Keywords: Growing House; Design & Construction Flexibility; Traditional Malay House
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. 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. For the last 50 years it has never grown to create the idea of community and fulfill the true need of a family with its culture and context called
'Malaysia . Based on our paper N. Utaberta (2009), we have identified the ability of traditional Malay house to grow and transform based on the need and interest of one family. This paper tries to study and evaluate the flexibility of a low rise house in Malaysia. It will explore some design and construction framework based on the flexibility of our traditional (timber) Malay house of growing and transformable house.
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. This process of identifying is very important for a need of a family as a basic element from a civilization to grow or being transformed into one different form of family. The need of the developement and transformation of a family were identified and filled by the traditional craftman in Malaya since a long time ago throughout their architecture approach and its proofed to be adapted and sensitve to the culture needs and the local spirit from a family. The structure itself will be divided into three (3) part; Crisis and problems in Modern Houses, Crisis and Problems for Modern Houses to Expand from a Family Perspective, Lesson from Malay Traditional Houses, 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 proofed by thousands of years experienced to be suitable with Malaysian culture and societal needs.
Modern housing problems to grow from point the view of a family
Based our observation, there are at least four (4) main problems in present modern housing viewed from the family perspective. First problem was the fact that a family will grow and reduces in keeping the development of its family member, second problem is the change and difference cultural between old generations and the young, third problem is family member expansion through family marriage and relationship while the last 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 definitely 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. Modern housing latterly is less
of outside activities rather than the youth. So, they need luxurious external space outside the house but along 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 does not have any mathematical elasticity or flexibility, it s very difficult for the owner to fulfill the needs of their child expansion demand of comfort life. Others model example comes from the age increase of the Gold Citizen or Old 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 to support the new family members.
Second serious problem is changeable and cultural difference between old and young generation. In planning a space so called a house, an architect need to be sensitive on the privacy and self expression of young generation especially the youth. Other perspective viewed, an old citizen as 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 treatment. Without any smart solution both generation will face a very huge potential conflict 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 one family member will bring the outsider to be part in the house as well. Every family has their own method in treating their family member. It required a specific approach and different treatment to outsider which finally produce the need of specific space and grow. Last but not least; the last problem is a possibility for a family to move from one place to another place. 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 which eventually give some implication on the planning of a house. House should be flexible to easily manage, redecorating, and transferrable in order to fulfill the needs.
Lessons from traditional malay house
In traditional Malay house architecture as it s proven to sustain for hundreds of years, 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 'rumah ibu 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 (Fig. 1).
Figure 1. The Design of Malay house was base on balancing of concept human body, Source: Centre for Study in Built Environment in the Malay world (KALAM), University Technology Malaysia.
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. For 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 (Fig. 2).
Figure 2. Traditional Malay house was move from its old site to the new site, Source: Abdul Halim Nasir 1985
Design frameworks, issue and influenced factor for the design of transformable and growing house As a product from Malay traditional house as mentioned previously, a few principles and design framework would have to be considered in expansion design houses framework. Those frameworks and issue are material selection, elasticity of the space and space shape selection, structural extension system study or jointing and study on social condition and Malay and sensitivity society ' culture on site and context. Hoped this short discussion could provide early framework and start a deeper study that contribute on the better design expansion in the future
Material selection
Material selection was most important element in growing and transformable house application. Material selection is one of very crucial element because through the material selection, growing and transformable house flexibility can be decided. Material selection of brick and masonry seemed to be less appropriate for housing in Malaysia as it s not very well blended with the weather and climatic conditions of this region. This material even complicates the process to change a form or grow of a house. Wood was most suitable material choice and potential to be used in Malaysia house. With an accurate and detailed 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 choice and useful for this expanded house concept.
Elasticity of 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 De Rohe
has done a open space concept and grid shape selection and could be a accurate reference in choosing a flexible space and more congenial form.
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.
Deep study on social condition and society culture 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.
Sensitivity on site and context
Last but not least, very important factor is sensitivity on site and context. Principally, this last issue akin previous issue and factor, however if previous factor more see on aspects not physical, so this last factor is more focus on physical aspect from the site environment itself. Method and approach used by carefully putting a mass building and chose material and construction method has to be considered and exemplified in a expansion house in order to achieve a positive interaction with surrounding site.
Conclusion
From description above, standing out that traditional Malay house has own potential and ability to develop nicely with still defend the 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.
References
[1] Tajuddin Rasdi , Housing Crisis in Malaysia: Back to a Humanistic Agenda, Centre for Study in
Built Environment in the Malay world (KALAM), University Technology Malaysia, 2003
[2] Utaberta N, (2009) Growing House: Lesson from Mathematical Flexibility of Traditional Malay
House, 2009
[3] Lim Jee Yuan: The Malay House: Rediscovering Malaysia s Indigenous Shelter System, Institut
Masyarakat, 1981
[4] N.A Halim. Pengenalan Rumah Tradisional Melayu Semenanjung Malaysia. Darulfikir. Kuala
Lumpur,
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