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Re-Imagining Sustainable Furniture by Using Ergonomic Applications of the

Traditional Malays

Article  in  Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience · September 2017

DOI: 10.1166/asl.2017.10036

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RE-IMAGINING SUSTAINABLE FURNITURE BY USING ERGONOMIC

APPLICATIONS OF THE TRADITIONAL MALAYS – A REVIEW

Nabilah Zainal Abidin*1, Fawazul Khair Ibrahim1 and Raja Nafida Raja Shahminan1
1
Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru,
MALAYSIA.
(E-mail: nabilah.nbza@gmail.com, strazawaf@gmail.com, b-nafida@utm.my)

ABSTRACT
This paper aims discuss on ways to re-imagine various sustainable furniture, by using the
ergonomic applications used by the Traditional Malays, in defining their furniture inside internal
spaces of Traditional Malay Houses (TMH), which will all be used as literature review for the
author’s preliminary study. Furniture, above all, is functional and the ergonomics of sustainable
furniture includes its’ user friendly attributes, which encompasses easy accessibility and handling of
the furniture. With the increase imports of Western furniture that applies to Western ergonomics, into
Eastern territories, a majority of them proves unsuitable for its Eastern users. The scope of this paper
will cover literature review previous studies on Traditional Malay Houses as well as Traditional
Malay Furniture. Other than that, this paper will also touch briefly on the ergonomics of Traditional
Malay Furniture and its’ applications. Samples that will be used for this preliminary study includes
archival evidence reported and collected by the Centre of Built Environment in the Malay World
(KALAM) of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), as well secondary research from previous
documentations and studies on ergonomics. Research methodologies that will be used for this study
might include a comparative study of Western and Eastern ergonomics used in furniture. Expected
findings for this preliminary study may suggest that the lack of an Eastern standard of ergonomics
causes the continuous importation of unsuitable furniture into Eastern countries. With the similarities
of the anthropometrics of users in the East, the Malay standard of ergonomics can be applied in re-
imagining new sustainable furniture that are ergonomically desinged to fit its’ Eastern users, while at
the same time, help in reducing imports of furniture designed with unsuitable ergonomic standards.
Keywords: Sustainable Furniture, Ergonomic Applications, Traditional Malays, Malay
Standard, Traditional Malay House

INTRODUCTION
Traditional Malay House
Many studies on the the Traditional Malays consisted on their architecture. Traditional Malay
Houses (TMH) are functional objects that not only reflects the needs of the family living in them, but
at the same time expressing a strong symbolic meaning [1]. As a domestic domain, TMH are built
and designed by the inhabitants themselves, not only to reflect their needs and lifestyle, but also their
creativity and aesthetic skills [2]. Therefore, common TMH consisted of spaces that have their
specific uses which in turn influenced the interiors and furniture used, making the house a site for
many cultural practices and traditions [2]. The TMH is commonly known as the vernacular
architecture of the Malays before the colonial period. Its most distinctive vernacular attributes are the
raised floor construction, the flexibility of spaces and the use of readily available rain forest materials
to counter the hot-humid climate. There are three parts of the house – pillars, walls and roofs. These
parts have been interpreted as three stages in man’s life – birth, life and death [3]. The uses of interior
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spaces of the TMH may vary. Based on Figure 1, the diagram shows some common activities in the
TMH. Spaces in the house are multifunctional and the use of the space changes during the day and
year. There are minimal interior walls and partitions within the house, allowing for flexible use of
space and good ventilation and lighting of the interiors. The main spaces and areas in TMH includes;
anjung (varandah), serambi (living area), rumah ibu (private area), selang (passageway), and dapur
(kitchen) [4]. Table 1 describes the main functions of spaces available in a TMH.

Figure 1. Space in TMH and their activities.

Table 1. Spaces found in a TMH and its functions

Space Functions
Anjung (veranda) Where unfamiliar guests are entertained. A relaxing
area where the owner sits and watches the goings-on
happening in the village.
Serambi (living area) Male guests are entertained here. Equipped with low
windows which allows for ventilation and effective
cooling.
Rumah Ibu (private area) The main female domain and core structure of the
whole house. To express its importance, it has the
highest head room and is the largest of all the spaces
in the house. Where most activities are conducted
and includes the bedrooms.
Selang (passageway) A closed passageway that acts as a link from the
rumah ibu to the dapur.
Dapur (kitchen) Situated at the very back of the house. Where meals
are prepared and cooked.

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Furniture
A few studies have underlined that furniture is an important part of human life. Built-in seats
and sleeping-place were incorporated in a neolithic house at Skara Brae in the Orkneys [5]. Based
from archaeological findings and artefacts in museums, we know that from the beginning of time
when man lived a nomadic life until they gradually settled down, each household had specific
equipments and products to hold or store their properties. With the development of human
civilization, discoveries of different and exotic materials such as gold, bronze, metal and ivory,
furniture became the symbol of social status and power. Furniture is above all, functional. It is an
essential part of the home, and its specific purpose is to the many activities – meals, entertainments,
recreation, study and so on - and the inactivities-sleep and rest-of domestic life [6].

Traditional Malay Furniture

The Traditional Malays are known for their floor culture, as they sit, eat, work, and pray on
the floor [7]. Furniture plays an important role in human life, but its necessity is based on the needs
of the people using them, so therefore some might find furniture important while others don’t. The
definition of Traditional Malay Furniture used in this paper is as follows: An equipment used for the
necessity of the people in their daily lives whether for storage, utility, or as a tool, characterized by
their functions, usage, and types, that are available both externally and internally of a TMH [8]. From
the definition of Traditional Malay Furniture given, Table 2 further lists down the different types of
furniture that can be found inside a serambi of a TMH.

Table 2. Traditional Malay Furniture in Serambi [9].

Light Fixture Utility Built-in Wood
Built-in & Wood /
Clothes Hanger Utility
Loose Antlers
Storing / Utensils /
Tools / Equipment Partition Utility / Furnishing Built-in Wood
Wardrobe Storage/Utility Loose Wood
Cupboard Storage/Utility Loose Wood
Door Panel Utility/Furnishing Loose Textile
Bendul (Sill) Body-supporting unit Built-in Wood
Window Rail Body-supporting unit Built-in Wood
Sitting / Leaning Pandanus
Mats Body-supporting unit Loose leaves /
bamboo strips
Serambi Pandanus
Guest Mat Body-supporting unit Loose leaves /
bamboo strips
Bride / Groom’s
Gatherings Body-supporting unit Loose Textile
Mat
Betel Chew Set Equipment/Tool Loose Metal
Tray Equipment Loose Wood / Metal
Tobacco Tray Equipment/Utility Loose Metal / Stone
Tikar
Mengkuang
Daily Activities mengkuang Body-supporting unit Loose
leaves
(Mat)
Sejadah
Praying Body-supporting unit Loose Textile
(Praying mat)

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Ergonomics and Anthropometry

The term ‘ergonomic’ is a combination of two Greek words which are Ergo (work) and Nomos
(laws). Ergonomics is the study of how furniture and equipment can be arranged in order that people
can do work or other activities efficiently [10]. It is considered as an integral part of design,
manufacturing, and use. Knowing how the study of anthropometry, posture, repetitive motion, and
workspace design affects the user is critical to a better understanding of ergonomics as they relate to
end-user needs [11]. Figure 2 illustrates the different positions the human body can pose into and is
used in ergonomics.

Figure 2. Positions of the Human Limbs [11]

Anthropometry on the other hand, is the science dealing with measurements of the human
body to determine differences in individuals, or groups etc [10]. Anthropometric data varies
considerably between regional populations. For example, Scandinavian populations tend to be taller,
while Asian and Italian populations tend to be shorter [11].

Table 2. Anthropometric measurements (including allowances for clothing) of small and large
males and females. All measurements are in inches [12].

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Figure 3. Common Office Environment Posture.

Table 2 discusses on the anthropometric measurements (including allowances for clothing) of

various sizes of males and females collected by BIFMA, which in this preliminary study, it will be
used as the Western Standard of ergonomics and anthropometry. Figure 3 above demonstrates the
common office environment postures that can be corroborated with anthropometric measurements in
Table 2. Figure 4 below illustrates the different sizes of males and females in percentile [13].

Figure 4. The relative sizes of different percentile humans.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The research method that will be used for this preliminary study will include a formulated
calculation that will eventually provide the author with a Malay Standard of measurements that will
be gathered from the data provided by BIFMA. The basic measurements of Height and Arm width
were obtained from previous studies done on Traditional Malays and is better illustrated in Figure 5
below.

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Figure 5. Anatomical Dimensions of the Malay Adult [14]

Based on the dimensions provided in Figure 5 and the measurements stated in Table 2, a
formula was formulated to provide the author with a more detailed data that will be helpful in
providing the detailed measurements to be used a the Malay Standard. According to BIFMA’s
measuremnets, an average height is calculated between male and female which resulted to an average
height of 170cm. With the given average height of the Malay adult at 160cm in Figure 5, a difference
was calculated between the average Western and average Malay which came up to a difference of
10cm. With this difference (10cm). The calculations used for this formula can be seen in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Calculations used to gain the measurements for the Malay Standard.
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With the measurements calculated, the new dimensions can be used for a more detailed
measurements that can be used as the Malay/Asian Standard. These new measurements can be seen
in detail in Figure 7 below.

Figure 7. Malay/Asian Standard of Anthropometrics.

Based on the new Malay/Asian Standard, the author can then use them to be applied onto
Traditional Malay Furniture that are available inside TMH in the research samples.

EXPECTED RESULTS
Expected results for this preliminary study is that the Traditional Malays heavily used the
application of ergonomics in the design and building of their traditional furniture inside of their TMH.
Ergonomics and athropometrics plays an important part of everyday lives for everyone whether in
the past, present or future. Because of this every group of civilization or people will undoubtedly have
their own ergonomics because of their varied athropometrics, therefore the best way to live a
comfortable life and existence is to apply our own ergonomics to our own furniture and everyday
tools and equipment.

CONCLUSION
The findings of this study will inevitably help in the re-imagining of new sustainable furniture
that be used properly by its intended users. By providing a new guideline and reference for an Asian
or Malay Standard of measurements, more users can benefit from a lifestyle that is more comfortable
and healthy.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This paper is sponsored by Zamalah Award of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

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REFERENCES
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Family Dwellings, International Journal of Architectural Research, 3(1), (2009).
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and Spatial Organization of Housing, International Journal of Architectural Research, 3(1), 197-208.
[3] Wan T.H, Nasir A. H, The Traditional Malay House, Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia Berhad, Kuala Lumpur,
(2011).
[4] Yuan L. J, The Malay House Rediscovering Malaysia’s Indigenous Shelter System, Institut Masyarakat, Pulau
Pinang, (1987), 88.
[5] Lucie-Smith E, Furniture A Concise History. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd, (1993).
[6] Joy, E.T, Furniture, London: The Connoisseur Chestergate House, (1972).
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[8] Abdul Wahab M.A, Awang M, Awang Lah N.A, Furniture In Negeri Sembilan Traditional House Kitchen, (2012).
[9] Zainal Abidin, N, Ibrahim, F. K, and Raja Shahminan, R. N, Redefining Furniture of the Traditional Malays, 6th
International Graduate Conference on Engineering Science & Humanity 2016 (IGCESH2016) Proceedings, UTM
School of Postgraduate Studies (2016).
[10] Collins Dictionary, (2014).
[11] Openshaw, S, Ergonomics and Design, A Reference Guide, Allsteel, (2006).
[12] BIFMA, Ergonomics Guidelines, (2002).
[13] Grandjean. E, Kroemer. K.H.E, Fitting the Task to the Human, Fifth Edition, A Textbook of Occupational
Ergonomics, CRC Press, (1997).
[14] Ariffin. S.I, Order in Traditional Malay House Form, Oxford Brookes University, (2001).

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