The house is constructed on stilts without the use of any nails or screws using the ancient methods of wedge and slot when houses in days of yore were literally dismantled and relocated when the occupants were moving house. Tradition dictates that the spacing between each support pillar of the house is measured according to the arms-spread of the wife in the family when the house is being constructed. There are 77 round pillars to support the structure, without any sharp edges that will create "poison arrows".
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| Traditional Malay House Design |
The sprawling house consists of two wings with an ornate porch over the main staircase to the house leading to a sheltered verandah at the entrance called the anjung, which separates the public from the private domains of the house. Casual visitors are received and entertained here. Only close friends and family would be invited into the main living room. An ornate wooden screen stands guard at the entrance to the main house, protecting the privacy of the inner sanctum of the home.
As in all Malay houses of this grandeur, the interiors have specific functions for each room. The "Rumah Ibu" literally means "Mother House", which forms the core of the house, named in honor of the mother of the household, symbolizing the importance of the mother who is responsible for nurturing and looking after the welfare of the family. It is flanked by two wings, housing the "Rumah Tidur" or "sleeping house" where the bedrooms are located, and the "Rumah Dapur" or "kitchen house" where all the food is prepared and normally the domain of the women of the house. This is the teaching kitchen of Chef Shukri for his cookery classes.
As befit the house of an epicurean, the windows and walls are carved with intricate designs depicting herbs, spices, flowers and fruits for aesthetic as well as for ventilation purposes. Ornate designs of star shaped aniseeds and jasmine etched through the window panels and cornices allow air to circulate in the house. It is such a clever way of combining decorative elements and practicality for the home.
The "Rumah Ibu" is very spacious and cool, albeit a bit yin due to the dark wood. It is the main hub for entertaining close friends, with the dining area as the centre piece, as most Malaysian social activities are centered round food. The room opens into a small sheltered balcony at the back of the house, which has been converted into a cosy family room for relaxation and reading, and it overlooks a natural garden.
A family of macaques are eying us from the tree overhanging by the balcony when we are inspecting the house. "These monkeys are a nuisance and they keep invading the house. They "redecorate the rooms" by moving stuff around and even broke a mirror on the wall. They are very naughty and intelligent," quipped Chef Shukri in despair.
The macaques shriek in unison and I could see mischief in their eyes waiting for the right moment to invade the house again. I can see why the dining room is very sparsely decorated courtesy of the cheeky monkeys. But at least their antics inject some yang energy into an otherwise yin ambiance with their exuberance and raucousness.
As the sun is signing off for the day, I head down to the beach to dine at the Lighthouse, Chef Shukri's Mediterranean restaurant set in a decommissioned lighthouse. It is the best spot in Langkawi to watch the sunset while sipping a sundowner before tucking in the delicious dishes on the menu prepared by Chef Shukri and his team. The blue sky slowly transforms into a glowing orange canvas splattered with gold and vermillion, the color of ripened tomatoes and paprika, with a touch of saffron akin to the colors of the dishes at the Lighthouse. I raise my glass to the breathtaking sunset while watching the silhouettes of people catching the last rays on the beach like a shadow play. This ends Part 2 of Traditional Malay House Design.