Aar 652 - Lecture 6

–
DEFINITION
• The traditional Malay house is one of the richest components of
Malaysia’s cultural heritage.
• Designed and built by the villagers themselves showing

the creative and aesthetic skills of the Malays.
• This is a near-perfect house form which is appropriate to local

climatic conditions (warm and humid)
• Its design is also flexible as it caters to the widely different needs of

the users an addition system which allows the house to be extended.
Building Elements of Traditional Malay House
• Footing (Papak)
• Post (Tiang)
• Bearer (Rasuk)
• Side Joist (Pelancar)
• Joist (Gelegar)
• Tie-Beam (Alang Lintang)
• Tie-Beam (Alang Panjang)
• Rafter (Kasau Jantan)
• King Post (Tunjuk Langit)
• Purlin (Gulung-gulung)
DESIGN OF MALAY TRADITIONAL HOUSES
 INCORPORATED DESIGN
PRINCIPALS RELEVANT IN
CONTEMPORARY
ARCHITECTURE SUCH AS
SHADING AND VENTILATION.
 A MAIN CHARACTERISTIC
OF A TYPICAL KAMPUNG
HOUSE IS ITS ON STILTS OR
PILES.
 ITS USUALLY IN TWO PARTS:
a. THE MAIN HOUSE CALLED IBU RUMAH IN HONOUR OF THE
MOTHER (IBU)
a. THE SIMPLE RUMAH DAPUR OR KITCHEN ANNEX

• THE RUMAH IBU WAS NAMED AFTER THE SPACINGS BETWEEN
STILTS WHICH ARE SAID TO TYPICALLY FOLLOW THE ARMS-
SPREAD WIDTH OF THE WIFE
• AND MOTHER IN THE FAMILY OF THE HOUSE WHEN BEING BUILT.
• 6 MAJOR OF INTERIOR SPACES IN THE TRADITIONAL MALAY

HOUSE:
• ANJUNG
• SERAMBI
• RUMAH IBU
• SELANG
• RUMAH DAPUR
• PELANTAR
• AT THE ENTRANCES OF MOST TRADITIONAL MALAY HOUSES,
STAIRS LEAD UP TO A COVERED PORCH CALLED THE ANJUNG.
THE ANJUNG ALSO ACTS AS AN

IMPORTANT FOCAL POINT FOR THE
ENTRANCE.
A FAVOURITE PLACE FOR THE
HOUSE OCCUPANTS TO REST. CHAT
AND WATCH THE GOINGS-ON IN THE
VILLAGE.
• ONE RAISED VERANDAH (SERAMBI) IS
ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE FOR SEATED
WORK OR RELAXATION.
• NON-FAMILIAR VISITORS WOULD BE

ENTERTAINED,THUS PRESERVING THE
PRIVACY OF THE INTERIOR.
►RUMAH IBU IS THE LARGEST AREA

WHERE MOST ACTIVITIES ARE
CONDUCTED.
►SLEEPING,SEWING,PRAYING,IRONIN
G,STUDYING, AND EVEN FEASTING
ALL OCCUR HERE.
• THE SELANG IS A CLOSED WALKWAY USED TO LINK THE KITCHEN
AND THE RUMAH IBU TOGETHER.
• BESIDES BEING A CIRCULATION SPACE,THE SELANG IS OFTEN
USED BY THE WOMENFOLK AS A SPACE TO CHAT AND SOCIALISE.
►RUMAH DAPUR IS ALWAYS

SITUATED AT THE BACK OF
THE HOUSE.
►IS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
LEVEL.
►PREPARATION OF
FOOD,COOKING,WASHING,E
TC.
NON STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
DESIGN FOR CLIMATIC CONTROL
• Allow adequate ventilation for cooling and reduction of humidity.
• Use building materials with low thermal capacity so that little heat is
transmitted into the house.
• control direct solar radiation.
• control glare from the open skies and surroundings
• protect against rain
• ensure adequate natural vegetation in the surrounding

• VENTILLATION (HOUSE POSITION)
• Houses are randomly sited to ensure that the wind has relatively free passage through the community.
• careful planting and selection of trees ensure that winds are not blocked for the houses.
• The wooden traditional Malay house raised on stilts (sense of openness)
• VENTILLATION (INTERIOR)
• Full-length windows at an appropriate body height.
• Large overhangs; protection from driving rain and reduce glare
• Open interior, promoting good cross ventilation.
• Minimal partitions in interior allows easy passage of air.
• The carved wooden panels and wooden grilles. (ventilation device)
•
• BUILDING MATERIALS
• low thermal capacity (reduce heat level)
• The wood, bamboo have Insulating capability. (interior remains cool)
• Paths are unpaved and kept clean.
• Need for furniture is minimal (activities are always on floor)
• Bedding materials and sleeping mats are rolled up and stored.
• Large overhangs which provide good shading.
• RELIGIOUS
• oriented to face Mecca (east-west direction).
• orientation minimizes the number of areas exposed to direct solar radiation.
• Often heavily shaded with trees and covered with vegetation
• Cooler environment
PROPORTION
THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT OF
THE MALAY HOUSE
UNPLANNED ARRANGEMENT
THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE MALAY HOUSE
THE RITUAL OF
TIANGSERI
TYPES OF MALAY HOUSES
Rumah Limas
Predominantly found in Johor, Pahang.
• Has a pyramid like roof.
• Ukiran-ukiran kerawang kayu at it’s outermost overhang.
• Made out of hardwoods such as kayu cengal, keranji, penak,

meranti.
Rumah Minangkabau
Predominantly found in Negeri Sembilan.
• It’s construction, internal and external decoration, and the functions of the
house reflect the culture and values of the Minangkabau.
• Serves as a residence, a hall for family meetings, and for ceremonial

activities.
• 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.
• The term Rumah Minangkabau usually refers to the larger communal homes.
Rumah Melaka
Predominantly found in Melaka.
Rumah Kutai
Predominantly found in Perak.
• Located in Perak.
• Aging over 100 years old
• A few of Rumah Kutai are located at Kampung Sayong, Kuala Kangsar, Kampung
Kota Lama Kanan dan Kampung Bota Kanan, Parit.
• Using fully natural elements which could be found at the Kampung area.
• Timber is the main component for Rumah Kutai whereas the roof is made out of
rumbia.
• High rise roof.
• Rumah Kutai has a unique structure which involves it’s own simpicity and
function.
Rumah Bumbung Panjang
Predominantly found in Kelantan.
PERLIS LONG ROOFED HOUSE
• Nowadays- hard to find and this type • made from ‘Cengal’ and ‘Damar
of house slowly becoming extinct. laut’ wood.
• The house dates back more than 70 • walls are made from flattened
years. bamboo strips interwoven in a
• The Perlis Long Roofed House, pattern.
standing on more than such 24 • roofing is made of sago or ‘Nipah’
posts comprises numerous posts or palm and at times, Senggora tiles.
stilts at times.
• It has an elongated shape and a
horizontal roof with gable ends at the
ends.
• The building is composed of the
main house and kitchen. The main
house comprises the verandah,
rooms, central section and visitor’s
lounge.
• The kitchen is not separated by a
dividing wall but only by a passage
called the ‘ruang selang’.
PENANG LONG ROOFED HOUSE
 There are different types of

traditional Malay house can be
found in Penang such as the Long
Roofed House, ‘Rumah Serambi’
and ‘Rumah Serambi Gajah
Menyusu’. ‘Serambi means
verandah and ‘Gajah Menyusu’
means an elephant suckling her
young.
 the roof of the main house is
higher than the roof of the
verandah.
 The architecture is made up of a
long horizontal roof with gable
ends at the ends.
 The whole structure is made up
of a main house and a kitchen.
 The house is divided into the
extended verandah located in
front of the verandah, the central
section, the inner verandah, the
‘ruang gajah menyusu’ and the
kitchen.
 Materials- ‘Cengal’ and ‘Meranti’
wood and the roof covering is
from the sago palm.
KEDAH LONG ROOFED HOUSE
 the shape of the Kedah Long

Roofed House and Perlis Long
Roofed House almost similar
except for the arrangement of the
various sections of the house.
 The kitchen roof is lower than
that of the main house and the
whole structure looks quite like an
elephant suckling her young.
 divided into two sections-The
verandah and the extended
verandah located in the front. The
central section, inner verandah,
room and kitchen are located at
the back.
 The Kedah Long Roofed House The Rumah
stands on several posts or stilts of Penghulu
which the main house has more originally
than 20 posts. located in
 materials -‘Cengal’, ‘Meranti’ and Sg.Kecil,
‘Damar Laut’ wood and bamboo. Kedah, now
The roof covering is from sago restored and
and ‘Nipah’ palm and Senggora
tiles. It walls are made from relocated at
flattened bamboo strips Badan
interwoven in a pattern. Warisan in
Kuala
lumpur
TERENGGANU FIVE ROOFED HOUSE
 One of the traditional Malay houses are

found in Terengganu is the’ Rumah
Limas Bungkus’, which means five-
roofed house.
 It can be found in the Besut District. 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.
 This particular house can be found in
several forms. Some are long and some
are square in shape. It is made up of the
front room, verandah, central section
and kitchen.
 Same like Kelantan traditional house,
they are mainly built from ‘Cengal’,
‘Meranti’ or ‘Kapur’ wood.
 The roofing is made from senggora tiles
imported from Thailand though are some
locally made. The house set apart by
their detailing, the construction of the
walls and roof and in particular the
intricate carvings.

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–

• Designed and built by the villagers themselves showing

• This is a near-perfect house form which is appropriate to local

• Its design is also flexible as it caters to the widely different needs of

a. THE SIMPLE RUMAH DAPUR OR KITCHEN ANNEX

• AND MOTHER IN THE FAMILY OF THE HOUSE WHEN BEING BUILT.

• 6 MAJOR OF INTERIOR SPACES IN THE TRADITIONAL MALAY

THE ANJUNG ALSO ACTS AS AN

• NON-FAMILIAR VISITORS WOULD BE

►RUMAH IBU IS THE LARGEST AREA

►RUMAH DAPUR IS ALWAYS

• control direct solar radiation.

• control glare from the open skies and surroundings

• protect against rain

• ensure adequate natural vegetation in the surrounding

• Ukiran-ukiran kerawang kayu at it’s outermost overhang.

• Made out of hardwoods such as kayu cengal, keranji, penak,

• Serves as a residence, a hall for family meetings, and for ceremonial

• Aging over 100 years old

• High rise roof.

 There are different types of

 the shape of the Kedah Long

 One of the traditional Malay houses are

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