When it comes to breathing new life into old bones, few do it as elegantly as Chris Ong. The banker-turned-hotelier – whose name is synonymous with some of Penang’s most evocative heritage properties such as Muntri Mews and Seven Terraces – is back after a seven-year hiatus with his most intimate project yet: Argus Residences.
Nestled along Lorong Argus in the heart of UNESCO-listed George Town, Argus Residences is a collection of five colonial-era homes, originally built in 1928 by the Catholic Church for Penang’s Eurasian community.
Chris Ong at Argus Residences: “It’s been many years since I’ve saved and beautified buildings. This genre and style was something I hadn’t done before, and I cherished the challenge.”
Known for their distinctive surnames – Rozells, D’Almeda, Scully, Boudville – the Eurasian community in Penang is a fading one, estimated to number only around 6,000 today. But thanks to Ong’s vision, their story is being preserved in both spirit and space.
“It was a divine calling,” says Ong, of what drew him back to restoration after a long pause – his last restorations were Jawi Peranakan Mansion in 2016 and 81 Muntri in 2018. “It’s been many years since I’ve saved and beautified buildings. This genre and style was something I hadn’t done before, and I cherished the challenge.”
Ong’s instincts have always been part curator, part craftsman, and part historian. At Argus Residences, each of the five homes – around 2,000 square feet each – is a tribute to the Eurasian families who once lived there.
British and Dutch colonial touches abound, and in a nod to the Eurasians’ love of music, each home is outfitted with retro-style Marshall radio boxes, subtly tuned to nostalgia.
Modern yet respectful, the interiors reflect a creative reimagining of how these houses might have looked, had they been lived in today. British and Dutch colonial touches abound, and in a nod to the Eurasians’ love of music, each home is outfitted with retro-style Marshall radio boxes, subtly tuned to nostalgia.
“I had to hold myself back from going over the top with the interiors,” he admits with a laugh. “I wanted to keep the spirit of the houses, not just stamp them with my signature style.”
Restoration work began in May last year and culminated in a soft opening this April. Ong, whose career spans from Galle Fort in Sri Lanka to multiple Penang landmarks, found the process both familiar and foreign. “Seven years is a long time to be away. I was a bit out of touch with pricing. But now, I can enjoy the process more because I know how to overcome the unexpected.”
Fancy an outdoor bath?
Now part of the Georgetown Heritage Hotels portfolio, Argus Residences offers a different kind of stay. Unlike the richly layered, communal atmosphere of Seven Terraces, Argus is minimal, private, and tailored for longer stays or guests seeking independence. Each residence features two storeys, three bathrooms – including one outdoor – and an open-plan design. While pricing is on par with Seven Terraces suites, Ong notes that you get twice the space and a more home-like feel. “We may even add butler service if demand calls for it,” he teases.
But Ong is also clear-eyed about the challenges ahead. “The 2025 outlook is cloudy,” he says, pointing to global uncertainty and a glut of new hotel inventory in Penang. “There’s a severe oversupply of rooms and serviced apartments. We need to differentiate the true heritage boutique experience from efficient but soulless modern hotels.”
For Ong, luxury today is less about opulence, and more about space, service, and soul. “Value-driven guests will appreciate the price-per-square-foot. Absolute prices here are still low compared to global peers. Individualised service – that’s the new luxury.”
As for what he looks forward to in the coming year? The answer is simple and heartfelt: “Return guests, time with friends, and feeling grateful to still be relevant. I’ve come to appreciate modest, achievable goals. It’s about doing the right thing – for myself, for my guests, and for my team.”
With Argus Residences, Ong hasn’t just restored a set of houses – he’s reviving a forgotten chapter of Penang’s past, and offering travellers a soulful new way to experience it.
