The Malay house: Materials and construction
The traditional Malay house relies for its strength on a complex jointing system made rigid by the use of timber wedges. This allows the house to be easily taken apart and reassembled elsewhere.
The traditional Malay house is primarily a timber structure, built off the ground using the post-and-beam method by local carpenters or by the owners themselves. Its walls are usually made of timber, although bamboo is still used in certain areas. Numerous full-length windows line the walls, providing both ventilation and a view outside. The high-pitched, gabled roof, which dominates the house, was traditionally covered with thatch but is now more often covered with galvanized iron.
- Information in the full article includes
- Materials
- Construction