The spatial organization of the Negeri Sembilan traditional house, Malaysia

The spatial organization of the Negeri Sembilan traditional house, Malaysia. Journal of Comparative Cultural Studies in Architecture. pp. 21-28. ISSN 1865-942X (2019)



Abstract

Negeri Sembilan traditional house (NSTH) is the Minangkabau house that evolved because of the Merantau process. Merantau is a cultural migration movement via river and sea from the Darek, Minangkabau in West Sumatra, Indonesia to the Minangkabau rantau (province area) in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The numbers of Minangkabau settlers especially in the region of Luhak Lima Puluh Kota in Darek was migrated towards the east through the river in Kampar, Riau, and further crossing the Strait of Malacca to Negeri Sembilan to explore a new land for agriculture in the 12th century. Riverbanks become the preferred places for the NSTH settings for the Minangkabau settlers in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the orientation systems used and the rules governing the NSTH spatial organization in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Qualitative research method of phenomenology and ethnography was carried out in Rembau district. It is a historical area that relates to the development of early Minangkabau settlement and features some over 100 years old original NSTH buildings. The study was conducted by analyzing house plans on the physical, social, practical, and functional sides of space organization linked to the environment. The methods of interview, observation, visual and architectural data collection and production of measured drawings were used. The study found that the NSTH was built mainly according to the orientation of the downstream river. The river is not just for connecting the land to the sea, but it is also as a living place. The concept of alam (nature) in Minangkabau tradition which creates unity in diversity consequently affects the construction of the traditional Minangkabau house. Although the orientation and organization of NSTH spatial are varied, the similarity lies in the pangkal serambi space which looks towards downstream of the parallel river. Therefore, every NSTH buildings form be in a state of harmony between the buildings and the river surroundings as natural existence.

Item Type: Article
Keywords: Spatial, Orientation, House, Rules
Taxonomy: By Subject > Architecture, Planning & Surveying > Interior Architecture
Local Content Hub: Subjects > Architecture, Planning & Surveying
Depositing User: Shahidatul Akhmam Rambeli
Date Deposited: 18 Aug 2020 09:05
Last Modified: 18 Aug 2020 09:06
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