THE FUTURE OF TRADITIONAL MALAY HOUSE DESIGN IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Abstract

Heritage is an item needs to be preserved. Malay traditional house has been slowly faded from the Malaysian development since its independence in 1957. Malay traditional house is one of the most unique house designs that can be found in Asia. It is Malay’s heritages that are very important to be preserved and conserved. The significant of Malay traditional house is selected as a reference is that traditional house is closely related with Malaysia as a whole and thus become an iconic identity. Most houses were built of timber construction using the Malay’s traditional carpentry experts because they are the pioneer in this type of construction. That is why it is no wonder that the best architectural house design using timber is Malay’s traditional timber house. It is hoped with this reference and analysis of this type of house will make a better house design for future generation and what can be learned from the ‘natural wisdom’ of the original Malay traditional house carpenters. In 2008, the numbers of recorded well preserved and conserved Traditional Malay House is declining. Thus, it is very worrying that their numbers will be lower in future and becoming extinct. Only some few efforts either by individuals or governments will try to maintain and contain this physical heritage. It is crucial that without enough join effort of those who are afford to have and maintain the house only will sustain the heritage and thus the Malaysian identity. 

Keywords: Traditional, Malay, Malaysian, Identity, House, Design, Architecture, Heritage, Conservation