The Balustrade and the ‘kekisi’: a strategy in infusing Malay identity through filters and railings in South East Asian urbanism and architecture: case studies in Melaka and Kedah, Malaysia

• Main Authors: Zainal Abidin, Norzalifa, Jahn Kassim, Puteri Shireen, Kamaruddin, Zumahiran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: UNINDRA Universitas Indraprasta PGRI 2019
• Subjects: H62 Study and teaching. Research; NA Architecture; NA100 Architecture and the state
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/78888/1/78888_The%20Balustrade%20and%20the%20%E2%80%98kekisi%E2%80%99.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/78888/; https://www.journal.unindra.ac.id/index.php/cusy/article/view/234/pdf; https://doi.org/10.30998/cs.v1i2.234

Fundamentally, the element of the Malay decorative kekisi is either as a perforation between inside and outside or separation between two functional spaces are endemic in the traditional world. The same functions can be re-engaged in the modern world, to encourage good airflow and natural ventilation, rather than fully dependent on air conditioning. The paper discusses how the element itself reflects a fusion and unity of both form and function. It has sustainable and climatic functions and also has versatile elements which can be inserted to infuse identity consciousness and expressions in a range of scale of spaces, construction elements and forms. In this paper, the generic elements and their cultural variations are highlighted in the traditonal buildings of Melaka and Kedah in Malaysia.