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Words translation:
1. Dapur
Kitchen
2. Pelantar
Family Area
3. Rumah Ibu
Main Area
4. Bilik
Bedroom
5. Anjung
Verandah
6. Serambi
1.0 Introduction
The first detailed description of the Malay traditional architecture is the 15 th century
Malaccan Palace. The decaying factor of timber construction and the absence of
written before the 15th century limit the knowledge of this golden heritage to the last
500 years only (KALAM, 2005).
In the Malay traditional architecture, the distinctive features are raised floor
construction, flexibility of spaces and the use of readily available rainforest materials
in the best possible way to encounter the hot-humid climate (KALAM, 2005). The
construction of the Malay traditional architecture has been greatly influenced by the
iterative adaptations to local condition such as climate.
Malaysia is located in the south east of Asia encompassing atropical context near to
the equator with hot and humid biocli-matic conditions and heavy tropical rains and
intensified
solarradiations
(latitude
37N
and
longitude
10133E).
The
There are four region in the peninsular- Melacca, Perak, Kedah and East-coast style
- but the architecture of these regions are similar to one another (Abdul Rahman, A.,
2000). The similarities and differences of the TMH to other traditional houses within
the Malay world in the South-East Asia region have been discussed from the
perspective of ethnic anthropology by Abdul Rahman, A., Petua Membina Rumah
Melayu Dari Sudut Etnis Antropologi (trans. Guide to Building Malay House from the
Angle of Ethnic Anthropology)
2.0 Plans and Elevation of the Malay Traditional Houses
Shown below are the examples of traditional Malay houses plans and elevations.
The house offers an open plan solution for the application of symbolic or physical
barriers to wherever necessary. For the exact reason, the house is then divided into
few sections- male guest area, female guest area an a family area. Open plan is also
necessary for effective daylighting distribution. The orientation of the house is facing
the east and west (following the Mecca direction), this reduces the exposure to direct
sunlight.
Photo 2.2: Gable Ends Design of Traditional Malay House (Yuan, 1987)
Photo 2.4: The Basic Erection of Traditional Malay House Form. (Yuan, 1987)
The following is the features of the house that are symmetry with the sustainability
outlines.
Roof part
Sustainability
features
Deep
overhangs of
roof
Pitch roof
made of
singgora
(clay) or
nipa(Nypa
fruticans)
Explanation
The roof overhangs protect the
user and the house from
excessive sunlight and heavy
rain.
Image
Volumetric
loft and
openings in
the roof
The volumetric loft allows the warm air to rise up and opening allows
the fresh air to be into and out of the house optimally.
Wall part
Sustainability
features
Perforated
wooden wall
with louvres
Construction
without using
a single
screws
Door and
window
following the
ergonometrics
Explanation
The usage of wooden
wall is suitable for the
climate as it has low
thermal capacity and it
is widely available. The
perforated design of
wall is also helping in
movement of fresh air
The houses were built
using jointings (mortise
and tenon). It is able to
dismantle; making it
recycleable and avoid
wastage of materials
Fully openable
windows and door
allow the movement of
air at human level
Image
Floor part
Sustainability
features
Raised floor
Explanation
Image
2. Abdul Rahman, A., Petua Membina Rumah Melayu Dari Sudut Etnis Antropologi
[trans. Guide to Building Malay House from the Angle of Ethnic Anthropology], The
National Library Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 2000, 218 pp
3. Said, S., & Embi, M. (n.d.). A Parametric Shape Grammar of the Traditional Malay
Long- Roof Type Houses. International Journal of Architectural Computing, 06(02),
121-121.
4. Hassan, Z., & Harun, S. (n.d.). Preservation of Malay Singgora Roof. Procedia
Environmental Sciences, 729-738.