It has been said that the growth of most towns is focused around its market. This is true of Taiping town, where the main wet market is located the centre of the town. Actually, the market is divided into two sections. The two sections are separated by Jalan Kota. The older section was built in 1884 and it stretches from Jalan Taming Sari (Main Road) to Jalan Kota, while the newer section of the market was built in 1885 and it stretched from Jalan Kota to Jalan Panggung Wayang. The Wet Market has a north-south orientation. The structure of the market was constructed in such a way that it harnesses the morning breeze that blows down from the Larut Hills and the evening breeze from the Matang / Kuala Sepetang coast. Being designed in such a manner, it is very well ventilated and the inside is always cool throughout the day.
This is a scaled-down cross-sectional model of the Wet Market constructed by Teoh Chee Keong's students from UCSI. The wet market was built in 1884. The original market measures 220 feet by 60 feet. As can been seen here, the sides and front of the market are opened, without walls to allow are to flow in and out. Hot air will rise up the high roof and escape through the louvres. This is a very efficient way of cooling the place.
The older section of the wet market as it is today. Fresh fish, vegetables and fruits are sold in this section of the wet market
The mutton, beef and chicken market.
Another view of the newer section of the market (the one with the brown roof) where mutton, beef and chickens are sold.
A picture of the ceiling of the wet market. It can be seen clearly that the windows at the top allow light into the market and the louvres allow hot air to escape that ventilation system is ideal for a tropical town market like this one.
Teoh Chee Keong from UCSI (in red T-shirt) together with a local reseacher, Lee Eng Kew, conducted a Taiping Heritage Trail on 11 March 2012 with a visit to the market where he explained the finer details of the unique design of the building and thus must be preserved as it is an invaluable heritage to the people of Taiping. Listening attentively was a crowd of concerned citizens.
Another cross-sectional model of the market. This is the model of the section which sells pork. This section was built later and was attached to back of the old market.
The marble-top tables at the pork market looked clean and tidy even though the market is more than a hundred years old. As a matter of fact, the marble tops were imported from Italy and still look as new as ever. It was a Sunday, and so the stalls were empty.
In his talk on "People of the Market" - Teoh Chee Keong introduced Loo Peng Wah, a third generation pork seller at the market and allowed him to tell his own story.
Model of "Siang-Malam"
The section of the market which is known as the "Siang-Malam".
This is the model of the section which is attached to the mutton, beef and chicken section. It faces Jalan Kota and is more popularly known as "siang-malam" meaning "day and night." There will be activities there day and night. By day there are roast pork stalls and stalls selling mee and curry power. By night, it's hawker food stalls. This is also the place where the infamous 'rain betting' was once carried out.
When the wet market was finally ready and functioning, shop houses, like this one above, began to sprout up around it. The market has always been the centre of activities and is indeed a catalyst to the growth of the town. It is an important centre for social and cultural interaction. Any attempt to relocate the wet market to the outskirt would not be wise for it will make Taiping not only lose one of its most important heritage buildings but also lose its very character and identity.
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