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The Malay House Essay

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“The Malay house is an excellent example of how a building is designed to be part of its surrounding whilst acknowledging the existence of the prevailing climatic conditions.” (Amat, 2008, p4) The Malay house or the Kampung house, evokes peace, beauty, tranquility and a sense of deep immersion in culture. A Kampung house is a traditional Malay house found in the equatorial climate of the South East Asian nations. Built centuries ago, the Kampung design is best suited for its environment ; hot and humid. “The untutored builders in space and time – the protagonists of this show – demonstrate an admirable talent for fitting their buildings into the natural surroundgins. Instead of trying to “conquer” nature, as we do, they welcome the vagaries of climate and the challenge of topography. … They do not hesitate to seek out the most complicated configurations in the landscape.” (Rudofsky, 1964, p4) This typical house built on stilts and tucked away in the thick jungle is not only a physical ‘being’, but a house that is the center of family and community activities. Till this very day, the Kampung house provides shelter and security, is the center of decision making and is the home of marriages, births, celebrations and deaths. This deceptively simple piece of architecture has enabled itself to become the soul of its inhabitants, surviving and thriving through the onslaught of modern day development. It evokes the realization of worlds and spaces that can be inhabited in

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