Moon Tree 47 | Penang Backbacker Hostel

A Short Escape and Comfort Stay in PENANG!

Moon Tree 47 hotel is a shophouse in Jalan Muntri, Penang, UNESCO World heritage Site.
In term of the architectural language, the facade of this shophouse is retained like the original mode.
The owner design an lighting fixture that integrated with the green colour louvered window at the facade in order to attract attention from the stroller around the street.

  

A shophouse having a long narrow layout. 

The front part of the building is normally the shopfront and the middle part consists of airwell for passive ventilation and lighting. The rear part of the building is consist of kitchen and washroom.

Moon Tree 47 hotel having 3 rooms at first floor level with only fan and natural wind ventilation.
One of the interesting feature of this hotel is that room 3 having a small hole on the timber floor which the old time people(girl) used to peep through it to watch the guest or whoever who come and visit their house at the entrance.

In the interior space, you can actually notice there is a lot of artifacts used for decoration purpose and to create the old classical atmosphere. Some of the Black and white photos are used and it is somehow create the vintage feeling.







The bar area is the most interesting and attractive part where a lot of guest took photography here. The old artifacts and D.I.Y accessory that the owner used to decorate the wall and
recall the old time memory.

When we look into the architectural aspect of Moon Tree 47 hotel, we actually found out that this shophouse is very 'electic' style. One of the special characteristic of this hotel is that they having chimney. This is actually located at the current cafe area. It used to be a kitchen. According to the owner, this chimney can only be found at this shophouse ( Moon Tree 47).

The hotel is restored completely without any additive renovation. Unlike other hotel which they actually install air-conditioning system which somehow destroy the originality of the shophouse itself. The used of louvered window, high ceiling, timber flooring is still remained the same which you can see from the perspective floor plan 

The other interesting space is the bathroom which recall back the grandmum age (70-80's). The mixed use of the material successfully showcase how the older people actually living in older time when they do not have appropriate skill and technique on construction. They used concrete and bricks at the lower part to withstand the water moisture and timber as post and beam to support the roofing material ( aluminium or transparent deck). Personally, I think the used of transparent deck as roofing material is not a wise choice as it is allow maximum penetration of light into the bath room during daytime especially afternoon.

They used concrete and bricks at the lower part to withstand the water moisture and timber as post and beam to support the roofing material ( aluminium or transparent deck). Personally, I think the used of transparent deck as roofing material is not a wise choice as it is allow maximum penetration of light into the bath room during daytime especially afternoon.

In a nutshell, Moon Tree hotel is very interesting and old-fashion hotel which actually provide home-warming feel for people especially foreigner. The price of the normal room (with fan) is rm80 per night whereas the room with air-conditioner is around Rm120 per night. The hotel provide Wi-fi, laundry services and also they rent bicycle at Rm20 per  day with the deposit of Rm200.

Here the group photo of me and my coursemate with the owner who used to be interior designer
at the center.
Visit their website for more info here Moon Tree 47