Chapter 2: Malaysian Vernacular Architecture and Its Relationship to Climate 2.1 Vernacular Architecture of Traditional Malay House 2.1.1 Vernacular Settlements Vernacular architecture includes dwellings and other buildings which relate to their environment and available resources. They are customarily owner or communitybuilt, utilising traditional technologies from one generation to the next (Oliver, 1997 and 2003). Hanafi (1994) suggests that agriculture and fishing activities are the two main areas of work during ancient times of the early Malay settlements. Tjahjono (2003) claims that rural settlements have grown in geographically distinctive locations that vary from hilltops, valleys, riverbanks, lowlands, estuaries and coastal areas, with each area developing different types of economy, social organization and built environment. The opening of new settlements in unexplored areas by the newly migrated families starts the traditional Malay settlements or ‘kampong’ (Figure 1). This migration is an individual family or in a group (originating from the same district in Malay Archipelago) to the surrounding regional areas, either by land or water transportation. After several generations, a modern kampong normally has a number of households and is led by a headman. Migration has expanded their original culture such as language, customary laws and vernacular architecture to the new area.
Figure 1: Spontaneous Malay 'Kampong' Environment (Idid & Salim, 2011).
5
2.1.2 Functions and Social Interaction The construction elements in Malay vernacular architecture are light timber-framed structures, forming elevated floors, sloping long roofs with large overhangs, louvered windows, timber or woven bamboo walls and screenings (on the upper walls). In terms of spatial elements, the basic spaces of the serambi, rumah ibu and dapur are the most common in a traditional Malay house (Figure 2). Although these houses have variations, elements such as spatial, functional and physical could be determined as the most common among them (Ismail & Ahmad, 2006). Table 1 shows the common uses and privacy levels of interior spaces in a traditional Malay house. Table 1: The Uses and Privacy Level of Internal Spaces in Traditional Malay House.
Figure 2: The Internal Layout of Andak Endah House, 1920 (Image by the Author).
6
The traditional Malay house can be divided into front and back sections, which are centred around the rumah ibu (the core house) and the dapur (kitchen) respectively (Yuan, 1987: 34). The serambi, in any event, will be at the front, followed by the rumah ibu and dapur. This arrangement is similar in all Malay houses and closely reflects the social interaction in Malay communities. According to Chen, et al. (2008), the traditional forms of Malay houses in Peninsula Malaysia can be divided into five groups. The groups are identified by the similarities detected in the Malay houses of the west Malay states in Peninsula Malaysia. More than 200 cases supplied by the Center for the Study of Built Environment in the Malay World (KALAM) have been analyzed, and are categorized below in Table 2. Table 2 also shows the internal spaces that are normally associated with Malay houses according to the group. A basic form is often used in Group 1, Group 3 and Group 4, where normally the dapur is associated with the rumah ibu without using the selang or pelantar as a link. The selang or pelantar are usually found in Group 2 and Group 5, and this shows that the Malay houses in these groups have expanded form. In this study, two prototype houses were obtained from KALAM for basic form and expanded form: Datuk Baginda Tan Mas Mohar and Andak Endah. Table 2: Internal Spaces Found in Traditional Malay House by Groups (Extracted from Chen, et al., 2008)
7
2.1.3 Proportions Figure 3 shows the proportionate rules of traditional Malay house forms, based on two examples of traditional Malay houses supplied by KALAM; the proportion of stilts and walls height of the houses is equivalent as a proportion of X, while the roof height measured from the roof eaves to the ridge is a proportion of 2X.
Figure 3: Proportionate Rules of Traditional Malay House (Images by the Author).
8
2.2 Architectural Qualities 2.2.1 Serambi The serambi is the smallest space among the other spaces. In some cases of the twelve-column house, this space usually accommodates a quarter of the house, and the floor level will always be lower than the rumah ibu floor level. The form of the serambi is usually rectangle and in some cases is an extraordinarily long narrow space (Chen, et al., 2008). This area can be constructed with or without perimeter walls; however, it tends to look like a semi-outdoor space with numerous daylighting from the openings. Figure 4 shows the location of serambi space in two examples of Malay houses. The serambi in the house of Andak Endah has no walls, while the other serambi in the house of Tan Mas Mohar is built with walls. The importance of the serambi is to serve as the first greeting space for guests after entering the house (Yuan, 1987). In a traditional Malay kampong, houses are built in random positions but can be seen from the distance. The serambi in this case will be the place for social interaction within the neighbourhood, and for parents to monitor their children playing in the yard.
Figure 4: The Location of Serambi in Traditional Malay Houses (KALAM, 1986; 1996).
9
2.2.2 Rumah Ibu The rumah ibu is the core space of the Malay house. This has the largest area, highest floor level and highest roof level (Yuan, 1987: 37). In respect of the needs and privacy of family members, bedrooms are provided, but the number is flexible and depends on family size (Figure 5). Lighting in this space is reduced to provide coolness. (Yuan, 1987). Moreover, this space also has an uncomplicated furniture arrangement (Chen, et al., 2008). The rumah ibu is usually used for official events and a place for treating well-known guests or close relatives. Official ceremonies relating to customs are also carried out here. These include engagement, marriage and wedding ceremonies. On normal days, this space will be for relaxing, reading, mingling with other family members, and for use as a sleeping area at night (Chen, et al., 2008).
Figure 5: The Location of Rumah Ibu in Traditional Malay Houses (KALAM, 1986; 1996).
10
2.2.3 Dapur The kitchen, or dapur, is always situated at the back of the house (Yuan, 1987: 38). The functions of this space are for cooking, washing and eating. The basic layout of a Malay house will include a dapur within the rumah ibu, but in some cases the dapur will be connected with a pelantar, a roofless platform, or a selang. This, on the other hand, is an enclosed space that serves as a walkway and used as a second entrance for females during a ceremony (Figure 6). Although the dapur is the last space in the house, it holds the prestigious function of family gatherings where dining takes place together with other family members. Therefore, the dapur has a large space, which is considered the second largest in a Malay house.
Figure 6: The Location of Dapur in Traditional Malay House (KALAM, 1996).
11
2.3 Construction Systems 2.3.1 Materials Traditional building materials such as wood and palm leaves are usually taken directly from nearby forests (Yuan, 1987). Table 3 shows the types of wood used in three different construction parts in a Malay house. Wood can be easily found in Malaysia, but nowadays the price of wood is very high and is therefore used primarily for export rather than as a building material. Other materials such as palm trees are also widely available. This material is good for roof finishes as it releases heat readily; however, it does not survive as long as the other materials and needs to be changed regularly. Table 3: The Types of Wood Used in Malay House (Extracted from Yuan, 1987).
12
2.3.2 Structural Components As a lightweight timber structure, a traditional Malay house regularly uses posts and a lintel timber structure. The posts rest on concrete or stone footings without any foundation required (Yuan, 1987). The structural framework for the house consists of posts braced by floor joists and roof girders, as shown in Figure 7. Using prefabricated construction methods where all the components are made and assembled on site allows the house to be dismantled and reassembled elsewhere in different locations.
Figure 7: Basic Construction Methods of Malay House (Yuan, 1987).
Figure 8 shows that a basic Malay house construction starts by placing the first column, known as a tiang seri (located in the middle of the house). Meanwhile, other structural components such as posts and girts are laid in their respective positions. After all the posts and girts have been erected and braced, top girts and king posts are then set up at both sides. Following that, the roof ridge supported by king post is placed, and subsequently the roof structures such as principal rafters, purlins and common rafters are put up. Finally, the non-structural components are placed to make the house an enclosed structure.
13
Figure 8: The Erection of Basic Traditional Malay House Form (Yuan, 1987).
2.3.3 Non-Structural Components The non-structural components are windows and panels for the floors, walls, stairs and roofs fitted between the frames (Figure 9). Window components can be divided into three operable sections, the top, middle and bottom (Yuan, 1987). The top section, called ornamentation, is a fixed ventilation panel that is usually well decorated and carved.
14
Figure 9: The Non-Structural Components of Traditional Malay House (KALAM, 1996).
The floor is one of the non-structural components in a traditional Malay house. It is nailed on the floor joist, and it is also common to leave gaps between the planks to facilitate activities of cleaning (sweeping and washing) or for religious needs (bathing the family member’s deceased). Figure 10 shows the gap-floor area location in the rumah ibu space.
Figure 10: The Location of Gap-Floor Area in Andak Endah House (KALAM, 1996).
15
2.4 Adapting to the Climate 2.4.1 Malaysia’s Climate Geographically, two separated land areas form Malaysia, which are Peninsula Malaysia in the west, and the northern part of Borneo comprising Sabah and Sarawak in the east. This country lies between latitude 10 to 70 North and longitude 1000 to 1200 East. It can be said that Malaysia is located in the equatorial doldrums, with the characters of uniform temperature, high humidity and copious rainfall all year round (Malaysian Meteorological Department, 2012). As a tropical country, Malaysia experiences high temperatures, with an annual mean minimum temperature of 220C and an annual mean maximum temperature of 340C (Hanafi, 1994). Figure 11 shows the average monthly rainfall and temperature for Malaysia from 1990 to 2009. It suggests that the average temperature in a year ranges from 25.50C to 26.50C, while the average rainfall is between 100mm to 300mm (University of East Anglia, 2012).
Figure 11: Average Monthly Temperature and Rainfall for Malaysia from 1990-2009 (CRU, University of East Anglia, 2012).
16
Figure 12 shows the rainfall tabulation for Peninsula Malaysia in June and December 2011. In June the rainfall tabulation was uniformed throughout the Peninsula Malaysia, while in December the rainfall was concentrated along the east coast. Figure 13 displays the rainfall tabulation for Malaysia in March 2011, which showed that the country received high rainfall all year long. This region has high humidity with the lowest 67%; the average is more than 80% (Abdul Hussain Al-Obaidi & Woods, 2006). The wind flow for Malaysia is light and variable. The location of this country, specifically Peninsula Malaysia, is surrounded by the seas; this gives the effect of sea and land breezes. In the afternoon, sea breezes of 5.14 to 7.71 m/s (10 to 15 knots) are common, reaching up to several tens of kilometres inland (Malaysian Meteorological Department, 2012).
Figure 12: Peninsula Malaysia's Rainfall Tabulation in June and December 2011 (Malaysian Meteorological Department, 2012).
Figure 13: Malaysia's Rainfall Tabulation in March 2011 (Malaysian Meteorological Department, 2012).
17
2.4.2 Traditional Malay ‘Kampong’ The unplanned arrangement of Malay houses indirectly helps to reduce the risk of strong winds where settlements along coastal areas experience higher wind speed than inland regions (Hanafi, 1994). The characters of a Malay kampong are detached, and dispersed units with ample external spaces between them to allow fresh air circulation (Hanafi, 1994). However, the patterns of a traditional Malay kampong, which have similarities to villages in Indonesia, can be described in two main types of spatial arrangement: linear and concentric (Tjahjono, 2003). Figure 14 shows the linear and concentric settlement patterns of a Malay ‘kampong’. For a linear pattern, houses face the economic resources and transportation links such as roads, rivers or beaches; in a concentric pattern, the serambi usually faces the public space located at the centre of the houses.
Figure 14: Linear and Concentric Patterns of Traditional Malay 'Kampong'. (Images by the Author).
18
In Malay house compounds, crop-bearing trees such as coconut trees and highbranched fruity trees are planted (Yuan, 1987: 92; Hanafi, 1994). These trees have various functions, such as to indicate individual boundaries, provide fruits, and shade the pedestrian walkways (Figure 15). The open space compounds of a traditional Malay kampong can encourage social interaction within neighbourhoods (Yuan, 1987: 93). For religious reasons, most traditional Malay houses are oriented to face Mecca (east-west direction), which indirectly minimizes the area of exposed walls to direct solar radiation during the day (Yuan, 2011).
Figure 15: The External Environment of the Malay House (Yuan, 1987).
19
2.4.3 Raised Floor The uniqueness of a Malay house is that it is built on stilts. This approach in many ways has several benefits from a thermal, functional and safety point of view. The raised floor, which is built higher than the ground, can catch winds of a higher velocity (Yuan, 1987: 71), and the use of timber planks for the floor, which have gaps between them, can bring the air to the inner space. Hanafi (1994) suggests that moist ground requires more sunlight to dry, and a raised floor is one of the solutions. The wet climate does not just make the ground damp but can also cause floods. Therefore, stilt heights vary between Malay houses located in the northern and southern regions (Table 4). Several research findings about stilt heights in traditional Malay houses have proved those in the northern region have more height than those in the southern region (Figure 16). The underneath space allocated by the raised floor can provide shelter for the livestock, working space, and a clothes-drying area during rainy seasons. Table 4: Findings on Stilts Height in Traditional Malay House.
Figure 16: The Height Difference of Stilts Between Northern and Southern Region Houses (Images by the Author).
20
2.4.4 Walls and Openings A traditional Malay house allows ventilation by having many full-length windows and doors at body level (Yuan, 1987: 76). Hassan and Ramli (2010) conclude that the large number of windows and openings aided by ornamentation at the perimeter walls can contribute to the cross ventilation process (Figure 17). However, further analysis by the same authors (2010) reveals that large openings on Malay house walls create high air intakes outside to reduce the performance of the stack effect. Table 5 shows detailed results of the study, which suggest that most of the indoor and outdoor temperatures were higher than 280C. Furthermore, the humidity level in the house is mostly higher than 60%. Meanwhile, the wind speed in the Malay house ranges from 0.3 m/s to 3.4 m/s. Table 5: Comparison of Comfort Level Between A Malay House in Penang and Tropical Region Recommendation (Extracted from Hassan & Ramli, 2010).
Figure 17: Climatic Design of Malay House (Yuan, 1987).
21
2.4.5 Double-Slope Roof Roof space in a traditional Malay house is properly ventilated by the provision of ventilation joints and panels in the roof construction (Yuan, 1987: 75). Figure 18 shows the roof’s opening on both sides to allow air movement into the house (Hanafi, 1994). As one of the indigenous materials, the attap roof used in Malay houses has a low thermal capacity. This material does not retain heat and cools immediately. Another climatic responsive design of a double-slope roof is its gable ends. Having various motive designs, this component also has ventilation panels which allow air to flow into the roof space and cool the house (Yuan, 1987:111). As shown in Figure 19 the gable ends with ventilation in traditional Malay houses have various designs and can reach up to about 5 to 9 metres high (Chen, et al., 2008).
Figure 18: Ventilation Openings in the Roof of Traditional Malay House (KALAM, 1986).
22
Figure 19: The Gable Ends Designs of Traditional Malay House (Yuan, 1987).
From the two examples in Figure 20, the roof overhangs in the Andak Endah house range from 1000mm to 1500mm, and the Datuk Baginda Tan Mas Mohar house has overhangs ranging from 1400mm to 1600mm. Large overhangs and the low exposed vertical areas (windows and walls) in a traditional Malay house provide good protection against driving rain, good shading, and allow the windows to be left open most of the time for ventilation (Yuan, 1987). Meanwhile, the roof angle for both cases ranges from 300 to 600. The steep roof angle is used to quickly drain off any rain falling onto the roof surface before it seeps through the layers of thatching (Lee, 2003:251).
Figure 20: The Roof Angles and Length of Overhangs in Traditional Malay Houses (Images by the Author).
23
2.5 Summaries and Key Points The random arrangement of houses in a Malay kampong with high coconut trees promotes air movement and shade to the entire kampong. Meanwhile, the elevated floors, full-length windows on the perimeter walls and openings on roof structures allow large air movement into the house. Thus, the cross ventilation process can be achieved and compared to the stack effect. The front-to-back arrangement of a Malay house preserves the privacy levels of the occupants. The serambi is one of the most important spaces and serves as an interaction area within the neighbourhood. Meanwhile, the rumah ibu area can have a flexible number of rooms according to the family size and needs. Therefore, the house is always meeting the basic needs of the residents from time to time. Furthermore, the lightweight materials such as timber, bamboo and attap roofing have a great advantage in Malaysia’s climate. These materials perform better as they cool down rapidly and heat up quickly during the day, even when there is a slight difference in outside temperature (Saini, 1970). As a tropical country, Malaysia receives a lot of sunshine and copious rainfall throughout the year. These factors lead to high solar radiation, glare and traces of rainwater to the exposed walls. Low thermal mass materials used in a Malay house can release heat from solar radiation readily, while large overhangs can reduce glare and traces of rainwater. The full-length windows in a traditional Malay house are divided into three components, which are top, middle and bottom. The middle and bottom components are operable and can be shut separately, while the top component is carved open at all times for ventilation. This system can allow air in according to residents’ needs.
24
