Space Function for Social Interaction : external

External Areas

The external spaces as earlier mentioned are categorized as public areas. The areas inclusive of the followings:

a) Fence And The House Compound

Around the Malay house often there is no fence: the boundary is marked by a row of plants or betel palms. Whether there is a fence or not will also depend on the status of the owner, on his industry, on the nature of his cultivation and the proximity of his goats, cows and buffaloes. A popular type still used in Terengganu today is the rail fence of round bamboo or a stout wattled fence of bamboos. Fences in ancient times were found mainly about the houses of chiefs. According to Munshi Abdullah writing on the root(") principle of Malay politics, "under Malay rule, men were afraid to build stone houses, or gilded boats or to wear fine clothes, shoes or umbrellas because all these were the peculiar perquisites of the Raja (and also ruling) class". To most fences there will be no gate at all, or just a gate of bamboo. However, some fences of noblemen will have a delicately done gateway. It was common practice for Malay homes to be built fronting the river as this was the main means of travelling. The gateway symbolises the entry into a private compound of a household. It sets a boundary between the street and the `kampung' — compound. This particular gateway (shown in the photo) consists of a series of folding gate leafs. Normally only one is used by house-hold members, servants and visitors. During festive times, as a sign of wel­coming visitors, the whole gate is folded away to the side to invite people into the compound. In older settlements, compounds will be planted with a fine variety of fruit trees — mangosteen, banana, rambutan, chiku and coconuts. The coconut tree especially is a very useful and practical tree; the palms are used for weaving mats, the coconut milk and flesh make a refreshing dish while the shells or husks are serviceable as water containers. It is an age old custom for a family to plant a coconut tree to mark the birth of a child in the family. Normally in front of a house is a small open space skirted perhaps with minor vegetation. There may be a well for drinking, bathing and washing.


b) 'Bawah Rumah' — Area Underneath The House

The space underneath the house is a functional and versatile utility area. Besides being a useful sheltered workshop area it is also used for storage. 'Perahus' are also stored and repaired here during the rough seas of the Northeast monsoon. Fishing nets are also normally hung up here and mended during the wet season. Animals kept by the family like hens, ducks, goats and cows are secured and kept underneath the house. This helps to protect them from wild animals and also deters thieves. Firewood for cooking is normally stored here too and brought up in small quantities to the kitchen. It is common practice in the 'kampung' to smoke the underside of the house at dusk by burning rubbish with wooden twigs and damp leaves to discourage mosquitoes from the vicinity of the house. The area underneath the house also becomes more functional during wedding occasions where this area is used to store goods as well as acting as an open kitchen. besides, this area also encourages interactions and communications amongst the villagers as they often hand in hand helps each other during the preparation of any event.