Assessing Aristocratic Architectural Styles Through the Malay Classical Evaluation Tool

Particularly throughout the modernising 'colonial' period of the early 1800s to 1900s in the Malay world, colonial forces and influences catalysed changes to public architecture in the Malay world. Along with construction materials and technology imported from outside, there were also stylistic forms and language. In some cases, the Malay patrons of architecture adopted external stylistic elements while appropriating masonry into new 'hybrid' forms of their vernacular. A range of stylistic conditions and features arose from this evolution, and construction and localised grammar had evolved. Thus, the following is an attempt to classify according to the parameters of stylistic characters. The most-argued issues are about traditional Malay and classical Malay inventions and appropriations rather than colonial or European ones. The cases show the stylistic grammar of masonry and timber with characteristic proportions, tectonics, and artistic motifs reflecting local Malay traditions, forms, and constructional inventions. The style's evolution reflects the gradual evolutionary outcome of classical Malay architecture. The reviews from the scholars about the Malay traditional façade elements and stylistic characters had been mapped out and summarised into a matrix and scorecard for further studies. Proper documentation of the architectural principles of South-east Asia will help preserve Malay principal character, which must go beyond vernacular models into the strong façade identity and principles that fashion a new era of urban language.