Towards Contemporary Vernacular Architecture in Malaysia

Towards Contemporary Vernacular Architecture in Malaysia

The phenomenon of architecture with identity crisis is apparent due to the impact of globalism in contemporary architecture which generally lead to the inherent loss of characteristic and identity of one place.

Rem Koolhaas. 2014: What remains of national style today? How did we get there?

Rem Koolhaas. 1914: National architecture still recognizable.


As showing above are the photo montages by the architect, Rem Koolhaas illustrating that the national identity of most buildings nowadays are being wiped out due to the favour of international style by the developers and designers. In Malaysian as well, it's also obvious that some business-minded developers tend to embrace that globalism rather than their own national characteristic, therefore, the loss of architectural identity happened.

In order to preserve the Malaysian vernacular value in contemporary architecture, I think there is a need to explore, perhaps the integration of local building materials with traditional design techniques in order to preserve Malaysian vernacular in contemporary architecture that responds to the environmental value and also the socio-cultural value.  

Contemporary vernacular architecture should adopt regional building material as sustainable mean in contemporary vernacular architecture towards sustainable living environment which mitigate environmental impacts and carbon footprint, and also to alternative construction techniques and novel spatial possibility. Besides, it is important to integrate regional building materials with vernacular typology through modernization process which mitigate environmental impacts and carbon footprint yet lead to a indoor thermal comfort as well as enabling alternative construction techniques and novel spatial possibility to meet the socio-cultural and environmental value. In relation to that, it is critical to apply traditional design technique in contemporary vernacular architecture which employ user’s expectations, nature and tropical climate are main basis of design in a sustainable and resilient vision that respond to contemporary vernacular architecture that embraces regional identity and preserve originality.

In short, I would advocate that the modernization process of vernacular architecture through the innovative integration of vernacular construction technique and regional materials responding to the environmental sustainability, enabling alternative construction techniques and novel spatial possibility, meanwhile exploiting its user’s expectations, nature and tropical climate as design basis, thereby achieving the socio-cultural and environmental value of sustainable living environment. As a result, it represents the identity of one place!