Assessment of Building Typology and Construction Method of Traditional Longhouse

The longhouse is a well-known traditional dwelling of many natives in Sarawak. A longhouse is a terraced street of separate dwellings covered by one roof. Each family who stay in the longhouse has their separate room. These houses are still in use today and are able to provide the basic shelter needs of the occupants. The use of local materials and the setting that create harmonization with the local environment and climate contribute to the provision of comfort to the occupants. However, the traditional longhouse today is a threatened typology as some of them either have disappeared, are no longer constructed, are tourism attractions or are being maintained as cultural artifacts only. There is a concern that someday the distinct identity of the longhouse might be lost. Therefore, knowledge of construction techniques, assessment of the materials used and typological characteristics of the traditional architecture need to be gathered to preserve the built heritage. A comprehensive document is essential for the preservation and conservation of the traditional longhouse. This paper presents the methodology used and data collected on the typology of the traditional longhouse and its construction method.