Heritage lovers and architecture enthusiasts are in for a treat with Traditional Malay House Showcase: Culture And Nature In Harmony, which will be running at the Badan Warisan Heritage Centre in Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur from Nov 1-15.
The exhibition, organised by Badan Warisan Malaysia (BWM) or The Heritage of Malaysia Trust, offers a rare chance to experience the traditional Malay kampung house not merely as a historical structure, but as a living work of art — shaped by craftsmanship, culture, and the natural world.
“This special programme celebrates the wisdom and beauty of traditional Malay architecture, exploring how design, craftsmanship, and the natural environment come together in perfect balance. The showcase aims to deepen public appreciation for the Malay house as a living heritage that reflects both cultural values and sustainable principles,” outlines a statement from BWM.
After a year of public programmes – from book talks to heritage lectures and cultural outreach – Traditional Malay House Showcase: Culture And Nature In Harmony emerges as one of BWM’s year-end highlights, celebrating the traditional Malay kampung house as an enduring emblem of culture and craft.
The outdoor exhibition, hosted at the shady garden area of Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman on the Badan Warisan Heritage Centre grounds, is free to attend. Visitors can drop in from Tuesday to Saturday, between 10am and 4pm.
Omar’s talk ‘From Land To Legacy’ on Nov 1 explores the living heritage kampung houses of Sentosa Janda Baik. Photo: The Star/Izzrafiq Alias
Built between 1910 and the early 1930s, Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman once belonged to the village headman of Mukim Bagan Samak in Kedah’s Kampung Sungai Kechil. In 1996, BWM rescued, restored, and relocated it to Kuala Lumpur.
The mini exhibition presents the Malay house as both art and innovation. Built without modern technology, it addresses contemporary challenges like heat, floods, and community living, making it practical, poetic, and ahead of its time.
Daily tours of Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman will also be running throughout the exhibition period.
“This exhibition invites visitors to discover the beauty and diversity of the traditional kampung house, which varies from state to state across Malaysia. We hope visitors will take the opportunity to explore our own Rumah Penghulu – a beautifully preserved kampung house in the heart of Kuala Lumpur – and join the talks and activities we’ve planned to share more about this unique part of our architectural and cultural heritage,” says Lim Wei-Ling, BWM president.
A view of Leong’s ‘Stilt Houses – The Floating World Of Kampung Baru’ art installation, which was exhibited at Ilham Gallery in Kuala Lumpur in 2022. Photo: Eiffel Chong
Beyond the exhibition, BWM is hosting two public talks – free for members, with an entry fee for non-members – during the showcase.
The first talk, “From Land To Legacy” by Omar Ariff, takes place on Nov 1 at 10.30am. A self-taught photographer and diver, Omar will explore Sentosa Janda Baik – a family-built estate created not for profit, but as a lifelong tribute to Malaysian culture, nature, and heritage.
In his talk, Omar will show how Sentosa Janda Baik remains a living space for culture, where visitors can see, feel, and participate in tradition. Continuing his family’s legacy of storytelling, he uses the estate in Selangor as a place where nature, art, and culture converge.
The second talk, “Stilt Houses – The Floating World Of Kampung Baru” by contemporary artist Leon Leong, takes place on Nov 15 at 10.30 am. Leong revisits his art installation series (shown at KL’s Ilham Gallery in 2022), which chronicles Kampung Baru’s history and the dramatic changes it faces.
The series traces how environments evolve over time – shaped by policy, people, and survival – offering visual reflections on how communities adapt, rebuild, and remember.
In the BWM talk, Leong will discuss the making of the series and his explorations of Kampung Baru’s informal architecture and the changing nature of shelter.
BWM, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting Malaysia’s built heritage and cultural history.
More info here.
