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Malay House Architecture

iahistory03
Aug 9, 2015
3 min read

RumahPenghulu Abu Seman is one of the oldest surviving traditional Malay houses in Malaysia. This housewas been built between 1910 and early 1930s.

The main part of the house, rumahibu,was originally built for a TokTaib who was a person of note in KampungPayaTakong. When the latter passed away, this structure was sold to Penghulu Abu Seman, who was thelocal headmanof Mukim Bagan Samak, Bandar Baharu, Kedah. He then dismantled and moved the house to kampung Sungai Kechil in 1924. The balaiwas probably added in the 1930s.

In the year of 1995, family of Penghulu Abu Seman sold the house to BadanWarisan Malaysia. From 1996 to 1997, the house was rescued, restored and relocatedto the heart of Kuala Lumpur by BadanWarisan Malaysia.

TRADITIONAL MALAY HOUSE CHARACTERISTICS:

1. RAISED-UP BY PILES

With the house structure building on piles, it is a lot easier for men to move the house. The piles are also designed to elevate house above flood surface, add ventilation to the house structure and avoid dangerous wild animals from going into the house.

Space underneath the house structure.This is a space for the men to do traditional artworks and nap.

2. STAIRS

To reach the elevated interior.

Main stair entrance from outside to enter the Hall and the Mother House. The entrance purposely lowered down so that visitors will need to bow when enter. The bow shows position of humble and respect to the head of the village.

Interior stair to enter the Mother House from the Hall.

Stair for the Penghulu to exit his office and also a shortcut way for him to enter his house during lunch hours.

Stair for women to enter the kitchen and the closed walkway. The stair is noticeably stiffer than usual to prevent bad person from going in to the women’s area.

3. ROOM DIVISION

Basically, traditional Malay house divided into two main part, which is the front and

back portions - rumahibu (the core house) and the dapur (kitchen) respectively.

TRANSLATION:

BALAI - HALL

BilikPenghulu - Headman’s Office

Penjabat - Office

RUMAHIBU- MOTHER HOUSE

RuangTamu - Living Room

Sarong Depan - Verandah

Bilik - Room

DAPUR - KITCHEN

Selang – Closed Walkway

RuangMakan – Dining Room[endif]--

But in RumahPenghulu, there are three main sections of the house, the hall (balai), the main house (rumahibu) and the kitchen (dapur).

HALL (BALAI) Office for Penghulu Abu Seman and his workers. This place also acted as a courthouse of the village during that time.

MOTHER HOUSE (RUMAHIBU)

The core area of the house. This is the largest area in the house where most activities are conducted. Sleeping, sewing, praying, ironing, studying and even feasting (kenduri) which is held during marriages and other festivals, all occur here.

The importance of the rumuhibuis expressed by its floor level being the highest in the house.

ROOM (BILIK)

Bedrooms for the wives of Penghulu Abu Seman. They used hanging curtains instead of door for privacy while sleeping as this can promote better ventilations.

KITCHEN (DAPUR)

Always situated at the back of the house, and is on the lowest floor level. Preparation of food, cooking, eating and washing are all done here. The womenfolk also often group here to chat.

DINING ROOM

A place where the family member will have meals together on the mat.

4.ROOF

The roof of traditional Malay houses are designed to provide shade and protection from heat and rain, as well as to provide ventilation. The basic design of a roof on a Malay house is gabled roof made from tiles and supported by wood.

5. DECORATION

The carved wood fascia boards are indeed generally called "papancantik" (or "papanlawa" = pretty plank) and were long used and known since earliest record during the 1st/2nd century Malay Langkasuka Kingdom.