The heritage marker is made from metal that has been given a bronze colour.  This is to pay tribute to the many foundries, blacksmith shops and coppersmith shops that used to be found in Kampong Gelam. These businesses, owned by Javanese, Hokkiens and the Teochew craftsmen, were located along Sultan Gate, Pahang Street and lower half of Bussorah Street (which used to be known as Kampong Tembaga or Copper Village).

The text, archival photos and maps will be held within a framed border at the top and bottom of the marker.  The border design is formed by juxtapositioning the architectural elements and features of buildings in Kampong Gelam – such as the geometric design of the minaret of Sultan Mosque and the air ventilation vents of the shophouses found within the precinct.  The over 600 shophouses in Kampong Gelam used to be owned by merchants and traders from many nationalities.  As a result, Kampong Gelam had been home to many communities from the Malay Archipelago, India, Middle East, China and even Europe. Placing these elements side by side, creates a synergy that complements each other, and reflects the diverse communities that has pre-existed in Kampong Gelam living in harmony as a cohesive society for many generations.

All the design elements are given a golden outline to accentuate some of the aesthetics and features to pay tribute to the fact that the area was once part of a royal citadel or kota raja. The motif at the top centre of the marker has also been uniquely designed to be sensitive to the nuances of Malay art, customs and tradition. It is made of four (4) elements – the butterfly, the ‘itik sekawan’ motif, the colours and the typeface.

The butterfly (rama-rama)

The initials of Kampong Gelam; letters K and G; was stylised to resemble the butterfly wings. The butterfly becomes the icon or the messenger of the stories and plays an important role in bringing the visual identity together.

In Malay culture it is believed that when a butterfly flies into someone’s house, it is a sign that there will be guests / friends / relatives from far visiting with good news in the near future.  Incorporating this into the logo design and branding connotes a metaphorical welcome to visitors from all over the world to Kampong Gelam.

The butterfly also symbolises prosperity, harmony and ever-evolving which suits Kampong Gelam area perfectly as it is a place where people from different parts of the world come and settle down. Through the years, the diverse communities and their businesses helped to make Kampong Gelam as one of the prominent commercial sites of its time.  Today, they have left their mark in different ways, from the buildings in the area and long-time businesses to vernacular place names. Even in the fast-changing environment, Kampong Gelam managed to retain its charm and vibrancy that constantly attracts visitors from around the world like how it used to be due to the spirit of the people that make up the community.  

The ‘Itik Sekawan’ motif

The motif is widely used in traditional Malay crafts such as weaving, wood carving, metal works etc. It depicts the behaviour of the duck that always walk together in line. This quality became a lesson for the people about the meaning of life where everybody walk together hand in hand in harmony. By incorporating the motif into the identity, it strongly resonates about the diverse groups of people who used to live at Kampong Gelam in a peaceful manner. This way of life continues until today with the various businesses thriving alongside each other as the living testament.

Colours

A duo-tone colour combination was chosen to retain the simplicity. Copper / bronze is used as the primary colour as copper / bronze material was traditionally used in everyday household items in a Malay house as well as to signify the many blacksmiths that once called Sultan Gate home. It is also considered a colour of the Royalty / Sultan, who once resided at the palace that is now known as Malay Heritage Centre.

Typeface

Referencing the Jawi typography, the shape of the letters K and G was stylised to emulate the curvy forms of ‘kaf ’ and ‘gaf ’. The dot of the ‘gaf ’ was also incorporated into the brandmark to give a finishing touch to the identity.  This approach also pays tribute to the legacy of Kampong Gelam that used to be the printing and publishing hub, as well as the creative and intellectual heart for the Malay world.