Visiting the Endangered Wooden Houses of Perak, Malaysia

By Kelly Reed, EWAP Programme Manager

Anyone driving along the Perak River, located on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, will almost certainly see a beautiful traditional wooden Malay house of Perak which comprises of the Rumah Kutai and Rumah Limas Bumbung Perak – the locally known names. The word ‘Rumah’ means house and the word ‘Kutai’ is a local word meaning old and represents a traditional house that was built around the 1800s in Perak. Whilst Limas Bumbung Perak house represents a later version of Perak Malay house that was built around the 1900s.

Dr Kelly Reed and Dr Iryani Abdul Halim Choo visiting Rumah Tok Abu Bakar
Bin Alang Ketak (TABAK), located on the banks of the Perak River in Bota Kiri, Perak.

During that time, Kutai and Limas Bumbung Perak houses were built facing the river, which was the main connection for the local communities. As roads were built many moved the orientation of the house to face the road. Typically, the house is raised on pillars to about two meters from the ground. Both house types were constructed using the traditional timber tongue and groove construction system. However, Kutai house construction require no nails. The houses also exhibit decorations such as tracery (kerawang), grille (jerejak), square tapered pillars (kaki gajah), and either timber wall planks or bamboo matting locally known as kelarai for the walls. Traditionally the roof was made of sago (rumbia) or nipah palm but nowadays, many owners have replaced the palm roof with zinc roofing as it is easier to maintain.  One of the unique features of a Kutai House is its long roof and the space for storage on the roof known as the peran or attic. 

Kelarai wall panel made from split bamboo. 

These unique structures are being recorded by a new EWAP project from Universiti Teknologi Mara, Perak Branch. The one-year project led by Dr Iryani Abdul Halim Choo, aims to comprehensively document types of Kutai Houses, including scaled 3D models and a documentary on the structures and their historical and cultural aspects. While visiting Malaysia I was lucky enough to spend the day with Iryani, her project collaborator Prof Mohd Sabrizaa Abd Rashid and Alfian Anuar to learn more about this fading architectural tradition. The first stop of the day was to view a restored Rumah Tok Abu Bakar Bin Alang Ketak (TABAK) that is used as an events and education centre. Built in the 1920s the house was built based on the architectural style of Limas Bumbung Perak, using Cengal, Kempas and Meranti timber (Mohd Isa et al. 2021). The front of the house originally faced the Perak River but was later changed to face the road. Here they explained the traditional layout with a formal entertaining area at the front, leading to private living quarters and bedroom and at the back a kitchen and bathroom (see Choo et al. 2020 for more details). The Limas Bumbung Perak house also has two entrances, one for male and the other for females. 

Dr Kelly Reed, Dr Iryani Abdul Halim Choo and Associate Prof Mohd Sabrizaa Abd Rashid inside the living area of Rumah Tok Abu Bakar Bin Alang Ketak (TABAK)

We then drove north towards Kuala Kangsar to see one of the selected buildings to be recorded by the project team. They explained how the lack of skilled craftsmen and the high cost of wood and general maintenance costs made it difficult to maintain these houses. It was clear while visiting the area that many of the houses were either in a poor condition or had been abandoned. Arriving in Kuala Kangsar we drove to the Perak Royal Museum. The museum building was originally built as a palace in 1926-1931 and is made entirely from wood.  Commissioned by His Royal Highness Sultan Iskandar Shah (1918-1938) who needed a temporary palace while the large and permanent Istana Iskandariah was under construction (Mohammed et al. 2012). Its architecture follows traditional Malay techniques with fine wooden carvings and woven wall-mats. It rests on 60 wooden pillars and is 42 m long and 11 m wide. The shape is representative of a sword in its scabbard when viewed from above. Having recently been restored the structure was a vibrant testament to the local craftmanship and beauty of the Malay house style. After a wonderful day exploring the area with the team it was time to head back to my hotel. 

The Perak Royal Museum, Kuala Kangsar

Many thanks to Dr Iryani Abdul Halim Choo and Associate Prof Mohd Sabrizaa Abd Rashid for hosting me for the day and for sharing your knowledge and passion for these buildings. You can read more about their project ‘Documenting and Digitizing the Traditional Malay Kutai House of Perak’ on the EWAP website.

Uninhabited Baitul Anor, a mansion near Iskandariah Palace, Kuala Kangsar

References

Mohd Isa, H., Baharuddin, M. N., Mohd Nor, O., Ab Rashid, M., Sedhu, D. S., Abdul Manap, M. D., & Dzulkifly, N. A. (2021). Diagnosing timber defects in traditional Malay house: a case study of Tok Abu Bakar Alang Ketak (TABAK) nature of building defects in Tok Abu Bakar Alang Ketak House (TABAK). Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Environment (MySE) 8(2): 35-53.

Muhammad, A., Talib, A., Abdul Rashid, M.S., Mohamed, A.H. and Rasol, N.F., 2012. The study of traditional malay decorations & wood carving: a case study of the Istana Kenangan, Kuala Kangsar, Perak. In: The 9th Regional Symposium of the Malay Archipelago, 11-12 December 2012, Al Khawarizmi Lecture Hall, UiTM Perak. https://ir.uitm.edu.my/id/eprint/50746

Choo I. A. H., Rashid M. S. A. and Nazrul Helmy J. 2020 The Typology of Rumah Limas Bumbung Perak (RLBP) PLANNING MALAYSIA 18 https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v18i12.740