CLIMATIC ADAPTATION
The traditional Malay house features a number of adaptive devices to relieve the stress created by high temperatures and humidity. Houses are randomly sited to ensure that the wind has relatively free passage through the community. Moreover, the velocity of wind increases with altitude and the traditional Malay house on stilts makes the most of this phenomenon. Again, to maximize ventilation, the house features many full-length windows at an appropriate body height. These windows can be left open most of the time thanks to large overhangs which, in addition to offering protection from the driving rain, exclude the open skies from view and reduce the glare. For religious reasons, most traditional Malay houses are oriented to face Mecca (i.e. in an east-west direction). This orientation minimizes the number of areas exposed to direct solar radiation during the day and, hence, the heat gain in the building. Heat retention is minimized by the lightweight, natural construction materials that have a low thermal capacity and the interior remains cool due to the insulating capability of the attap (thatch) roof. The traditional Malay house tends to be somewhat dark inside, which has the advantage of giving an impression of coolness; for practical purposes, however, the introduction of artificial lighting would be desirable.