Kedah Traditional House (Measured Drawings)

The houses are situated side by side, with an open road in front, that allows direct view from the public’s eyes.The houses are surrounded by vegetation that mimics the environment of the olden days village that are filled with Malay houses. It feels free and open, with no boundaries between one house to another, pulling one another closer together.

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exhibit.

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elegance.

The intricacy of the ornaments can be seen even from afar. These carvings are placed above windows, doors or even wall partitions. It enables an enhancement towards the repetitive layout of the architectural elements. The gable roof pattern represents the sunrise, using the nature as a source of inspiration.

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glance.

From the exterior, the house gave an impression of a private individual block; From the interior’s point of view, the house break barriers and integrated transparency through window openings and ornamentation, pulling all spaces into a close proximity.

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reflection.

The form of the house is made up of individual units combined together. The basic unit of each room gives both corresponding facades of the house present with similar elements.There is a consistency and balance in it’s architectural elements.

Pelantar MALAY HOUSE

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MOVEMENT. Each spaces, from the covered porch, to the reception area, the bedrooms and then the kitchen 1are definite, outlined by the columns. The spaces are organized to surround the core of the house, which is the bedroom. The flow of circulation is in a linear form, showing the transition of spaces.

The back of house is the second entrance of the house, a spot for the women to get-together. The space at the back is where the women carry out their house chores, signifies a women being the back bone of the men.

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reunion.

Pelantar MALAY HOUSE styles surau

appearance.

The house has a properly maintained and preserved look. It is a good display of a Malay vernacular architecture. With an addition of the vegetation surrounding the house, it blends in together well, capturing a good representation of the traditional Malay house environment and atmosphere.

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Grand.

A masterpiece that redefines grandness, with vertical strips of columns orderly placed throughout the house, made it seamlessly light and given the structure great height, transforming the house into a magnificent creation.

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SHELTER. A broad coverage that provides shade and protection to the elements beneath. The stairway is an ascension of the entrance, with a spacious access, gives out a sense of welcome to the visitors upon arrival.

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FRAME. The columns are the main structural support to the house. It is visible and apparent throughout the house, arranged in an orderly manner that not only aids in defining spaces, but also a part of the stunning design of the house.

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Mirrored.

The view of the house from the main entrance is expansive whereas the back of the house decreased in size. Even with its transformation in spaces, the layout of the walls and window placement are repeated and at times symmetrical.

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Mechanism.

A man built item, yet cater to respond to environmental conditions. During a windy day, the wind triggers the movement of the louvers, forming openings for the entry of wind, cooling down the interior spaces.

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Reciprocate.

The details of the roof are neatly tied together, and properly placed above the wall panels that are arranged in between columns. Every element of the house complements one another. The roof and walls that give shelter, and the structural support system that holds everything together. All in all, everything comes together in harmony.

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DUALITY. Apart from the decorative elements of the carvings, it also allows the entry of light rays into the house. Less energy is required to illuminate the interior spaces of the house due to the use of natural lighting.

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Pelantar MALAY HOUSE

engraving.

It is impossible to enter the house and make the refined carvings on the staircase kept unnoticed.

The engravings are nature inspired, mixtures of leaves, flowers and tendrils. It is a great addition to the plain stairs.

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reattachment.

The carvings in the traditional house are put together like a puzzle. Each and every piece are essential to complete the final artwork. Thus, despite it’s condition, broken pieces are restored back to its place to preserve it’s original look.

FLORAL. The nature is the source of inspiration in designing the pattern of the wood carvings. Floral patterns are frequently used and many variations can be found in different Malay houses. These carvings are placed at the top part of windows, doors and even the wooden wall partitions.

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The interior parts of the window has its own organic ornamentation incorporated. The ornamentation has given the plain windows a spark of life.

The carving’s pattern are repetitive, making it visually harmonized and aesthetically pleasing.

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LIVEN UP.

STYLES MALAY HOUSE

HANDMADE. Ornamentation can be seen placed throughout the house. The locals beliefs and values are translated into variation of carved patterns done repetitively. Each and every piece of them are carved with the hearts and souls of the people, that reflects their cultural backgrounds.

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peek.

The wall between the kitchen and bedroom shares a common window by both spaces. The room, has the curtains that soften the space, a sense of comfort and warmth.

Whereas the kitchen, kept it simple for functional purposes in the kitchen.

The opening at the wall gives slight transparency between the two rooms, keeping both sides connected.

bare.

The roof structures are revealed, a beautiful arrangement of wooden support. They are primarily a support system, but also a wooden artwork. It shows the details of roof’s support and also the magnificence of it being attached together. There is an addition of a small opening at the top to bring in cool air, enhancing the experience within the space.

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STYLES MALAY HOUSE

BLOSSOM. Floral glass lamps are situated in each spaces of the room. With the carvings placed at the top of each partitions, the warmth of light radiates throughout the house. The lamp is positioned at the same level with the organic ornaments which complements each other, highlighting the refined carvings.

Light that emits from the oil lamp lightens up the kitchen area during the night. It is placed at the ridge roof, center axis of the kitchen space, giving a balance light, not only lightening up the beautiful details in the house, but also to the lives of the families.

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comfort.

The shape of the flower has inspired the design of the door knob. Implementation of the flower’s form has fused with the form of the door knob. With it’s existing design, it has solidify and embraced the concept of nature in all of it’s elements in the house.

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Embodiment.

culture MALAY HOUSE

backing.

The open platform at the back of the house is made up of real wood with a circular metal post at the bottom to support. The rough texture of the material suits its function as a working spot.

CULTURE MALAY HOUSE

RAW. Pure, natural wood are used to create the platform, also known as the ‘Pelantar’. It is a build-in utility which is used for washing clothes or preparing food purposes. A sense of rawness, with every piece of wood baring its original state was indeed a wise choice of material provided it’s functionality.

building materials MALAY HOUSE

defects.

The scars are the written ages carved onto its bare surface. A little deterioration tends to occur, leaving carvings of the passing time and the effect of external factors, but it doesn’t define its capabilities and strength.

building materrials malay house

pieces.

The facade of the kitchen area are layers of wood panels laid piece by piece. The columns are the boundary for each compartment of space, a border to aid the layering of wood panels. The columns are exposed, showing the main source of support for the house.

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Resourceful.

In kedah, nipa and rumbia leaves can be easily found nearby their living environment. Thus, it is commonly used as the roof’s material. A deception by its look, but once explored and discovered, something as soft as leaves that could actually contribute in giving protection.

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CHAIN. The leavers are layered piece by piece, tied up together by a rattan string, overlapping one another. A delicate work by the people, that has made something ordinary to something functional.

building materials MALAY HOUSE

imperfections.

Due to the long existence of the house, it left scars from extreme weather and wasn’t well maintained, without any extensive care and remained abandoned. Despite all of the conditions, with its ability to still stand till today has proven the capabilities of its materials and construction.

building construction surau

Pelantar MALAY HOUSE

exposed.

3 rows of vertically and horizontally wooden rafters are aligned, overlapping one another. The edges of both pieces of roof are connected by a thicker wood, topping up with a final layer of atap leaves. Its complexity in roof structures are uncovered, enabling the understanding of roof construction.

building construction MALAY HOUSE

Secure.

A strengthening component of the structural support system. It holds separate pieces of wood together, restricting it from further movement. The wood is oddly placed but not disruptive to the structure, on the contrary, it was functional.

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nail An olden days version of a nail, used to link wooden parts together. This is a joining method applied on the staircase. The connection is evident, reflecting the intelligence of people from the past, shows how human beings are great problem solvers.

building construction MALAY HOUSE

coverage.

The joist are placed in a longitudinal and latitudinal position, beneath the floor boards, ending with intersections through the columns. It is part of the skeleton of the building.

By going across the base of the house and binding through intersections provides a stable support to the house.

building construction MALAY HOUSE

core.

Every piece of joist cross paths at the columns. The post became the intersecting point for every end of the joist which is crucial to elevate the house. It made every intersection possible in the contribution of strengthening the house.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION MALAY HOUSE

BRANCHES. One of the key components in the structural support system of the house that may seemed small, but are crucial to strengthen the house. The wooden support is properly situated at the columns which allows the roof to stretch with the support attached at both sides.

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roots Despite all the wooden structures being the dominant material that made up the house, the concrete base plays a huge role in rooting the building on ground, withstanding the pressure above.

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hidden.

The alignment of joints that spreads across and beneath the platform of the house.The interaction of every piece of wood within its arrangement has bonded and relied onto one another.

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wallpaper.

The view from the interior space has an unintentionally formation of a wallpaper. A delicate natural pattern, an impact caused by the daylight contrasting with the carvings. The deer head was positioned at the middle of the work of art, a perfect fit of proportion.

Pelantar MALAY HOUSE

spatial qualities MALAY HOUSE

warmth.

Nature’s hug has brought warmth into homes of the families, given them a chance of survival, a shelter. With the essence of natural resources, it forms intimate spaces, reflecting the Malay cultural background. With the windows and ornaments, there are sufficient light to illuminate the spaces for daily life activities.

SPATIAL QUALITIES MALAY HOUSE

HEART. The core of the house is organized in such a way that it is surrounded by rooms, with the kitchen at the back and the reception area at the front. The circulation of the house is in a linear form, making the bedroom a transitional space from the reception to the kitchen. (public to private).

Pelantar MALAY HOUSE

spatial qualities MALAY HOUSE

intimate.

The bedroom is a space for family members to rest and have their private moment.

The room has no intentions to create any partitions in between, thus creating an intimacy among family members within the room. The texture of the wooden materials in the room gave a warm feeling, in addition with the natural daylight shining in,the color of the wood is embraced.

SPATIAL QUALITITES MALAY HOUSE

Engulf.

The kitchen area has an extensive roof, being a part of the wall, revealing its arrangement of rafters and the layers of atap leaves. The space became fully immersed into parts the roof. The space was given height, making the space more spacious and ventillated.

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soul.

The arrow points towards the direction prayers should be facing. It is a spacious room for prayers to be spiritual connected. The openings gave a sense of openness, a visual connection with the exterior environment.

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FIRE. A firebox with rocks and woods, natural resources from the environment. It reflects on how little things like this are the basics of life, simple knowledge that can be done independently. It was a slow paced life, but every moment was filled with fulfillment.

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Cleanse.

Before entering a sacred place, its important that we respect the place by purifying ourselves prior our entry. Thus, water pipes are provided outside the praying hall to wash the legs for hygiene purposes.

CULTURE MALAY HOUSE

SCENE. In the olden days, traditional Malay houses are always placed nearby with one another. Its a friendly neighborhood as every openings is like pictures that comes to live, allows connections and people interactions even when it is in individual houses. The absent of the boundary between houses makes everyone in the community feel included.

culture surau

channel.

Bits and pieces of the cultural background surfaces around the compound of the house. One of the items that was found, the Malay called it - ‘Beduk’. In Malay culture, it is used to alert the people to gather before the prayer starts. Its whole body is made up of a tree trunk, reflecting how natural resources can be built and created to perform specific functions.

mask.

A layer of white paint is applied onto the surface of the tree trunk. A disguise to nature’s way of calling. It also serves as a layer of protection towards the wood, maintaining its quality.

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