of all cultures dwell around the clock on every day of the week, especially weekends. Tourists are increasingly seeking local, authentic and novel food experiences linked to the places they visit. This has therefore shaped the way locals and tourists perceive this street, as an area that offers a rich diversity of cuisines and experiences and somehow co-exist in a mutual understanding between the different cultures of restaurants, united by one common purpose of food intake and socializing.

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Addressing the Questions above, the Research will be carried out via both quantitative and qualitative survey of tourist consumer’s perception of place and dining on site, as well as through a first hand experience of the architecture and relationship to the cuisine of Jalan Changkat. I have chosen to study and investigate this aspect as it a milestone in food culture where tourism of Malaysia is promoted significantly and has become a landmark street for socializing and food intake. This is to be done through several methods of observation, such as recording the different architectural styles of the restaurants as well as mapping out the spatial planning of certain bars and restaurants which alter the experiences in food consummation delivered. Also, interviewing restaurant workers, especially migrants from foreign countries, on why they chose to locate their restaurant along these roads and if the nightlife impacted their decision.

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The desired outcome of this research is to understand and analyse the relationship between the people representing different demographics in changkat and to gain a deeper understanding about why many migrants and locals alike have chosen this destination to open up their restaurants, café’s and pubs in the area. The final conclusion will help me in answering the question of whether the diversity of food and culture has made a significant impact on the genius loci of Jalan Changkat in terms of cuisine and architecture, and the relationship between the two.

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