Chapter 2: Malaysian Vernacular Architecture and Its Relationship

to Climate

2.1 Vernacular Architecture of Traditional Malay House

2.1.1 Vernacular Settlements

Vernacular architecture includes dwellings and other buildings which relate to their
environment and available resources. They are customarily owner or community-
built, utilising traditional technologies from one generation to the next (Oliver, 1997
and 2003). Hanafi (1994) suggests that agriculture and fishing activities are the two
main areas of work during ancient times of the early Malay settlements. Tjahjono
(2003) claims that rural settlements have grown in geographically distinctive
locations that vary from hilltops, valleys, riverbanks, lowlands, estuaries and coastal
areas, with each area developing different types of economy, social organization and
built environment.

The opening of new settlements in unexplored areas by the newly migrated families
starts the traditional Malay settlements or ‘kampong’ (Figure 1). This migration is an
individual family or in a group (originating from the same district in Malay
Archipelago) to the surrounding regional areas, either by land or water
transportation. After several generations, a modern kampong normally has a number
of households and is led by a headman. Migration has expanded their original culture
such as language, customary laws and vernacular architecture to the new area.

Figure 1: Spontaneous Malay 'Kampong' Environment (Idid & Salim, 2011).

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2.1.2 Functions and Social Interaction
The construction elements in Malay vernacular architecture are light timber-framed
structures, forming elevated floors, sloping long roofs with large overhangs, louvered
windows, timber or woven bamboo walls and screenings (on the upper walls). In
terms of spatial elements, the basic spaces of the serambi, rumah ibu and dapur are
the most common in a traditional Malay house (Figure 2). Although these houses
have variations, elements such as spatial, functional and physical could be
determined as the most common among them (Ismail & Ahmad, 2006). Table 1
shows the common uses and privacy levels of interior spaces in a traditional Malay
house.

Table 1: The Uses and Privacy Level of Internal Spaces in Traditional Malay House.

Figure 2: The Internal Layout of Andak Endah House, 1920 (Image by the Author).

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The traditional Malay house can be divided into front and back sections, which are
centred around the rumah ibu (the core house) and the dapur (kitchen) respectively
(Yuan, 1987: 34). The serambi, in any event, will be at the front, followed by the
rumah ibu and dapur. This arrangement is similar in all Malay houses and closely
reflects the social interaction in Malay communities. According to Chen, et al.
(2008), the traditional forms of Malay houses in Peninsula Malaysia can be divided
into five groups. The groups are identified by the similarities detected in the Malay
houses of the west Malay states in Peninsula Malaysia. More than 200 cases supplied
by the Center for the Study of Built Environment in the Malay World (KALAM)
have been analyzed, and are categorized below in Table 2.

Table 2 also shows the internal spaces that are normally associated with Malay
houses according to the group. A basic form is often used in Group 1, Group 3 and
Group 4, where normally the dapur is associated with the rumah ibu without using
the selang or pelantar as a link. The selang or pelantar are usually found in Group 2
and Group 5, and this shows that the Malay houses in these groups have expanded
form. In this study, two prototype houses were obtained from KALAM for basic
form and expanded form: Datuk Baginda Tan Mas Mohar and Andak Endah.

Table 2: Internal Spaces Found in Traditional Malay House by Groups (Extracted

from Chen, et al., 2008)

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2.1.3 Proportions
Figure 3 shows the proportionate rules of traditional Malay house forms, based on
two examples of traditional Malay houses supplied by KALAM; the proportion of
stilts and walls height of the houses is equivalent as a proportion of X, while the roof
height measured from the roof eaves to the ridge is a proportion of 2X.

Figure 3: Proportionate Rules of Traditional Malay House (Images by the Author).

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2.2 Architectural Qualities
2.2.1 Serambi
The serambi is the smallest space among the other spaces. In some cases of the
twelve-column house, this space usually accommodates a quarter of the house, and
the floor level will always be lower than the rumah ibu floor level. The form of the
serambi is usually rectangle and in some cases is an extraordinarily long narrow
space (Chen, et al., 2008).

This area can be constructed with or without perimeter walls; however, it tends to
look like a semi-outdoor space with numerous daylighting from the openings. Figure
4 shows the location of serambi space in two examples of Malay houses. The
serambi in the house of Andak Endah has no walls, while the other serambi in the
house of Tan Mas Mohar is built with walls.

The importance of the serambi is to serve as the first greeting space for guests after
entering the house (Yuan, 1987). In a traditional Malay kampong, houses are built in
random positions but can be seen from the distance. The serambi in this case will be
the place for social interaction within the neighbourhood, and for parents to monitor
their children playing in the yard.

Figure 4: The Location of Serambi in Traditional Malay Houses (KALAM, 1986;

1996).

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2.2.2 Rumah Ibu
The rumah ibu is the core space of the Malay house. This has the largest area,
highest floor level and highest roof level (Yuan, 1987: 37). In respect of the needs
and privacy of family members, bedrooms are provided, but the number is flexible
and depends on family size (Figure 5). Lighting in this space is reduced to provide
coolness. (Yuan, 1987). Moreover, this space also has an uncomplicated furniture
arrangement (Chen, et al., 2008).

The rumah ibu is usually used for official events and a place for treating well-known
guests or close relatives. Official ceremonies relating to customs are also carried out
here. These include engagement, marriage and wedding ceremonies. On normal
days, this space will be for relaxing, reading, mingling with other family members,
and for use as a sleeping area at night (Chen, et al., 2008).

Figure 5: The Location of Rumah Ibu in Traditional Malay Houses (KALAM, 1986;
1996).

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2.2.3 Dapur
The kitchen, or dapur, is always situated at the back of the house (Yuan, 1987: 38).
The functions of this space are for cooking, washing and eating. The basic layout of
a Malay house will include a dapur within the rumah ibu, but in some cases the
dapur will be connected with a pelantar, a roofless platform, or a selang. This, on
the other hand, is an enclosed space that serves as a walkway and used as a second
entrance for females during a ceremony (Figure 6).

Although the dapur is the last space in the house, it holds the prestigious function of
family gatherings where dining takes place together with other family members.
Therefore, the dapur has a large space, which is considered the second largest in a
Malay house.

Figure 6: The Location of Dapur in Traditional Malay House (KALAM, 1996).

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2.3 Construction Systems

2.3.1 Materials
Traditional building materials such as wood and palm leaves are usually taken
directly from nearby forests (Yuan, 1987). Table 3 shows the types of wood used in
three different construction parts in a Malay house. Wood can be easily found in
Malaysia, but nowadays the price of wood is very high and is therefore used
primarily for export rather than as a building material. Other materials such as palm
trees are also widely available. This material is good for roof finishes as it releases
heat readily; however, it does not survive as long as the other materials and needs to
be changed regularly.

Table 3: The Types of Wood Used in Malay House (Extracted from Yuan, 1987).

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2.3.2 Structural Components
As a lightweight timber structure, a traditional Malay house regularly uses posts and
a lintel timber structure. The posts rest on concrete or stone footings without any
foundation required (Yuan, 1987). The structural framework for the house consists of
posts braced by floor joists and roof girders, as shown in Figure 7. Using
prefabricated construction methods where all the components are made and
assembled on site allows the house to be dismantled and reassembled elsewhere in
different locations.

Figure 7: Basic Construction Methods of Malay House (Yuan, 1987).

Figure 8 shows that a basic Malay house construction starts by placing the first
column, known as a tiang seri (located in the middle of the house). Meanwhile, other
structural components such as posts and girts are laid in their respective positions.
After all the posts and girts have been erected and braced, top girts and king posts are
then set up at both sides. Following that, the roof ridge supported by king post is
placed, and subsequently the roof structures such as principal rafters, purlins and
common rafters are put up. Finally, the non-structural components are placed to
make the house an enclosed structure.

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Figure 8: The Erection of Basic Traditional Malay House Form (Yuan, 1987).

2.3.3 Non-Structural Components

The non-structural components are windows and panels for the floors, walls, stairs
and roofs fitted between the frames (Figure 9). Window components can be divided
into three operable sections, the top, middle and bottom (Yuan, 1987). The top
section, called ornamentation, is a fixed ventilation panel that is usually well
decorated and carved.

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