Brunei Architecture - Lecture notes 1 PDF

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contains architectural data of brunei architecture and their culture...

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BRUNEI ARCHITECTURE

BORDERS: It is bounded to the north by the South China Sea and on all other sides by the East Malaysian state of Sarawak, which also divides the state into two disconnected segments of unequal size. The western segment is the larger of the two and contains the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan. Brunei achieved independence in 1984, after having been a British protectorate since 1888. It is a member of the Commonwealth and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA: Brunei is divided into two main sections in northern Borneo. Both sections are fairly hilly inland and swampy along the coasts. The break in the country belongs to Malaysia and is where the Limbang River flows into the sea. Brunei is divided into two nearby, unconnected sections on the island of Borneo, with 97% of the population located in the larger, western region. The landscape is mostly characterized by tropical lowland rainforest, with occasional mountainous regions within the forests of Brunei as well. While there are few large cities, there are important settlements including the capital Bandar Seri Begawan, as well as the oil town of Seria.

GEOLOGICAL DATA: Note the wave dominated Baram delta just west of the Brunei-Sarawak border and the very different Brunei Bay system in the Northeast. Steep ridges clearly outline the large Belait syncline, which is largely covered by rainforest, and the Berakas and Limbang (Sarawak) synclines respectively north and east of the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. To the south and southeast of Brunei are the highs of the Crocker Rajang range, with Mount Mulu (near the well-known Mulu caves) just south of the Belait syncline. Brunei is situated within the Neogene Baram Delta Province that flanks Northwest Borneo along the South China Sea. The delta province evolved over a broad deformation zone, the Rajang-Crocker accretionary belt. Along strike the delta province extends from Sarawak across Brunei into Sabah. A detailed discussion Brunei in terms of regional plate tectonic models is beyond the scope of this article. Most models explain the development of fore-arc type basins and their subsequent deformation and accretion by active southward subduction of the proto-South China Sea under Borneo. The petroleum industry (including the manufacture of liquefied natural gas[LNG]) generates more than half of Brunei’s GDP, although it employs a very small portion of the labour force. Nearly all of the country’s petroleum and natural gas is produced from offshore fields located off its own western segment, and all but a small percentage of the production is exported, mostly to Asian countries. A local refinery supplies domestic needs; the country’s energy is generated almost entirely from fossil fuels.

CLIMATIC: The climate in Brunei is tropical equatorial and humid subtropical at higher altitudes with heavy rainfall. Bandar Seri Begawan's climate is tropical equatorial with two seasons. Dry season is extremely hot (24 to 36 °C or 75.2 to 96.8 °F). Wet or rainy season is generally warm and wet (20 to 28 °C or 68.0 to 82.4 °F). Most of the country is a flat coastal plain with mountains in the east and hilly lowland in the west. The lowest point is at sea level and the highest is Bukit Pagon (1,850 m or 6,070 ft). The climate of Brunei is governed by the equatorial monsoon winds. The northeast monsoon typically blows from December to March, and the southwest monsoon blows from May to September. April, October, and November are transitional months. Temperatures in Brunei are warm throughout the year, typically dropping into the mid-70s F (about 23 °C) and rising to about 90 °F (32 °C) on a daily basis. Precipitation averages about 115 inches (2,900 mm) annually in the coastal areas but can exceed 150 inches (3,800 mm) farther inland. Rainfall is generally heavier from October to January and lighter from March to August.

RELIGION: ISLAM Religious Beliefs.The national religion is the Shafeite sect of Islam. Religious holidays have variable dates that

are set according to a lunar calendar. Early Ramadhan marks the beginning of the holy fasting month; the Anniversary of the Al-Quran commemorates the revelation of the Holy Book of Islam; Hari Raya Adilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa celebrates the end of the fasting month; Hari Raya Aidiladha or Hari Raya Haji celebrates the Haj or holy pilgrimage to Mecca; Hijrah celebrates the journey of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alihi Wassalam from Mecca to Medina; Mulaud, or the Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, celebrates the birth of the founder of Islam; andIsrak Mikrajcommemorates the ascendancy of Muhammad into heaven. RELIGIOUS PRACTITIONERS. The sultan is the head of the Islamic faith. For all Muslims, matters of marriage, divorce, and the family as well as some sexual crimes are governed by Islamic law and fall under the jurisdiction of the religious court system.

A young boy watches the adults as they perform the noon prayer at a mosque in Bandar Seri, Begawan. The Shafeite sect of Islam is the national religion.

RITUALS AND HOLY PLACES. Sixty mosques are maintained by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Tombs of sultans are often treated as shrines.

ISLAMIC INFLUENCES IN BRUNEI ARCHITECTURE In the Malay Kingdom, religion and culture are formed as part of the daily belief, custom and tradition. There are attached and related to each other. The Malays are very strong of Adat, ever since the coming of Islam, the adat melayu which was merely came from Hinduism is still widely used and accepted. The strong arts were then added with religion to abolish the belief of Hinduism. At present Adat has changed its definition from law and belief into arts and culture.

Same to Malay architecture, the adoption of good practice in Islam was taken and brought in together as part of the concept in the design process. In today setting, design of needs and location become priority. For example, designing between bedrooms to living room and toilets; toilets should be located at the rear direction of Qiblat (direction of mecca). WCs direction should be facing sideway (north or south direction) which means not facing to the west (a symbol of respect).

POLITICAL DATA: Brunei Is an absolute monarchy in which the head of state is also a head of government. At the present time, there is no institution of legislature, nor are elections held, except to offices at village level. Political parties are occasionally granted registration. Brunei society is extremely hierarchical, with a sultan and immediate members of the royal family at the apex. Social standing is determined largely by proximity to the royal family by birth. Islam provided a strong bond for its Brunei followers. Much time is taken up with activities centered on the mosque.

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER BASIC ELEMENTS IN THE BRUNEIAN HOUSE VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURAL HOUSE IN BRUNEI IS ALSO THE SAME AS MALAY HOUSE, BUT IT HAS ONLY SMALL DIFFERENCE IN CHARACTER AND IN TERMINOLOGY THEY USED....