Sidhaarthan
Rumah Tangsi is a bright yellow heritage mansion in Kuala Lumpur. It was commissioned in 1903 for businessman Loke Chow Kit. It is one of the sites the Warisan KL initiative lists as a landmark.
In addition, leaders have dined there. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hosted Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at dinner on 6 January 2025. He hosted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at lunch on 9 January.
Here is the mansion’s history, its 2017 restoration and how to visit. However, opening hours change with each event. Therefore, check the Rumah Tangsi Instagram page before you go.
Rumah Tangsi history: Loke Chow Kit’s 1903 mansion
Loke Chow Kit commissioned the house in 1903. He lived from 1860 to 1918, according to Warisan KL. The Chow Kit district and Jalan Chow Kit carry his name. However, the family moved to Penang in 1908.
The style is Straits Eclectic, with neo-classical and Renaissance touches. The house covers 12,465 sq ft and has a central courtyard. Its encaustic floor tiles date from 1903.
The exterior is yellow and white. However, the architect is not known for certain. Warisan KL offers three theories. They include a Straits architect, W.H. Nicholas and the firm Swan & Maclaren.
“Tangsi” is the Malay word for barracks. The road was once Barrack Road. It held police barracks and an armoury. As a result, the mansion took its name from the street.
Rumah Tangsi from hotel to heritage building
After the family left, the house became a hotel. War changed its use. During the Japanese occupation, it was the Japanese Military Hotel. Afterwards, the British used it as the headquarters mess for the Second Guards Brigade.
The hotel later closed in the 1970s. Meanwhile, the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) used the building from 1973 until 2012. Moreover, it was nearly demolished at one point.
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City Hall (DBKL) took the building back in 2012. It listed the house as a heritage building and renamed it Rumah Tangsi. Conservation followed. It ran from 2014 to 2017.
Crews removed steel floor plates and hidden wiring. In addition, they put timber floors back in place. Some roof tiles came from a 1960s school. However, we found no restoration cost in the sources.
Rumah Tangsi today: events, address and how to visit
DBKL and Seetizens Lab run the house as an events space. It hosts bazaars, weddings, corporate events and cultural shows. Specifically, Warisan KL says more than 200 artistic and cultural events have been held since the restoration. That count was given in May 2025.
The address is 10 Jalan Tangsi, Taman Tasik Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Parking is at the Dataran Merdeka underground car park. Alternatively, take the LRT to Masjid Jamek and walk about ten minutes.
Entry rules and hours vary by event. Likewise, many public programmes are free, according to one visitor guide. The house posts its events on Instagram at @rumahtangsi. Check there for dates.
Warisan KL was launched in April 2025 by Anwar. In short, Rumah Tangsi shows what that heritage push can look like in practice. Its landmark list names more than 500 heritage shophouses, colonial landmarks and post-Merdeka icons.
Amirull Salihing
Yalinie Mathan
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