ABSTRACT: The ubiquitous terrace house is undeniably the most popular and affordable housing type in Malaysia. It has long been considered as one of the densest forms of property development and has become the common typology of accommodating the masses for this country. This make the development of terrace housing typology become the key factor for the campaign and development of Eco-Settlement in Malaysia. However, in Malaysia (like other third world countries), the design of a house has never grow from novelistic idea of style and revivalism. As stated by Tajuddin Rasdi (2003), housing in Malaysia has been plague with various issues for decades. We are currently living separate and individual lives in the sea of congested modern housing and we will be forever plagued by the mercy of crime, climate, cultural tensions and threats from accidents. Based on our paper N. Utaberta (2009) ‘Growing House: Lesson from Mathematical flexibility of Traditional Malay House’, there at least six (6) problems in Modern Malaysia housing which are; safety especially in the high rise and terrace housing, criminal issue in the housing complexes, problem of privacy and cultural tension, thermal comfort and its ability to grow based on the need of the owners and community. The main purpose of this paper is to identify major problems that occur from the restriction in growing and transformable of modern housing in Malaysia and at the same time it will explore the ecological aspect of our traditional (timber) Malay house. We have identified the ability of traditional Malay house to grow and transform based on the need and interest of one family which make it not only ecologically friendly but also sustainable in term of social and cultural context in development.
KEYWORD: growing house, design & construction flexibility, traditional Malay house
1. INTRODUCTION
The main purpose of this paper is to identify major problems that occur from the restriction in growing and transformable of modern housing in Malaysia and at the same time it will explore the ecological aspect of our traditional (timber) Malay house. By using content analysis approaches (literature review and case study) this paper have identified the ability of traditional Malay house to grow and transform based on the need and interest of one family which make it not only ecologically friendly but also sustainable in term of social and cultural context in development. This process of identifying is very important in order to identify the need of a family as a basic element from a civilization to grow or being transformed into different form of family. This heritage which propagated by the traditional craftman in Malaya since a long time ago throughout their tukang approaches proofed to be ecologically suitable and sensitve to the culture and the local spirit of a family. The discussion of this paper will be divided into 5 part; Crisis and Problems in Architectural Study, crisis and problems in Modern Houses, Crisis and Problems for Modern Houses to Expand from a Family Perspective, Lesson from Malay Traditional Houses, Lesson from A few Master Architect of Modern Architecture and last but not least; Issue and Factor That Influence the Consideration of the Expand House Design. It is expected that this paper will be inaugurating more in-depth study on this Malay cultural heritage which getting forgotten by architects as modern craftsman which looks so zealous in referring to foreign architecture art product that might be less suitable even against Malaysian culture and societal needs.
1.1 CRISIS AND PROBLEM IN ARCHITECTURE STUDY
Major problems from various study in architecture latterly is its tendency to become object oriented discourse. Architects and academician in this fields’ profession seeing architecture as a science to generate building and mould an appearance of style only. Profession and architecture knowledge also treated as a work of art and developed as an elite knowledge and only involve a few people such as John Ruskin said:
The architect is carefully guarded from the common troubles of the common man, building ignorant, and purse proud digesting machines…Living art must have more in it than imitated Style.
John Ruskin, The Seven Lamps of Architecture,
Attitude with object oriented would set aside value and context framework from architecture work. Architects and academician often neglect the society social problems, culture, even comfort to achieve the glorious style or metaphor oriented design. Space or building as an art of architecture often being displayed as a symbol of expression and a form style without thinking the human stay inside as we can see in the discussion further on.
Attitude and view that seeing architecture as an art made it secluded from real needs from the user and become an elite study that only can be understood by some people and particular group. This kind point of view intend to see architecture more as a product with a sense and imagination that very hard to measure and abstract. Architect should learn from planning experience of Crystal Palace building and Eiffel Tower where’s the result of hard work and rationalist thinking and empirical from engineer has succeed produced an extraordinary architecture art and acknowledged until today.
Architect and academician in architecture should overcome their safe zone blending with others professional and academician such as anthropologist, engineer, psychology, doctor and mathematician collaborating expand this field especially in order to preserve and meet the life culture needs and giving up the value for the social spirit of Malaysian society.
Architecture crisis and problem as mentioned before also contributed from the architecture education and profession attitude. Elite building has become a favorite for most of the studio design project such as an artist house or vacation place, rarely found studio design project which touches the community such as housing and public space. From the other point of view, these projects are striving to sharpen the sensitivity of the student to understand the societal problems and contribute to the society all around.
1.2 MODERN HOUSING CRISIS AND PROBLEMS TO BE DEVELOPED FROM POINT OF VIEW OF A FAMILY
One of the clear example showing the architecture problems as stated above is the existing modern housing planning nowadays. Various modern housing such as terrace house, cheap housing, cheap apartment to the luxurious apartment and bungalow facing various serious problems in term of security aspect, comfort or culture suitability with the existing culture in Malaysia.
Somehow, there are at least six main problem from modern housing in Malaysia; security problem especially for high rise building and terrace house, crime problem in housing estate, privacy problem, blending culture problem, thermal comfort problem and ability expanding problem according to the need from a house. This paper specifically will debate about the last problem which is the ability of expanding from a modern housing in order to meet the requirements and culture from the owner. Without reduce others problem from modern housing, expansion potential problem at this house is very important especially in effort to strengthen up family institution as smallest unit from overall Malay civilization.
Therefore, an analysis and discussion are needed from the family point of view in order to identify the problem and interest from this very own research. There are four (4) main problems in present modern housing viewed from the family prospect. First problem was the fact that a family will grow and reduces in keeping with shelf development family member, second problem is change and difference cultural between old generations and the young, and thirdly problem is family member expansion through family marriage and relationship while fourthly problem is a possibility for a family to move from one place to another place. First problem is a problem which will and doubtless happened to all family. In every family child ' will increasingly grow and old people will be getting older. In each children life phase of growing, absolutely they need different approach and space needs. Children below than 5 years old need of space certainly different with the schooled child which will be totally different with the teenagers and college/university student as well. Modern housing latterly less sensitive on this requirement. For the unschooled child and schooling child they must be doing a lot of outside activities rather than the youth. So, they need luxurious external site planning inside the house but parallel with their development at the same time, probably they need luxurious room space by the time entering youthful age. Because of the existing modern house lately does not have any mathematical elasticity or flexibility reflection, so it’s very difficult for the owner to fulfill the needs of their child because modern housing typology that currently exists has no mathematical elasticity reflection, so it’s very difficult for a house owner in order to meet their child expansion demand of comfort life.
Others model example of age increase is the Gold Citizen or Old Citizen. Visible different model is from age increase for old people citizen. At the age 30 or 40 year they could be healthy enough to climb up the staircase heading towards their room on top floor. However, entering an age of 50 or 60, their physical condition is not allowing their body to climb up the staircases. Therefore, a house need to adaptable and adjustable according to this need. The increasing of family members such as newborn baby need to be considered in order to expand a house because a reserve space are needed and also spaces to support the new family members.
Second serious problem is changeable and cultural difference between old and young generation. In planning a place so called a house, an architect need to be sensitive of the privacy and their self expression of young generation especially the youth. Other perspective viewed, an old citizen was a matured generation. Throughout all their experiences, this generation are rich with knowledge and lesson. They also need a place to deliver their experiences and lessons as well. Therefore, space planning for both generation need a special treat. Without any smart solution both generation will face a very huge conflict potential as we can easily seen in our modern housing nowadays.There is the third’s problem to be considered in term of expanasion of a house; increasingly of family members throughout marriage and adoption. These two ways of increasing once family member will bring the outsider to be part in the house as well.
Every family has their own method and dealing different treating way on their family member. Needed a specific approach and different treatment to outsider in finally produce the need of specific space and grow. Last but not least; the matters of the design needs and the needs of the expansion of a house, and to transfer a house. Those needs are very important in a family for not being static and passively at one place forever. Many factor influenced a migration family, whether workplace transfer factor, natural disaster, children ' school planning or opportunity to increase family economic status. A statement of a family had to move out need a solution and extra attention which eventually give some implication on house planning. House should be flexible to easily manage, redecorating, and transferrable in order to fulfill the needs. Accordingly, there so many ideas on house; movable, portable, easily retransform, the interest which need to be considered.
1.3 LESSONS FROM TRADITIONAL MALAY HOUSE
In traditional Malay house architectural heritage, the usage of mathematical basic principle is common and not new instead. Human body such as foot and head has been used as a basic concept in term of balancing a house design which represent as pillar or column, wall, floor and roof. There are various measure systems to build up Malay house such as fathom, cubit, span, finger and knock. That measurement usage is different between each house and it is referring to ‘ibu rumah’ measurement ; a woman being a wife and mother to the children of the house. Tray usage is closely related with the space function as celebration space. By using tray as basic measurement system, number of guests could be loaded into that space can be organized during construction of a house. Apart from tray, also found Malay house which use ‘Nipah’roof as basic measurement system. ‘Nipah’ roof production is uniform (about 5 foot) and the usage of those materials as basic measurement system could avoid cutting during the construction. (See picture 1)
Design and Malay house construction also based on organic concept which enables it changed whether in size form or the location. In terms of size, the increasing of economical stage is lead to largest and gorgeous house instead. A large Malay house construction such as 12 columns and 16 columns could be constructed gradually because of module basis design. Hence, in construction process, the original house will be remained and will be connected with the other new unit using ‘selang’. Malay house flexibility is not limited on expanding the house but it also works to reduce the sapce according to the needs. Foe example, head of a family decade ago will give part of the house to their son as gift for their new marriage. Therefore, the unit gave by the head will be lifted up and move to a new site by the vilagers arround. Instead of lifting up, Malay house also can be transferred by separating the component one by one. Malay house construction system which uses wood construction material and joined using peg and joint, enable it to be opened and fitted back without damaging the original design. As a conclusion, the sensitivity to the balance aspect in Malay traditional society, practicality, and flexibility has motivated themselves in created a simple mathematical theory in design and construction of the Malay traditional house (Picture 2).
1.4 LESSONS FROM SEVERAL MASTER ARCHITECT IN MODERN ARCHITECTURE Apart from lesson from traditional Malay house mentioned above, this paper were calculated the need to take a lesson from Modern Architecture master in effort to enrich more idea and approach treasury in tackling the need of this expanded house. There is three idea and approach from Modern Architecture master that has been calculated to enrich our idea and approach on this very own expanded house topic; Le Corbusier modular system, Frank Lloyd Wright site idea adaptation and open plan idea by Mies van der Rohe. Hoped this additional study can enrich, complement or become comparator media to various idea and lesson from traditional house mentioned previously.
1.4.1 Modular system by Le Corbusier
One of master architect in Modern Architecture, Le Corbusier have adduced an important idea and suitable for this paper. Le Corbusier present an idea on planning and dividing a building elements based on a system and certain standard or module which can be produced as mass production in the factories. (See picture 3).The main purpose from this division was to achieve a standard and esthetical proportion in order to produce a building with an aesthetical value and beautiful building ratio and arrangement such as in the past. With an understanding on customer and accurate standard, this approach very useful for an expansion house. Building element division into smaller standard will be accelerated manufacturing process, facilitate him to develop and removes from one place to another place.
1.4.2 Open Space Idea by Mies van der Rohe
Idea and other approach which might useful for idea on this expanded house is an idea of open space or open plan that has tried to be proposed by Mies van der Rohe . Through the idea on freedom and flexibility structure, he try to oust and to loss the functional of structure from wall in a building to post or structure. By moving or losing the wall function as a structure in a building, space in a determined building would be simple arranged and renovate by existence wall (see picture 4). For common knowledge, this opens space idea is not a new idea. Japanese society through paper and ratio house ‘tatami’ has moulded and use this open space concept in their houses which still relevant and apply until today. However only Mies architect successfully expand this open space idea with enough support from the structure technology and framework aspects. Another contribution from Mies Van Der Rohe in architecture that usable for this very own expanded house idea is the idea about the grid system which divided all design aspect into small element and component. Such as modular system, the small grid element will possible a wide expansions to all direction with and observation on aesthetic aspect and the effectiveness.
1.4.3 Site Adaptation by Frank Lloyd Wright
Another approach can be considered as a lesson in this expanded house is what Frank Llyod Wright tried to carry out. In various ‘Praire’ house, Frank Llyod Wright are not produce any standard like those done by Le Corbusier or Mies Van de Rohe. He private his design and style. Totally and seriously strive to give the best space in order to fulfill the customer’s need and at the same time cater to his idealism as a nature lover and democrat American as he stated below;
“The real body of our universe is spiritualities-the real body of the real life we live. From the waist up we’re spiritual at least. Our true humanity begins from the belt up, doesn’t it? Therein comes the difference between the animal and the man. Man is chiefly animal until he makes something of himself in the life of the spirit so that he becomes spiritually inspired-spiritually aware. Until then he is not creative. He can’t be. “
Wright, Frank Lloyd, Truth Against the World
Contrasts with Le Corbusier and Mies as mentioned above Frank Lloyd Wright see the site as a largest element which determines direction from a design beside demand and need from the customer. Building or space he design specifically and specific suitable and planned only for particular location only. Building does not get placed anywhere. In the site planning design, Frank Lloyd Wright is very careful taking care of the environment around by inserting his building into the existing nature arrangement on site(see picture 5). By doing this, space or building will be united with the environment and will be interacted positively. Building material selection, ornamentation, and design method also are very well standardize selected using the technology and local material and lead to low cost maintenance and easily modified in the lifetime. This principle and approach will be so useful and important for house planning which expanded in future. Although seen based on the system and method such as done by Le Corbusier and Mies Van De Rohe, however Wright approach is very important in order to optimize and ensure the compatibility between space and building as the context where it’s staying.
1.5 THINKING FRAMEWORK, ISSUE AND INFLUENCED FACTOR FOR EXPANDED HOUSE
As a product from Malay traditional house and modern architecture lesson as mentioned previously, a few principle and thinking framework would have to be considered in expansion design houses framework. Material selection, elasticity of the space and space shape selection, structural extension system study or deep joint and study on social condition and Malay and sensitivity society ' culture on site and context are very important criteria in thinking framework. Hoped this short explanation below could provide early framework and start a depth study that contribute on the idea expansion design in future.
1.5.1 Material selection
Material selection was most important element in expanded house application. Material selection is one of very crucial element because through the material, growing house flexibility can be decided. Material selection of brick and masonry seemed to be less appropriate for housing in Nusantara not just because of not very well blended with climatic conditions in Malaysia, even complicate the process to change a form or grow. Wood was most suitable material choice and potential to be expanded in Malaysia. With an accurate and perusal study, various weaknesses on wood such as strength aspects, ability to sustain on weather and shape selection and specification, wood will become a very important material
1.5.2 Elasticity from space and shape selection
Other factor and framework, elasticity from the space and space shape selection also need to be considered in expansion framework and proposition of expanded houses design. Mies van der Rohe has done a open space concept and grid shape selection and could be a accurate reference in choosing a flexibility space and more congenial form.
1.5.3 Extension or joint structure system
The other factor that needs to be considered for a growing house is understanding and accurate study on joint system and construction system. Joint system is one of the key components in order to enable a house to be developed and the element could be jointed and rearranged. With a detail study and deeply into the joint system or in Malay traditional house so called as ‘tanggam’ , a growing process and rearrange of a house could be made accurate and efficiently in term of strengthens or financing.
1.5.4 Deep study on social condition and the culture of society
Issue and main frame that does not trifling for expansion a house is a deep study on social condition and culture from society which would use and staying in the house. With a deep study, description on social culture and condition from a society, we will identify daily pattern, need and character from family unit from society live at the house. Understanding on daily pattern, this social need and condition would be administering us enough ingredients for planning of space in a house together with daily rhythm and the possibility of expansion.
1.5.5 Sensitivity on site and context
Last but not least, very important factor is sensitivity on the site and context. Principally, this last issue akin previous issue and factor, however if previous factor more on aspects not physical, so this last factor is more focus on physical aspect from the site environment itself. Method and approach used by Frank Lloyd Wright as mentioned previously, carefully putting a mass building and chose material and construction method has to be considered and exemplified in an expansion house in order to achieve a positive interaction with surrounding site.
2. CONCLUSION
From description above, standing out that traditional Malay house has own potential and ability to develop nicely with its sensitivity and good relationship with surrounding community, from culture social aspect or the pragmatic need. With a perusal and detail research by involving various knowledge disciplines such as mathematics, engineering, material and sociology and anthropology, potential in this expanded traditional Malay house would be able to give a very mean contribution in planning and modern housing design.
3. REFERENCES
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4. Kostof, and Spiro., The Architect: Chapters in the History of the Profession. New York:
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5. N.A Halim. Pengenalan Rumah Tradisional Melayu Semenanjung Malaysia. Darulfikir.
Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia,1985.
6. Ruskin and John, The Seven Lamp of Architecture. London: George Allen & Unwind Ltd,
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13. Wright, Frank Lloyd, The Natural House. New York: Horizon Press, 1954.
Appendices
Figure 1. Design Bentuk Rumah Malay base on kesimbangan concept human body.
Figure 2. The proportion and moving process of Traditional Malay House by Kampong’s People
Figure 3. Modular Sketches by Le Corbusier
Figure 4. Building by Mies van der Rohe which shows the universal use of spaces inside the building.
Figure 5. Some Frank Lloyd Wright’s building which integrate the natural sorrounding with its building’s spaces
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