Traditional Malay House Preservation: Guidelines for Structural Evaluation

The traditional Malay house is a significant component of the Malay cultural heritage and a key example of vernacular architecture. It is characterised by its outstanding design and the various styles across Malaysia. Traditional Malay houses experience deterioration and damage due to various threats, resulting in many houses being abandoned. A thorough structural evaluation is crucial for preserving the traditional Malay house. This research aimed to develop guidelines for the global structural evaluation of the Malay house. A case study approach was adopted in this research. Site visits, visual surveys, geometrical surveys, and dilapidation surveys were also employed. The research involved structural analysis using SAP2000. The results revealed the vulnerability of the houses to lateral forces, sliding, and differential settlement under scouring. The key structural members have adequate load-bearing capacity, which might be compromised under certain conditions, as in the case of deterioration. These results helped identify potential safety concerns and led to the development of guidelines for the global structural evaluation of Malay houses. The guidelines cover analysis inputs and modelling techniques in terms of material, geometry, joints, and foundations. They address load criteria and the impacts of flooding and scouring on the structural behaviour of the traditional Malay house. The guidelines, finally, recommend that structural checks be considered. This research contributes to traditional Malay house preservation by providing an evidence-based approach to designing preservation measures.

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