01 Dialogue House, Malaysia by Architron

A lot of people say that there are not so much of commendable contemporary architecture back home, Malaysia. That includes me. We see a lot of bad things as oppose to the good ones. I guess, thats the common nature of man.

By commendable I mean, an architecture that is more responsive of our own culture, climate, heritage and so forth while embracing modernism, instead of buildings that makes reference to the west, or even middle east in the case of Islamic architecture.

So, after a few years of criticizing local architecture, I think there are much to see and appreciate. Though not much, there are some instances of appreciation towards a more regional approach on architecture. Thanks to a subject called Asian Urbanism that I enrolled in at RMIT, I came to know about Architron.


"A single family house facing a golf course. The owners require a segregation of private life and public entertaining, the house therefore forms 2 “wings” along a central atrium space, resembling an internal garden and facing the golf course, as if the course entered the inner space of the home. One side of the garden is private, the other dedicated to social gatherings."

A lecturer once said, the house tries to evoke an image of vernacular, and the bright colours signifies the colorfulness of the local architecture. Or something like that.

Whatever it tries to do, it has definitely shaken the typical form of architecture in Malaysia, taking into consideration the climate (especially with the atrium space), and more importantly, making appearances in international magazines.

With that, I think I'll start compiling precedent architectural projects and post it here for future references.

Malay House for Major

It is a modernist building in a weird way. It stands out as an autonomy like Villa Savoye. It just lacks recognition.

I like Malay houses.
They are actually more modern than we think.

The interior is great.
Its got open plan.
The interior spaces are multi-functional ie. it can be used for various different purposes (a lot of architects like this sort of spaces).

Malay traditional houses are most probably the best local example of sustainability.
The openings ie windows and doors are designed to allow natural ventilation.
The volume of the house is lifted up above the ground for added ventilation (plus a few other purposes).
The roof is cantilevered to provide shading.
The best part of it is, Malay houses are the earliest form of prefabrication aka model for mass production because they don't use nails to construct it. Therefore they can be dismantled and reassembled anytime.
And they are beautiful, not merely containers that are turned into living spaces.

The only problem is, we can't really see it nowadays.
Not many architects have explored the possibilities and opportunities in these typology.
And they have a strong stigma of being traditional and old.

So, maybe...
Just maybe, I'll have a close look at this for my major project.
It might be interesting.
And useful.

Meninggalkan Maksiat

Antara tanda Allah sayangkan kita ialah Dia menurunkan musibah sebagai peringatan kepada kita. Kita tidak dihancurkan seperti mana umat-umat terdahulu.

Anas b. Malik menemui Ummul Mukminin dan bertanya,

"Wahai ibu, ceritakanlah sebuah hadis yang membicarakan tentang gempa bumi."

Aisyah menjawab,

"Gempa bumi akan terjadi ketika maksiat telah tersebar di tengah-tengah masyarakat, ketika zina telah jelas kelihatan, khamar biasa diminum serta berbagai-bagai dosa besar telah tersebar. Pada saat itulah gempa akan menimpa seluruh umat manusia."

Anas bertanya,

"Apakah gempa bumi itu azab bagi mereka?"

Aisyah menjawab,

"Tidak, demi Allah tidak, tidak, tetapi rahmat dan nasihat bagi orang beriman dan murka bagi orang kafir."

Pada masa yang sama, perlu juga kita ingat, kita tidak inginkan musibah untuk berlaku. Maka tinggalkanlah maksiat, kerana Ali b Abi Talib pernah berkata,

"Musibah hanya akan terjadi kerana perbuatan maksiat. Musibah hanya akan lenyap dengan bertaubat."

Tetapi kadang-kadang, kita berasa hairan melihat mereka yang melakukan maksiat, terus-menerus mendapat nikmat dan kesenangan. Mengapa? Ibnul Qayyim berkata,

"Kegembiraan dalam melakukan kemaksiatan lebih besar dosanya di hadapan Allah daripada maksiat itu sendiri.
Tertawamu ketika melakukan kemaksiatan lebih besar dosanya di hadapan Allah daripada maksiat itu sendiri.
Kurang rasa malumu pada kedua-dua malaikat pencatat amal, padahal mereka sentiasa mengawasimu ketika melakukan maksiat, lebih besar dosanya di hadapan Allah daripada kemaksiatan itu sendiri."

Maka, sekiranya kita terus diberi kenikmatan ketika melakukan maksiat, seharusnya kita takut kerana ianya merupakan istidraj (terbuai, Allah memberi kenikmatan bukan kerana cintaNya kepada kita). Lama-kelamaan, hilang pula perasaan takut kita kepada Allah SWT.

Wallahu'alam

Diolah dari buku "Bangkitlah: Menuju Kehidupan yang lebih Sukses" oleh Amr Khalid.