Wooden Hut
Interview with Malaysian Timber Board by Suria Zainal
Wooi Architect was awarded the PAM 2004 Award for Excellence in Architecture by Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) in September 2004 for the construction of an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly bungalow in a hilltop residential area in Shah Alam, Selangor. MTC caught up with Mr. Lok Wooi, the visionary behind the project, to understand the rationale underlying his kompung house-inspired design and his perspective on the application of timber for home and building construction.
MTB:The first thing that strikes people's minds when they see your house is its predominant use of wood. How did your love for timber develop?
LW: My first interaction with wooden structures was during my childhood, most of which was spent living among Malays in a rural Malay village in Pendang, Tanah Merah, Kedah. Most of them lived in wooden houses on stilts, which is actually the most natural way to live comfortably in a humid tropical country like Malaysia. The raised structure enables efficient cross-ventilation which cools the house naturally. I also remember the traditional wedding feasts where the village folks would sometimes tie a few pieces of bamboo together using rattan to make tables for their guests. Later, during my third year of study in Australia, l had the opportunity to study under renowned Australian architects Bruce Rickard and Richard Leplastrier. Rickard taught me about the natural warmth that timber gives to space, and his obsession with natural sunlight for a building helped shape my thoughts on the importance of integrating nature with one's designs to achieve a sense of calmness in a living space. Leplastrier, whose love for wood began in his childhood when his father used to build boats, believes that nature matters in the way houses are designed and that timber should be used sparingly.
MTB: Where do you see this passion or love of wood taking your profession and the Malaysian architectural society?
LW: Malaysian architects as a group must have a good understanding of the properties of wood to enable us to utilise the country's rich timber resources responsibly. In the case of Chengal (Neobalanocarpus hemii), which is known as Raja Kayu (king of wood) locally, we utilise it for the main structures of the house to capitalise on its strength properties. For a species like Resak (Cotylelobium spp.), which is suitable for medium to heavy construction purposes, we use it for interior applications such as staircases as well as door and window frames. Malaysia, being one of the 12 mega-diverse countries in the world, hosts some 3,000 species of trees and this is a heritage that all Malaysians should be proud of. Supported by over a hundred years of forest management and decades of research and development, Malaysians do not have to be apologetic when it comes to using tropical timber especially when we know how to utilise such timbers efficiently and sustainably.
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