Malaysian Architecture

Regine Carla P. TerceDFR1A

Peninsular MalaysiaSabah and Sarawak(East Malaysia)330,803 km2

located on the Sunda shelfTectonically inactive39.7%- Peninsular60.3%- East Malaysia

Malaysia's geographical location protects the country from most major natural disasters. It is located on a seismically stable plate that minimises direct risks of earthquakes and volcanoes, is partially protected from tsunamis by surrounding landmasses, and is a rare target for typhoons due its strategic location outside tropical cyclone basins. However, the country's tropical climate opens the country to the risk of flooding, landslides and prolonged droughts.

ReligionIslam

- predominant religion of the country- state's official religion- 60 % of malaysians- 12th century by Indian traders- 15th century: most malaysians were muslim

Buddhism- 19 % of their population- Headquarters:

-Kuala Lumpur-Selangor

- Mahayana- Therevada

Hinduism- 9 % of Malaysia’s population- Urban temples are often dedicated to a single deity.- Rural temples are often home to many different deities.-  Most temples follow the Saivite tradition from Southern India.

Christianity- 10 % of the population of Malaysia- mostly found in East Malaysia- 15th century by Portuguese- Christianity has become restricted as Malaysia has become more Islamic.- The city of Shah Alam

Malaysian ArchitectureNeo Moorish (Mughal)

- 20th century- Great Britain- Dataran Merdeka

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Malaysia’s Court of Appeals

Old Kuala Lumpur High Court

Tudor & Victorian

- Tudor:- features large exposed wooden

beams in half- timbered walls.- Neo-Gothic:

- exists in religious building built by the colonial powers.- Victorian:

- popular choice for the colonial powers to build schools.

Royal Selangor Club

St. Mary’s Cathedral

Malay (Rumah Melayu)

- are traditional dwellings, originating before the arrival of foreign or modern influences.

- constructed by the indigenous ethnic Malay of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo.

- timber and bamboo- built without the use of metal including nails.

- Without nails, a timber house could be dismantled and reconstructed in a new location.

Parts:

1. Built on stilts2. Have stairs3. Partitioned rooms4. Vernacular roof5. Adorned with decoration

Stilts

Most of Malay houses are built as Rumah Panggung (lit: "stage house") houses built on stilts. The main characteristic of a typical Malay kampung house is its on stilts or piles. This was to avoid wild animals and floods, to deter thieves, and for added ventilation. In Sumatra, traditionally stilted houses are designed to avoid dangerous wild animals, such as snakes and tigers. While in areas located close to big rivers of Sumatra and Borneo, the stilts help to elevated house above flood surface. In parts of Sabah, the number of dowry buffaloes could even depend on the number of stilts there are in the bridal family's home.

Stairs

The traditional Malay house require stairs to reach the elevated interior. Usually the stairs connected the land front of the house to the serambi (porch or verandah). Additional stairs might be found on back of the house. The stairs can be made of wood or brick structure covered with tiles.

Rooms

  A traditional Malay timber house usually in two parts: the main house called Rumah Ibu in honour of the mother (ibu) and the simpler Rumah Dapur or kitchen annexe, which was separated from the main house for fire protection.

Roof

The roof of traditional Malay houses are designed to provide shade and protection from heat and rain, as well as to provide ventilation. The basic design of a roof on a Malay house is gabled roof, an extended frame with ornaments on the edges of the roof. The vernacular Malay roof is best suited for hot and humid tropical climates. An example of the gabled roof can be found in the design of Rumah Lipat Kajang. However a pyramidal styled pitched roof can also be found on houses such as the Palembang Rumah Limas.

Decoration

Each Malay region, state or sub-ethnic groups has its own regional or group style of house with preferred details. However most of Malay houses have a typical roof ornament, a crossed roof edge structure forming "x"-like pinnacle ornament on the edge of the roof. This kind of ornament can be found in Lontik, Lipat Kajang and Limas styles.

Rumah Lancang-curved roof-boat-like structure

Rumah Lipat Kajang-traditional house with tiled stairs

Islamic

With Islam being the official religion of Malaysia, you’ll find Islamic architecture often in Kuala Lumpur. Apart from actual mosques, there are many subtle Islamic geometric patterns and motifs designed into many structure.

National Mosque

Al Bukhary Mosque

Jasmek Mosque