RE-INTERPRETING TRADITION: INTEGRATING INTERIOR SPATIAL PLANNING PRINCIPLES OF TRADITIONAL MALAY HOUSE AS VERTICAL MODERN DWELLING DESIGN STRATEGY

Authors

  • Nordin Misnat Department of Built Environment Studies and Technology, Faculty of Built Environment, UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA, PERAK BRANCH
  • Mazlan Mohd Tahir Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering, UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA
  • Norfazillah Ahmad Department of Built Environment Studies and Technology, Faculty of Built Environment, UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA, PERAK BRANCH
  • Azizul Azli Ahmad Department of Built Environment Studies and Technology, Faculty of Built Environment, UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA, PERAK BRANCH
  • Norashikin Abdul Karim Department of Built Environment Studies and Technology, Faculty of Built Environment, UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA, PERAK BRANCH

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v23i38.1866

Keywords:

Traditional Malay House, Spatial Planning, Green Design, Principles, Wellbeing

Abstract

This study investigates the application of TMH’s interior space planning principles into contemporary housing design to produce culturally attuned, climate responsive and spatially adaptable housing strategies for the 21st century Malaysian environment. The research is motivated by the extended gap of contemporary house types to socio-cultural, environmental and spatial value that rooted in local heritage of Malay Vernacular architecture. Through a qualitative case study approach, the research investigates spatial configuration, zoning patterns, environmental attributes and socio-cultural relationships in identified TMH instances within Peninsular Malaysia. These understandings are subsequently compared against contemporary urban housing units namely PR1MA Apartments in Ipoh, Perak, to determine spatial disconnection and or synergies. Based on architectural drawings, field survey and interviews to architects and residents the research outlines adaptive design methods. The main findings that emerged about the principles of TMH planning, such as hierarchical spatial sequence, multifunctional open spaces, passive ventilation strategies and community-orientated layout become valid concepts for versatile thermal comfort, social interaction and flexibility in the morphology of urban dwelling. A design suggestion to incorporate TMH principles in today's interior layouts without interfering with building codes or visual aesthetics is suggested at the end of the study. This work adds to the discourse on culturally grounded sustainable design, emphasizing the need for tradition based spatial wisdom being revived as an approach towards a more liveable and contextually aware housing typology in Malaysia.

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Published

2025-11-26

How to Cite

Misnat, N., Mohd Tahir, M., Ahmad, N., Ahmad, A. A., & Abdul Karim, N. (2025). RE-INTERPRETING TRADITION: INTEGRATING INTERIOR SPATIAL PLANNING PRINCIPLES OF TRADITIONAL MALAY HOUSE AS VERTICAL MODERN DWELLING DESIGN STRATEGY. PLANNING MALAYSIA, 23(38). https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v23i38.1866

Issue

Vol. 23 (2025): PLANNING MALAYSIA JOURNAL : Volume 23, Issue 5, 2025

Section

Article

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