Traditional Malay architecture is finely adapted to Malaysia's natural surroundings and hot tropical climate. DAVID BOWDEN deconstructs the vernacular design and shows you where to find some fine examples in Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur, Sabah and Sarawak.

Written by David Bowden on 8 Apr 2005 with 0 comments. Be the first!

The traditional Malay house is influenced by various factors like climate, lifestyle, the owner's economic status, the surroundings, available building materials and various myths and taboos. These houses are well adapted to the hot tropical climate in which they are found and provide an excellent example of appropriate technology.

They are easy to construct, simple to maintain and are mostly built from local materials that are cheap to source. They are also well adapted to the climate as they are built on stilts to allow the free flow of air underneath to keep them cool. There are few internal walls to enable this free flow of air and large windows that can be opened or closed to enable air and light to enter as required.

Triangular-shaped decorative gables on either end of the roof assist ventilation. Hot air escapes through these and breezes are captured and directed through the roofline. Traditional homes are naturally dark on the inside in an attempt to limit the entry of light and heat.

The bumbung panjang house is the oldest and most widespread house in Peninsular Malaysia. It has a low inclined roof with a long, central ridge supported by a number of posts that hold the weigh of the roof. However, the low headroom of the house has seen a decline in popularity of this roof style.

Originally the stilts provided protection from wild animals and rising floodwaters. While preying animals are not so much a problem in contemporary Malaysian life, they once were. Even today, tropical downpours cause local flooding in some areas and stilted house offer greater protection.

As villagers attained greater wealth, more permanent structures were built using improved, more elaborate and costlier materials. Elaborate stairs were an obvious sign of wealth and over time, more decorative items appeared on the houses especially intricate timber carvings.

Traditional Malay homes are essentially family homes where privacy is not so important and therefore walls and separate rooms are limited. However, there are certain areas within the home that are frequented by certain family members.

Men occupy the front of the home more so than the women and youngsters. The front of the house is designated by stairs leading up to a raised covered verandah. The covered verandah or anjung is a transition space between the house's public and private domains.

Benches usually line the inside of the railing. Here, the men sit and watch the world passing by and generally keep a watch over the family. This is where casual visitors are welcomed and entertained.

In fishing communities, the entrance verandah maybe quite large so that activities associated with fishing can be carried out in this cool and ventilated area. For example, nets maybe repaired, traps constructed and fishing equipment maintained.

Shoes are removed at the front door and family members and their guests normally sit inside on the floor on woven mats. Interestingly, windows are often long and narrow and almost at floor level so that those inside can see the outside world from their seated position.

The core area of the house is called the rumah ibu. This high-roofed section is the family's main private space open only to them and very close personal household friends. This is where the family sleeps but it also serves a more public purpose when an important family ceremony or function such as a family wedding is being held. In the construction of this part of the house, a gold coin and piece of fabric maybe placed at the top of the main pillar, the tiang seri, to protect the household.

Raised floor areas inside the house help delineated certain functions. For example, the sleeping area is normally raised to designate an area where one would not normally sit.

Rumah tengah is where meals are prepared and eaten and this is often separated from the main house by a narrow corridor called the selangi. Female friends maybe entertained here by the female household members.

The simple construction of the roof allows various types of extensions and additions to be made. The basic house is added to, as more space is required by the family such as additions to the family.

A good roof is essential in Malay homes to prevent rainwater entering the living space. Attap, made from woven palm leaves from the Nipah Palm, was used initially and still is in some cases. A high-pitched roof enables fast runoff so that the water does not accumulate for roof rot to set in. Natural timbers, grasses, reeds and palm fronds are also used as they have low thermal properties and cool quickly at day's end.

There are different building styles throughout the country and in some cases these borrow from neighbouring countries. For example, red clay tiles as found in many parts of Thailand are often incorporated into homes in the neighbouring Malaysian states of Terengganu and Kelantan.

In Negeri Sembilan, the distinctive Minangkabau style is common. This is characterised by the upturned roof more commonly seen in the neighbouring Indonesian island of Sumatra.

One of the best collections of traditional northern Malay homes can be found at the delightful bayside Bon Ton Resort on Langkawi Island in northwest Malaysia. The houses found at the resort were originally located in various parts of the island. They were painstakingly relocated and restored to their original form in their current location. Here there are six houses of note - the Yellow Orchid, Black Coral, Blue Ginger, White Frangipani, Sambal, and Chin Chin and more have been added recently.

Yellow Orchid, a simple 50-year old Malay fisherman's house, has a large elongated front verandah for storing and maintaining fishing equipment. The house was relocated from a beachside location not far from the Bon Ton Resort. It has been faithfully restored to a very tasteful and romantic space with a large double-postered bed and decorated in bright, colourful textiles gathered from around the region. These are complimented with individual pieces of traditional wooden furniture.

Black Coral faces the Bon Ton Resort pool and is a large nobleman's house with intricate carved pieces of timber which enable the natural flow of air throughout the cottage. The windows are at a lower level in line with the eye level of seated guests inside. The decorations in this house are truly stunning to befit its original use.

Blue Ginger was once a simple house with a bedroom and attached kitchen area built some 60 years ago. It has been rejuvenated with a coat of bright blue paint with red trimming. Like the other homes it is now stylishly decorated to offer a uniquely Malaysian resort ambience.

White Frangipani is an 80-year old Malay house with a distinctive main reception area for men, a raised sleeping platform, and a kitchen with a link house entrance for the women. The former kitchen area has been converted into a functional bathroom and the link house provides basic utilities for the current chalet guests to prepare their own light snack should they want to. This is a very large house and is suitable for extended visits to the resort.

Another Bon Ton house of a similar age is Sambal with its large verandah, traditionally used by the male members of the household. The sleeping area is separated by a naturally ventilated link house to the kitchen. A large deep area with a built-in draining shelf is occasionally used as a cooking school. The main area at the front of the house now features a large dining area and comfortable planters' chairs where cooking school participants get to enjoy the fruits of their day's labour. Alternatively, groups of up to 25 guests can enjoy their own private Malay dinner here.

Chin Chin was constructed in 1957, in the same year that Malaysia achieved its independence. This large wooden building was used by a successful Langkawi wholesaler until it was relocated to Bon Ton Resort where it now serves as one of Malaysia's most unique and stylish bars. The dwelling is typical of a family operated shophouse with the ground floor (now Chin Chin) previously used as a general retail space and the upstairs as the family living area.

Several modern structures complete this uniquely Malaysian resort. A Balinese-inspired building houses Nam Restaurant, vintage wine cellar and handicraft shop. The culinary style in the restaurant is best described as 'west meets spice' with signature dishes like Nonya Special, Langkawi Malay Specialties and a most delicious beef with mashed potato and Japanese inspired Balsamic sauce. Nobody leaves Nam Restaurant without savouring their renowned desserts.

All meals served at Bon Ton are refreshing, innovative and always with a few inspiring twists. Local spices are creatively combined with the best imported products flown directly from overseas to the restaurant. Arrive around sunset and sip a cocktail besides the pool while watching nature's natural light display.

Narelle McMurtrie leads the enthusiastic Bon Ton team who are as passionate about their food and hospitality as she is about her adopted Langkawi. Bon Ton extends the kampung tradition of openness and friendliness to all.

Some distance away in East Malaysia, another architecturally significant collection of building exists. Sarawak Cultural Village is located at Damai Beach at the base Mount Santubong just out of the capital, Kuching.

Sarawak's Cultural Village is home to seven ethnic Sarawakian groups showcased in a setting that closely resembles one of the state's many up river communities. Here visitors can experience a little of the lives of the Penan, Bidayuh, Iban, Orang Ulu, Melanau, Malay and Chinese people who all call Sarawak home. There are lots of hands-on activities and new things to experience here.

There are also two 45-minute cultural shows held daily. These are performed in the air-conditioned comfort of an auditorium and the highlight for most visitors will probably be the blowpipe display. The ever-popular gift shop and restaurant complete this living museum.

In neighbouring Sabah, Monsopiad Cultural Village situated on the banks of the Penampang River on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu, features several traditional farmhouses. While the longhouse (a series of connected houses along an open verandah) is commonly found in East Malaysia, these are free standing houses. A common feature though is the staircase crafted from a long round log with steps cut into it. While being very functional, it also offers greater protection to the household members.

One of the houses in this village belonging to the Kadazandusan people has a large tangkob or granary store where the rice was stored after harvest. A visit to the village is incomplete without inspecting the collection of skulls!

A little closer to Kuala Lumpur are two fine examples of homes incorporating fine local architecture. On Jalan Stonor, in the centre of the city is Badan Warisan (Heritage Trust of Malaysia). The colonial house here has been restored to its former grandeur as has Rumah Penghulu, the former home of local chieftains from Bandar Baru, Kedah. This wooden structure was dismantled, moved and restored in its current city location.

On the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur in the middle of the forests of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) is Rumah Malaya. The dark wooden 70-year old home has a steep pitched attap roof. The building is open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

While traditional architectural styles are changing there are still several parts of the country where they can be seen, visited and appreciated. Malaysia is home to diverse architectural styles that show many cross-cultural influences.