Malay Traditional Furniture: Form and Space

Abstract

Malay craftsmen have created a practical and functional living shelter known a Malay traditional house. The Malay house designed in simple square form. Square form create a practical space easy to organize household items. The house constructed by medium weight fiber material - timber. Timber is easy to cut and form a house structure elements such as floor and roof trusses and wall stud. The combination between form and space creates many design elements used by occupant to serve, organize and sustain the Malay way of life in a traditional Malay house. The scope of research is focused on Melaka traditional house, the earlier Malay civilization in Peninsular Malaysia. The analysis focused on house components of the structure and spatial activities in the house. In conclusion, the elements integration of form and space in Malay traditional house has revealed the existence of built-in furniture. The main function is to organize household items and to store utensils and equipment.