Traditional Malay Architecture

Modern-day Malaysia has a landscape which features large urban centers co-existing with smaller towns and villages. The country’s big cities like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru and others, are littered with numerous modern buildings including state of the art glass and steel towers, which stand cheek by jowl with older or more traditional edifices.

Traditional Malay houses are known as ‘Rumah Melayu’ and date back to a time before the arrival of foreign influences in Malaysian architecture. These traditional Malaysian homes were built both on Peninsular Malaysia and the island of Borneo and were usually constructed out of local sourced materials. These homes further featured structural and decorative elements which were in tune with the surrounding landscape.

The most common materials used in the construction of the many types of ‘ Rumah Melayu; were timber and bamboo, both of which are widely available in Malaysia. Additionally, the builders of these traditional homes used methods like dovetailing and other forms of joinery, which didn’t call for the use of nails. This type of grove and lock construction provided much flexibility to the owners as homes could be easily deconstructed and then reconstructed at a new location if need be.

Numerous traditional Malaysian homes can be spotted around the country event today, though the type and style of ‘Rumah Melayu’ differs from every region and state, However they have several common structural and decorative elements happen to be largely in tune with their environs.

Some of common features of the various types of ‘Rumah Melayu’ include:-

Stilts

Many traditional Malaysian homes were built on stilts and were referred to as ‘Rumah Panggung’. These homes were built on stilts for several practical reasons. They were so built so as to protect the homes from floods or to protect their inhabitants from wild animals and snakes. The stilts were also thought  to deter thieves and to allow for enhanced ventilation. Several Malaysian kampungs in Sabah and elsewhere, continue to host these traditional Rumah Panggung  or stage houses.

Stairs

Most traditional Malaysian homes feature stairways which connect the land in the front of the house to the verandah or porch known as serambi. Some homes have an additional stairwell within the interior of the dwelling.

Rooms

Traditional Malaysian dwellings are usually partitioned into two major areas, namely the main house known as Rumah Ibu and the separate kitchen area known as Rumah Dapur

Roof

The roof of a traditional Malaysian home is designed to provide shade and offer protection from the searing heat as well as the torrential rain. Most traditional Malaysian homes are topped with a gabled roof, which normally extends over the boundaries of the home to provide added protection as well as add a decorative element. However, some traditional Malaysian homes like Rumah Lancang or Rumah Lontik feature boat- like roofs while another type of traditional Malaysian home, the Rumah Lipat Kajang features a flat roof. Basically the style and structure of the roof of a traditional Malaysian home was largely determined by climatic conditions for the roof was meant to protect the home from various weather related calamities..

Various kinds of traditional Malaysian homes can be seen around the country today some  like the Rumah Limas are predominantly found in Johor and Malacca,while the Rumah Perabung Lima  are scattered throughout the length of Kalantan and Terengganu and the Rumah Gajah Menyusu is predominant in Penang. These are but a few of the many forms of traditional dwellings that are still evident in Malaysia and provide a valuable insight into the traditional style of architecture that has developed over the years in various parts of the country