Former Engineer Uses Reclaimed Wood To Build Traditional Malay House

KOTA BHARU, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- A former engineer made use of reclaimed wood to build a traditional Malay house for him and his family in Kampung Air Deras in Pasir Hor here.

Mohamad Salleh, 49, said it took him two years, starting in 2015, to complete the house, including the process of collecting used wood from several demolished houses and buildings around the state.

Built on a 7,000-square-foot plot, the house, which he proudly named Rumah Singgora, is a head-turner due to its distinctive Kelantanese architectural features, including intricate carvings on the pillars and the use of Singgora roof tiles made entirely of clay. (Singgora tiles are widely used in traditional Malay houses in the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia.)

The father of seven told Bernama he was able to acquire high-quality reclaimed wood such as chengal and seraya hitam, which helped him realise his dream of building a traditionally styled home.

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"I was inspired to build this traditional house during my travels to Indonesia and Thailand, where many buildings highlight traditional architecture with their own unique artistic features.

"One of the reasons I chose reclaimed wood is that much of it is still usable despite being discarded. If you were to inspect them closely, you will realise that many pieces can still be repurposed," he said.

Mohamad said after he moved into Rumah Singgora with his wife Nor Hana Saali, 47, and their family in 2017, they started receiving local visitors and even tourists from countries such as the United Kingdom, Qatar, Bosnia, Australia, China, Brazil and Singapore, who were drawn by the abode’s unique traditional architecture.  

Inspired by the public’s interest in their house, Mohamad and his wife decided to open an eatery to offer the visitors traditional Kelantanese cuisine. They set up a gazebo on the lawn of their house, which can seat 90 people at any one time, where diners can enjoy a meal whilst taking in the natural beauty of the surroundings.

"More than 10 traditional Kelantanese dishes are available on our menu, including singgang beef, boiled fish, fried free-range chicken, vegetable stew, rice field snails in curry, petai prawns, sambal kecupu and moringa leaf omelet. To maintain a classic feel, we serve the food using vintage plates and copper pots, reminiscent of our ancestors' era,” Mohamad said, adding that desserts include local fruits and delicacies like kuih bakar.  

“During Ramadan, we plan to offer a special menu which will include ayam percik, perut air asam and ikan pari air asam."

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He also said the feedback from guests, including international visitors, has been very positive.

“Many of them enjoy the Kelantanese-style dishes, especially the singgang beef dish which often receives praise for its taste.

"We prepare meals only by reservation, either a day or a week in advance, to ensure the quality of the ingredients. The prices of our meal packages range from RM130 to RM350," he added.

-- BERNAMA