Cultural landscape of traditional house compounds in Terengganu

Abstract

As it was observed that Terengganu traditional residential landscapes are disappearing fast, it seemed obvious that something had to be done before oblivion sets in. Therefore, taking the traditional houses compounds as basic building blocks of the traditional villages, a survey on 16 house compounds found mostly in the valley of the Terengganu River, was conducted. The study was aimed at demonstrating i) that these units have a particular identity, ii) that they are valuable assets to the state as cultural landscapes. The 16 house compounds have been divided into four categories or types, based on socio-economic differences amongst the inhabitants reported in background literature on Terengganu, i.e: “rakyat�, “aristocrat�, “clan heritage� and “farmer�. The investigation entails the use of pictures, interviews, lists of features and sketch plans of the house compounds. The findings are presented in tables of frequencies revealing priorities for each type: “rakyat� - household activities, “aristocrat� -status symbols, “clan heritage� -family ties, and “farmer� -harvest and storage. The resulting “portraits� are then analysed against a series of seventeen criteria for cultural value drawnd the literature on cultural landscape assessment. In conclusion, the landscape in the house compounds are found to present varying identity types, homogeneity, variety, symbiosis and ethic norms, and hence qualify as cultural landscape. This can be considered as a valuable indication for the rest of the house compounds in ancient villages. The research intends to serve as a first stage framework towards further course of action to document and /or to preserve what remains of the identified heritage in Terengganu.