Wild Asia - Rebuilding the Wooden Ways of the Past

RICK GREGORY takes us on a short tour of a traditional wooden Malay house, an elegant example of indigenous ingenuity, practicality and a monument to the wonders of tropical timber. Primarily made of chengal, a dense rainforest tree, some of these classic houses are over 100 years old.

The traditional Malay house is an elegant example of indigenous ingenuity, practicality and a monument to the wonders of tropical timber. A seemingly simple wooden structure, it was built to dissipate heat, withstand monsoons and stands as a reflection of Malay living. Primarily made of chengal, a dense rainforest tree, some of these classic houses are over 100 years old.

The Master Builders of Terengganu acquired chengal wood from timber cutters who spent up to three months in the jungle felling large, mature trees. Platforms, raised three feet off the ground to avoid slanting tree buttresses, allowed cutters to work a saw and cut down a tree within a day. Although Sultans used elephants to bring timber out of the jungle, buffaloes dragged most of these giant trunks to a nearby river - a task so arduous that some buffalo dropped dead from exhaustion.

Malay traditional houses are steeped in history and sophisticated features. Its origins go back to the Khmer-Indo Chinese of the 13th century since it resembled houses found in Cambodia and Thailand. The most obvious design similarity is raising the house on pillars as high as eight feet. This practice saved families from flood danger and kept ground dampness at a distance. Another benefit of these elevated homes was to protect occupants from wild animals active at night.

The thick planks of chengal wood prevent outside heat from reaching inside, keeping the interior cool. High, slanting roofs allow heat to rise and escape through ventilation slits that helps circulate air through the rooms. Chengal wood darkens over time, thus windows were elongated vertically to let in plentiful sunlight. Two of the more fascinating architectural aspects of Malay timber houses are the lack of nails and a foundation. Pegs and wooden dowels stabilize the entire structure which stands erect on pillars; it is not embedded in soil or concrete. Thus, the entire house can be taken apart like a Lego toy and put back together at another location.

Large spaces underneath these houses served a multitude of purposes. Used as a workshop, fishermen repaired boats and stored them here during the monsoon season. Hens, goats and cows remained safe and secure from wild animals and poachers. At dusk, families burned rubbish and twigs to smoke out the underside of the house to repel mosquitoes.

Today the task is to restore traditions. Not only how to preserve and build timber houses but also how to pass along these antique skills and heritage to a new generation. Traditions are important to maintain cultural identities, acknowledge skills and craftsmanship and learn the value of passing on a passion for heritage. As the world goes global, it is essential that corporations realize their own role to contribute towards honouring and enriching cultural traditions in local communities.

DiGi Telecommunications, a mobile phone company, is playing an important role towards this revival. Raja Dato´ Kamarul Bahrin Shah is one of DiGi´s Amazing Malaysians; he is the Traditional Architect of Terengganu. The Amazing Malaysians programme is DiGi´s contribution to support and preserve Malaysia´s unique heritage by celebrating individual achievements with the nation´s youth.

For six weeks, 80 youth, ages 14-16, from several Terengganu schools will work hand-in-hand with Raja Bahrin to rebuild a traditional Malay house on the grounds of the Aryani Resort. This exposure to the principles and designs of traditional architecture aims to pass on the unique skills of a dying art. "The wooden houses of Terengganu and crafts like pelupoh (bamboo weaving) and wood carving are going fast," says Raja Bahrin. "If we don´t do anything to revive them, they will be lost forever."

A traditional Malay timber house reflects the way of living of its community. Now its time for the community to reflect and preserve the traditions that makes our way of life.

Digi´s Amazing Malaysians

For more information on DiGi´s Amazing Malaysians projects, please follow this link: Amazing Malaysians