By Nor Afifah M. Shukran | Aug 24, 2009
For Old Times’ Sake
Photographer: Farah Izyan
StarProperty journeys to Teluk Senangin, Perak and ends up at a picturesque Malay house, which was built by a woman determined to create a legacy that was inspired by love and fond memories
It was the memories from Pn. Ramlah’s past that had inspired her and her husband to build the kampong house in Teluk Senangin, Perak. Growing up as a fisherman’s daughter and as the eldest of 10 siblings, Pn. Ramlah said that the family didn’t have much. “We lived on a day-to-day basis for food, but the most memorable childhood experience I have would be that of me and my siblings playing under our kampong house,” says Pn. Ramlah. Now, 50 years later, she and her husband dreamt of reliving that very same serene kampong environment they once shared as kids.
Dream Comes True
Earlier this year Pn. Ramlah and her husband purchased an 11,000 ft2 of land on a bay, nestled in the tranquillity of a Malay kampong with a mountain range setting in the background and the promise of a picturesque sunset over the waters every evening in the forefront. “I guess we were lucky to be able to purchase land located in a secluded bay, knowing these days that such things are rare to come across. Now all that was left to do was to build our dream house,” she says. With the help of a Kedah-based quality wood supplier, Warisan Hakhi, Pn. Ramlah began to construct her kampong house. With a simple blueprint in hand, she knew that she wanted a warm holiday house for her family. The construction of the 20 X 30 ft2 house began in March 2009.
Cengal wood was the primary construction material used to build the house. But it was the inclusion of savaged timber from an old government building in Kedah that added to the sentimental value of the house. Pn. Ramlah says she paid RM 15,000 for the unique timber material. The basic structure of the house was completed within just three months. Pn. Ramlah was overjoyed.
Authentic Malay Architecture
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The new design of the house took on a combination of two very different traditional state houses; Kedah and Perak. A traditional pucuk rebung wood carving trims the edge of the roof giving it a more authentic Malay look. The anjung and vertical windows are fenced with wood carvings inspired from the
Kedah Art Museum in Alor Setar and were replicated for the house. “It was important for us to have all the original details of a Malay-style house built into this house, we wanted a traditional Malay house, not a modern one,” Pn. Ramlah comments. “By building this house, I hope not only to preserve our architectural inheritance, but also our traditional values.” The most inimitable character of this house does not lie in its interior. The front steps to the main entrance of the house are made out of old rail track timber purchased in Labu, Negeri Sembilan. The lights that surround the exterior compound were specially designed by Pn. Ramlah’s husband to enhance the features of the house at night. The house interior takes on an open plan where there are no rooms. Instead, there’s only a three-quarter section wall which separates the kitchen and the main area, just like in the olden days. “We didn’t want to build rooms inside the house or place a TV,” she explained, “because then the younger kids would isolate themselves in the rooms or just sit and watch TV all day.”
A Family House
With this in mind, Pn. Ramlah built a barbeque set on the left side of the house to grill fresh seafood for the family and guests.
And with ample space as its courtyard, family members were spoiled for choice with plenty of room to partake in activities ranging from adang to volleyball to help pass the time. On a busy day at the beach, the house never fails to stop onlookers on their tracks from admiring the exquisiteness of the house. With the clear blue skies and beautiful lush greens in the backdrop, the setting provides a postcard picture of untouched beauty. The plumbing system has been carefully assessed in regard to the environment. Pn. Ramlah explains that the water resource comes from beneath the ground and is pumped into the main house where 3 holding tanks are placed. Pn. Ramlah herself discourages the use of electricity during the day as she prefers the family members to relax under the house, where the main social area is, and enjoy the cool, gentle sea breeze whilst swaying in a hammock. “This is a family house and the sole purpose of this house is for all the 3 generations to socialise and strengthen their bonds,” she says. She blames video games and the internet as to why family time is no longer valued by the younger generation. “I noticed that my siblings and I are very close because we did not have video games or the internet. Instead, we had each other,” she maintains, “The city has so many distractions, quite often families tend to grow apart and I do not want my family to go their separate ways when we are gone.” “This house is our legacy,” she declares.
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