Malay houses are traditional
dwellings, originating before the arrival of foreign or modern influences, and
constructed by the indigenous ethnic Malay
and Orang Asli
peoples of the Malay Peninsula
and their related Bumiputra
tribes of East Malaysia.
Whereas
peninsular Malays have single extended-family houses, many of the Borneo
people
built rumah panjang or "long house"
hosting many families, each in its own 'apartment' with a common wide veranda
linking the front.
Traditional
architectural forms, such as tropically-suited roofs and harmonious proportions
with decorative elements are considered by traditionalists to still have
relevance. However traditional buildings require significant maintenance
compared to modern construction. These traditional skills are gradually being
lost as Malaysia
continues its process of industrialization.
Using renewable natural materials
including timber and bamboo
, the
dwellings are often built without the use of metal including nails. Instead
pre-cut holes and grooves are used to fit the timber elements into one another,
effectively making it a ‘prefabricated house’. In Sarawak and Sabah rattan
ropes
were used to fasten bamboo pieces together.
Although nails
had been invented and in later houses used minimally for non-structural
elements (for example, windows or panels), structural flexibility was a benefit
which nailing inhibited. Without nails, a timber house could be dismantled and
reconstructed in a new location.
Each
state or ethnic group has its own
regional or group style of house or preferred details. For example, in Melaka the staircase is always decoratively
moulded and colourfully tiled. In Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast, many houses
have distinctive carved roof gable-end boards akin to those in Thailand and Cambodia.
Negeri Sembilan House
It’s simply can be recognized by the
design of the roof. It is the only house on the Malay to have a curved roof
reminiscent of the Minangkabau roof of Sumatra. They are long and at the two
ends of the roof are the gable ends, which arch upwards. The house is much
smaller compare to other traditional house.
Rumah gadang (Minangkabau
"big house") or rumah bagonjong (Minangkabau
: "spired roof
house") are the traditional homes (
rumah adat) of the Minangkabau
. The architecture, construction,
internal and external decoration, and the functions of the house reflect the
culture and values of the Minangkabau. A rumah
gadang serves as a residence, a hall for family meetings, and for
ceremonial activities. With the Minangkabau society being matrilineal
, the rumah gadang is owned by
the women of the family who live there - ownership is passed from mother to
daughter.
The houses have
dramatic curved roof structure with multi-tiered, upswept gables. Shuttered
windows are built into walls incised with profuse painted floral carvings. The
term rumah gadang usually
refers to the larger communal homes, however, smaller single residences share
many of its architectural elements.
Melaka House
It
can still be found in the whole of Malacca today. It is only traditional Malay
housed which mainly can be recognized by its glazed and multicoloured tiles on
the staircases which are imported from Europe and China. Flowers are a common
motif. The house evinces a mixture of architectural influences, which mainly
adopted from the traditional Chinese house.
Traditional Malacca Malay houses can be seen
especially in the Merlimau area about 20 km south of Malacca City on the
coastal road to Muar and Johor. A unique feature of the Malacca Malay kampung (village) house is its
concrete and attractively-tiled front stairway. Most Malays are very “house
proud” and you can see the effort put into up-keeping and gardening.
Perak Houses
The
traditional Malay house in Perak is called the ‘Rumah Kutai’ was first built
more than 200 years ago. ‘Kutai’ means old. Rumah Kutai only located by the
banks of the Perak River such as the district of Kuala Kangsar, Perak Tengah
and Pasir Salak. The main materials used are wood and bamboo. Wood is used for
the posts and roof framework whilst the walls and floor are made of bamboo and
the roof covering is from the sago palm. Rumah Kutai or Kutai
House is a traditional type of Malay house that is indigenous to Perak, and has
been in existence since the 1800s.
Every Kutai house must face the river
and the construction, site, size, and, layout of the house must adhere strictly
to the Undang – Undang 99. The traditional Kutai house consists of just one
core structure called the rumah ibu (main house). The floor of the house is
raised to about two metres from the ground and is usually made of wood from the
Ficus plant species. There are gaps of about 2cm at the floor so that the house
does not float away in the event of flood. The house sits on 12 or 16 main
pillars called tiang seri or tiang adapt which are made of cengal, merbau, or
damar wood and come in different shapes; round, square, or octagonal.
The interesting thing about Kutai house is that the pillars are
not planted into the ground but just laid onto a base made of cut stone,
bricks, or concrete. With pillars that are placed onto a base, not cemented or
nailed, it is very amazing that these houses can still stand tall after so many
years. The Kutai house was built so that the structure could be lifted en masse
and moved to another area. Originally, the house has a long and high roof that
is made of sago (rumbia) or nipah palm. Nowadays, many Rumah Kutai owners have
replaced the palm roof with zinc roofing as it is easier to maintain. The walls
in the meantime are made of either strips of plants (bamboo or kelarai) or from
timber panpelled planks which sometimes include carvings.
The traditional Rumah Kutai has two entrances, one for male and
the other for females. The sliding doors are made low so that the guest will
has to bow when he enters the house as a sign of respect to the house owner.
These traditional houses are fast disappearing as they are exposed to extreme
weather, termites and high cost of maintenance.
Pulau Pinang House
The
Penang Long-Roofed House. The long roofed houses in Penang come in two
varieties, the Rumah Serambi and Rumah Seramby Gajah Menyusu. The Malay word
“serambi” means veranda or balcony, while “gajah menyusu” pertains to an
elephant suckling her young. From this Malay name you could imagine a Malay
mother breastfeeding her baby on the veranda.
Kelantan House
Malay
traditional timber houses of Kelantan normally adorned with decorative carved
components which represent excellent carvings in its specified design motif,
shape, size and layout. Various carved components with specific features are
fabricated according to its placement and configuration in the interior as well
as exterior setting of the houses. Woodcarving as an embellishment is a
significant unifying architectural element between the house forms and its
building components.
Most
of the Kelantan’s houses revealed that several types of carved components with
distinctive visual forms in two and three dimensional composition were placed
in certain orders within the fabrics of the houses. Wall, door and window
ventilation panels, railings, gate panel and stringers are types of components
characterized by the shape of perforation and incision with relief and/or
non-relief carvings. These components were crafted in relation to the house
form and architectural elements such as wall, door, window, stair and gate. The
significant aspect of the placement of the carvings in the houses is that it
enhances beautiful ambiance and signifies regional identity to the vernacular architecture
of Kelantan houses.
Sarawak Longhouse
Longhouses
are ancient residential structures which were usually
constructed with the use of wooden material. Evidence of such houses has been
found in various parts of the world such as Europe, Asia and North America.
Structurally, these houses consisted of one large living area, as the purpose
of these houses was to provide shelter from the forces of nature and animal
attacks. Native Americans and several Asian tribes were able to perfect the art
of building longhouses which were remarkably sturdy and long lasting. Some of
these houses are quite amazingly similar to modern residential designs
showcasing the architectural prowess of these ancient
civilizations.
These
houses are testament to the innovative thinking of the natives and the
engineering skill which they perfected mainly through trial and error. The
Bidayuh Longhouse which was built with the use of bamboo is one of the
residential structures that you will come across while at the Sarawak Cultural
Village. Visitors will be able to see amazing carvings, musical instruments and
much more while exploring the interiors of the houses.
The Iban Longhouse is built on stilts which protect the interior from floods
and animal raids. Built by wood and held together with strong creepers, these
houses are structurally quite sound and have been known to exist for several
years, if not more. The Orang Ulu Longhouse, one of the tallest of its kind,
can also be found at the Sarawak Cultural Village. As the Orang Ulu tribesman
lived near riverbanks their houses needed to be elevated from the ground to
ensure that an increase in water level will not affect them.
Terengganu House
One
of the traditional Malay houses are found in Terengganu is the’ Rumah Limas
Bungkus’, which means five-roofed house. It is popular among the Terengganu
Malays since the 20th century. Unfortunately, none are found today and those
exist today date back only 40 or 50 years. The house can be easily recognized.
The roof consists of a straight central ridge with four shorter ridges
projecting down to the four edges of the roof. The edging immediately beneath
the roofing is decorated with wooden carvings.
Terengganu
traditional house are usually being builted by cengal wood (Malay Hardwood) and
the roof covered with "Singhorra Tiles" name after the town Songkla,
where the tiles originated. Peles (gable ends) are fitted to the end of the
roof. The "Sobek" woodcarving with beautiful patterns of flora and
islamic symbol made Terengganu house to be the richest cultural and heritage of
the Peninsular Malay state. The house floor raise nearly 2.5 meters off the
ground give the impression of animals with many legs. The high post also work
as prevention from flood water during the monsoon rain as the house normally
located not far from river bend.
