Corporate
Holiday to Malaysia
Home
About Malaysia
Places
Experiences
Events
Travel Packages
Travel Bookings
Select Language
Canada - English
United States of America - English
Bangladesh - English
Brunei - English
Brunei - Bahasa Melayu
China - English
China - 华文 (简体)
Hong Kong - English
Hong Kong - 華文 (繁體)
India - English
Indonesia - English
Indonesia - Bahasa Indonesia
Japan - English
Japan - 日本の
Korea - English
Korea - 한국의
Malaysia - English
Malaysia - Bahasa Melayu
Malaysia - Bahasa Indonesia
Nepal - English
Pakistan - English
Philippines - English
Singapore - English
Singapore - 华文 (简体)
Sri Lanka - English
Taiwan - English
Taiwan - 華文 (繁體)
Thailand - English
Thailand - ภาษาไทย
Vietnam - English
Australia - English
New Zealand - English
France - English
France - Français
Germany - English
Germany - Deutsch
Italy - English
Italy - Italiano
Netherlands - English
Russia - English
Russia - русский
Spain - English
Spain - Español
Sweden - English
Turkey - English
Turkey - Türk
United Kingdom - English
Global - English
United Arab Emirates - English
United Arab Emirates - العربية
Saudi Arabia - English
Saudi Arabia - العربية
Iran - English
Iran - فارسی
Home
About Malaysia
Places
Experiences
Events
Travel Packages
Trip Planner
Malaysia in 360°
Image Gallery
Search
infoline: 1 300 88 5050
within Malaysia only
enquiries@tourism.gov.my
Select Language |
Global
English
Americas
Canada
English
United States of America
English
Asia
Bangladesh
English
Brunei
English
Bahasa Melayu
China
English
华文 (简体)
Hong Kong
English
華文 (繁體)
India
English
Indonesia
English
Bahasa Indonesia
Japan
English
日本の
Korea
English
한국의
Malaysia
English
Bahasa Melayu
Bahasa Indonesia
Nepal
English
Pakistan
English
Philippines
English
Singapore
English
华文 (简体)
Sri Lanka
English
Taiwan
English
華文 (繁體)
Thailand
English
ภาษาไทย
Vietnam
English
Australia
Australia
English
New Zealand
English
Europe
France
English
Français
Germany
English
Deutsch
Italy
English
Italiano
Netherlands
English
Russia
English
русский
Spain
English
Español
Sweden
English
Turkey
English
Türk
United Kingdom
English
Middle East
United Arab Emirates
English
العربية
Saudi Arabia
English
العربية
Iran
English
فارسی
Global
English
Americas
Canada
English
United States of America
English
Asia
Bangladesh
English
Brunei
English
Bahasa Melayu
China
English
华文 (简体)
Hong Kong
English
華文 (繁體)
India
English
Indonesia
English
Bahasa Indonesia
Japan
English
日本の
Korea
English
한국의
Malaysia
English
Bahasa Melayu
Bahasa Indonesia
Nepal
English
Pakistan
English
Philippines
English
Singapore
English
华文 (简体)
Sri Lanka
English
Taiwan
English
華文 (繁體)
Thailand
English
ภาษาไทย
Vietnam
English
Australia
Australia
English
New Zealand
English
Europe
France
English
Français
Germany
English
Deutsch
Italy
English
Italiano
Netherlands
English
Russia
English
русский
Spain
English
Español
Sweden
English
Turkey
English
Türk
United Kingdom
English
Middle East
United Arab Emirates
English
العربية
Saudi Arabia
English
العربية
Iran
English
فارسی
Architecture
Traditional Architecture
Malay
Traditional Malay architecture employs sophisticated architectural processes ideally suited to tropical conditions such as structures built on stilts, which allow cross-ventilating breeze beneath the dwelling to cool the house whilst mitigating the effects of the occasional flood. High-pitched roofs and large windows not only allow cross-ventilation but are also carved with intricate organic designs.
Traditional houses in Negeri Sembilan were built of hardwood and entirely free of nails. They are built using beams, which are held together by wedges. A beautiful example of this type of architecture can be seen in the Old Palace of Seri Menanti in Negeri Sembilan, which was built around 1905.
Today, many Malay or Islamic buildings incorporate Moorish design elements as can be seen in the Islamic Arts Museum and a number of buildings in Putrajaya - the new administrative capital, and many mosques throughout the country.
Chinese
In Malaysia, Chinese architecture is of two broad types: traditional and Baba-Nyonya. Examples of traditional architecture include Chinese temples found throughout the country such as the Cheng Hoon Teng that dates back to 1646.
Many old houses especially those in Melaka and Penang are of Baba-Nyonya heritage, built with indoor courtyards and beautiful, colourful tiles.
A rare architectural combination of Chinese and Western elements is displayed by Melaka's Terengkera mosque. Its pagoda-like appearance is a fine example of Chinese-influenced roof form, combined with Western detailing in its balustrades and railings.
Indian
With most of Malaysian Hindus originally from Southern India, local Hindu temples exhibit the colourful architecture of that region.
Built in the late nineteenth century, the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur is one of the most ornate and elaborate Hindu temples in the country. The detailed decorative scheme for the temple incorporates intricate carvings, gold embellishments, hand-painted motifs and exquisite tiles from Italy and Spain.
The Sikhs, although a small minority, also have their temples of more staid design in many parts of the country.
Indigenous Peoples of Sabah & Sarawak
Two unique architectural highlights of the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak are longhouses and water villages.
Homes to interior riverine tribes, longhouses are traditional community homes. These elongated and stilted structures, often built of axe-hewn timber, tied with creeper fibre and roofed with woven atap or thatched leaves, can house between 20 to 100 families.
Rustic water villages built on stilts are also commonly found along riverbanks and seafronts. Houses are linked by plank walkways with boats anchored on the sides. Transport around the village is usually by sampan or canoe.
Colonial Period Styles
The architectural styles of the different colonial powers are used in many buildings built between 1511 and 1957.
Portuguese
The most notable example of Portuguese architecture in Malaysia is the A'Famosa fort in Melaka, which was built by Alfonso d'Albuquerque in 1511. Nearly annihilated by the Dutch, only a small part of the fortification is still on the hill overlooking the Melaka town, old port and the Straits of Melaka.
Dutch
Located in Melaka Town, the Stadthuys with its heavy wooden doors, thick red walls and wrought-iron hinges is the most imposing relic of the Dutch period in Melaka. It is a fine example of Dutch masonry and woodworking skills. Built between 1641 and 1660 it is believed to be the oldest building in the East.
British
Among the most significant landmarks built by the British is theSultan Abdul Samad Building, which grandly overlooks the Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur. This Moorish beauty, completed in 1897, served as the Colonial Secretariat offices during the British administration.
Pre-Merdeka or pre-independence shophouses still emanate the characteristic charm of their earlier days. A display of English ingenuity is the 'five-foot-way' or covered sidewalk designed to shield pedestrians from the heat and rain.
The best of the best!
Melaka and George Town have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West in the Straits of Malacca.
The influences of Asia and Europe have endowed these towns with a specific multicultural heritage; of government buildings, churches, squares and fortifications. Melaka demonstrates the early stages of this history originating in the 15th-century Malay sultanate and the Portuguese and Dutch periods beginning in the early 16th century while the residential and commercial buildings of George Town represents the British era from the end of the 18th century to the middle of the 20th century.
Together they constitute a unique architectural townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia and have been recognised as the World Heritage listed, ‘Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca.’
In Brief
Fast Facts
Practical Info
Culture & Heritage
In Brief
Fast Facts
Practical Info
Culture & Heritage