Malay traditional houses in Malaysia’s historic city Melaka attracts tourists

The Malay traditional houses in Malaysia’s historic state and city Melaka are not only a magnet for camera totting tourists but also stand testament for the remarkable skills of its builders who combined local customs, beliefs and Islam in the design.

The beautiful and unique architecture of these traditional houses probably give a clue on how the 15th century palaces of the Melaka sultanate would have appeared. Their design goes beyond the creativity of their original artisans as they also highlight the owner’s status in the society.

Among the traditional homes that still stand tall is the house of an ex-chieftain Demang Abdul Ghani bin Penghulu Abdul Majid, who hailed from Palembang, Sumatra, Indonesia.

The house located in Kampung Merlimau Pantai is believed to have been built in 1831 without using any nail. It is the work of master craftsmen who literally created a functional house in fulfilling the house owner’s role as the ‘demang’, the village headman.

At Kampung Serkam Pantai, the traditional house belonging to Haji Jaafar Hashim, 73, functions differently and has attracted both the tourists and film makers.

The closed verandah of this house functions as the living quarters and meeting hall. Apart from that the central section or the ‘rumah ibu’ is the place reserved for women during events like weddings.