‘Bergendang’ and Its Spatial Use in Traditional Sarawak Malay House

Yon Syafni Samat; Syed Ahmad Iskandar Syed Ariffin; Nurakmal Abdullah Goh; John Hwa Seng  Ting

doi:10.21834/ebpj.v8i23.4489

Authors

Yon Syafni Samat Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia & Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
Syed Ahmad Iskandar Syed Ariffin Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
Nurakmal Abdullah Goh Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
John Hwa Seng Ting Faculty of Arts and Design, University of Canberra, Bruce ACT, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v8i23.4489

Keywords:

Bergendang, Sarawak Malay, Spatial Use, Traditional Malay House

Abstract

Bergendang is a uniquely Sarawak Malay traditional entertainment frequently held during social gatherings at home. This paper investigates the spatial use of bergendang activity in traditional Malay houses along the Sarawak River in Kuching. The research employed a qualitative case study design approach through field study observation and semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed different spatial use of bergendang for early and later model of Sarawak Malay houses, which is also associated with social status of house owners. Spatial study on traditional Malay houses in other parts of Sarawak is recommended for constructing northern Borneo region's vernacular Malay house framework.

Author Biographies

Yon Syafni Samat, Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia & Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia

Yon Syafni Samat is an architect, designer and lecturer at the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). She holds a Bachelor of Design in Architecture (B.Des.Arch, LAM Part I) and Master of Architecture (M.Arch, LAM Part II) degrees, both from The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy degree specializing in Vernacular Architecture at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru. Her doctorate research topic is on the traditional houses of the Sarawak Malay.

Syed Ahmad Iskandar Syed Ariffin, Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia

Syed Ahmad Iskandar is a philosopher in architecture conservation, especially on the built environment of the Malay world. Other than being a Senior Member of Malaysian Architectural Education and Accreditation Council (MAPS), Malaysian Architects Board, he is also a member of the Architectural Expert Committee and Landscape for the National Heritage Department.

Nurakmal Abdullah Goh, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia

Professor Ar. NurAkmal Abdullah Goh joined University Malaysia Sarawak in May 2017 and is the first Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment. Her recent research is focusing on the Sarawak indigenous architecture and the conservation and preservation of Borneo Architecture of both Sabah and Sarawak states of East Malaysia. She was a Senior Fellow at Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia from 2005 till April 2017, where she was actively involved in research of various field, especially in Green Construction and Technology.

John Hwa Seng Ting, Faculty of Arts and Design, University of Canberra, Bruce ACT, Australia

Dr. John Ting is an Australian architect, researcher and educator. He is an Assistant Professor at the University of Canberra, and he has previously taught at the University of Melbourne and at RMIT University. His present research investigates the mobility of timber colonial buildings in nineteenth century Southeast Asia and Australia, and the history of architecture in Sarawak before 1963.

John's architectural practice experience has included commercial and residential projects in Australia and Malaysia. He has worked for firms in Melbourne, Singapore and Malaysia, as well as leading his own firm. He is currently consulting on heritage and conservation projects in Victoria, Australia and Sarawak, Malaysia.

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