Contemporary Bidayuh Vernacular Architecture

In Sarawak, Malaysia, many new buildings stand in stark contrast to the local traditional Bidayuh Longhouses and Baruks. The lack of representation and respect for local culture and building techniques in the architectural landscape of the 21st century is contributing to the disappearance of the Bidayuh culture and heritage; the traditional design of the Longhouse and Baruk is a vital part of that. The failure to develop and integrate the vernacular style over time can lead to the heritage architecture being seen as archaic and undervalued. Reviving local knowledge and culture in the 21st century can not only preserve the local identity but can also push the practice of architecture to be more sustainable, both culturally and environmentally. Hence, my research investigates ways traditional Bidayuh building knowledge and techniques can positively influence contemporary design.

The research focuses on a small community scale with data on the Bidayuh’s building design, form, and construction. The methodology starts with gathering and analysing various types of information from local archives and via observations that have been employed relating to vernacular building techniques. The gathered knowledge will be used to develop a contemporary approach to design and technology. The information collected will then be used as a starting point to create a framework for the Bidayuh built forms. The result would be the basis for developing prototypes of contemporary Longhouses. This research investigates traditional Bidayuh designs to see how they help minimise environmental damage whilst reinforcing cultural identity without being seen as retrogressive. The framework and prototype can be a precedent for future architectural developments elsewhere.