Adapting to Tropical Climate: Practical Contemporary Tropical Regionalism Architectural Design [No.1]

The progressive state of architecture [be it Malaysian or the world as a whole], as well as that of the many other forms of human disciplines such as literature, interior design or interior architecture, or fashion is so complex that one will normally do not always manage to differentiate its intricacies using clear and meaningful criteria. Some architectural critics have the opinion that architectural styles in many cities within the Asia-pacific region or perhaps to be specific in Malaysia itself, undeniably is beginning to exhibit a stultifying sameness: an endless architectural products reproduction of the many cities in the west or in Sydney, Seoul in Korea and even of the cities in the American continent.

“Zaman sudah berubah, dunia dah maju” as one favorite saying in an advertisement in our recent TV broadcasting media. As though, the ideal argument that “Architecture being a product of climate, social customs or cultures, need not be identical between two countries within a region” has since been slowly fading away from every individual’s confused understanding. Like it or not, everyone has to participate in the evaluation of global network, both real and electromagnetic. We are all as it seems to be now, more or less only a keytap away from each other. This widespread of ‘persamaan’ or togetherness tends to encourage rapid and unavoidable translation of architectural styles from one community country to another. However, for many Architectural Critics if not all in consensus to agree, still had pointed out that: “local, specific and critically regional cultures still, paradoxically, bear relevance for us despite the increasing dissolution of national boundaries”.

As for Malaysian architectural records [if any? or . . . . . of course there really are!] over the last decade also has reveals a huge variety of styles and trends, which has produced undeniable riches. I’m not trying to be smarty academic to give an analysis on the fate of the present Malaysian architecture as resultant to or with respect to the many unwelcoming or probably unapologetic international influences towards our general approach in reading our architecture: though in certain circumstances, in my own personal view, it has respectfully been more beneficial than destruction. My intention in this essay merely to express my gratitude to the one architectural style which worth exploring in the context of our own Malaysian climatic condition and requirements

One of the favourite styles that exist within the context of our present in fulfilling the demand of our climatic condition and requirements, is what most of us would agree to describe it as the Contemporary Tropical Regionalism style of architecture.

Contemporary Tropical Regionalism style of architecture – in the general understanding of the many, can be described as a representation of dialogues between modern and conventional traditional values or styles. Some may even proudly have the attitudes of saying “Something traditional can look Modern if it’s abstracted to an essence”. In normal circumstances this can be achieved with the proper recipe in the exercise of manipulating the mixture of conventional traditional building styles and design characteristics which accommodating the climatic requirements, with the practical local materials in the effort of fulfilling the current modern trendy demands of the societies. Of course, functionality which faithfully honoring culture needs must be forever preserved to exceptionally maintain its final taste. The majority architects in trying to creatively portraying their skill to manipulate his or her architectural language in styling his or her design thus can never run away from the necessity to fulfill the strict practical functionality requirements of the space he design.

As for the many local practicing Architects in Malaysia, most of us would surely still believe that design solutions in architecture should be climate and culture responsive. So, Contemporary Tropical Regionalism style of architecture is more homage to practical and functional architectural language in the Malaysian context which dearly respecting the local tropical climate as compared to some other contrasting architectural language which tries to create new vicinity divorced from its real context with the environment.

And of course, Contemporary Tropical Regionalism style of architecture is extremely loyal to its dependent on current, present or existing external factors such as the surrounding context and the climate in which the building is located and on the internal factors such as the comfortable needs of the occupiers rather than the mere personal wild intention of the individual Architect.