Introducing Vernacular Malaysian Architecture

Vernacular Malaysian Architecture. What is it actually? To start off, I'm going to explain the meaning of the word "vernacular”. According to Oxford Dictionaries, "vernacular is defined as architecture concerned with domestic and functional rather than public or monumental buildings", in short, a house for example. Vernacular architecture “addresses the human needs and is composed of local materials and derived from local customs, techniques that have been passed on from generation to generation” (Edwards, 2011). Vernacular architecture basically is built to fulfill human’s needs. However, Malaysian vernacular architecture do have foreign elements that are combined together with the local culture. To me, vernacular architecture will have the image of Malaysia and combined with other foreign countries because evolution is constantly happening, especially in the olden days. I think this is what makes Malaysia so unique.

Malaysia is a country full with people of different races and culture. We have Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs and many more. Thus, the architecture in Malaysia are influenced by the uniqueness of each culture. Some are even influenced by two or more culture which creates a new culture that is truly authentic.

One of the examples of Malaysian vernacular architecture is Malay houses which is also known as Rumah Melayu. The different types of Malay houses depends on which state they are located, such as Rumah Tiang 12 at Kelantan, Rumah Minangkabau in Negeri Sembilan, Rumah Serambi Kedah, Rumah Limas Johor and more (Scribd, 2016).The differences between these types of houses is not only because of the different location but also because of the influence of foreign countries like Portugal, Holland and British that colonise Malaysia (also known as Malaya in the olden days) and also foreign countries like India, Indonesia, Myanmar (also known as Burma), and Thailand that carry out trade business with Malaysia (Wan Ismail, 2005).

Traditional Malay House
(Source: http://www.worldtravelserver.com/travel/en/malaysia/airport_sultan_mahmud_airport/photo_63656229-traditional-malay-house.html)

A typical Malay house consists of two parts, one is front portion and another is the back portion. Front portions is basically for male while the back portions is for female (Wan Ismail, 2005). The front part of the house consists of serambi, rumah ibu and anjung. The back part of the house consists of rumah dapur and tengah. Serambi is where guests are entertained and rumah ibu is where most of the activities are held (Wan Ismail, 2005). So, vernacular Malaysia architecture is about fulfilling humans necessities. In my next post, I will talk more detail into Malaysia vernacular architecture. 

References:

Edwards, S. (2011) "Vernacular Architecture and the 21st Century". ArchDaily. Available at: 

http://www.archdaily.com/155224/vernacular-architecture-and-the-21st-century 

[Accessed 1 June, 2016]

Oxford Dictionaries (2016) Oxford University Press. Available at:    

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/vernacular

[Accessed 1 June, 2016]

Scribd Inc. (2016) "Jenis-jenis Rumah Melayu". Available at: https://www.scribd.com/doc/31193629/Jenis-Jenis-Rumah-Melayu 

[Accessed 1 June, 2016]

Wan Ismail, W.H. (2005) 'Traditional Malay Houses'. Houses in Malaysia: Fusion of the East and the West. pp.12-15. Skudai, Johor. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

Image Sources:

Traditional Malay House (n.d.) [Image] Available at:

http://www.worldtravelserver.com/travel/en/malaysia/airport_sultan_mahmud_airport/photo_63656229-traditional-malay-house.html [Accessed 1 June, 2016]