Raised flooring; a traditional designed architectural element as “passive design” system in future building. Case study: Masjid Kampung Laut, Kelantan

Abstract

Building Industries contributes to a great number of carbon footprint through all these years. Through a proper planning, this industry can reduce the impacts to the earth generally and towards the environment specifically. This study was dedicated to propose an old traditional design found in 400 years building to be reapplied in modern construction as a “passive design” system. Raised timber flooring was commonly applied in South East Asia’s traditional buildings due to the availability of the material and suitability for the climate. Masjid Kampung Laut was chosen as the case study due to its excellent reputation compared to the age period of the building. Till this moment, Masjid Kampung Laut is still function very well and benefit excellently to the community where it was located; Nilam Puri, Kelantan. This study was conducted in qualitative method, involving several types of data collection. The intention of this research whereby proposing towards the architects, designers, developers, engineers, and all the main players in the construction industry to reuse the design element of “raised floor” in modern buildings such as residentials, resorts and hospitality, mosques, retails, transit shelters and terminals, restaurants, schools, office buildings and etc. This revolution in design will at the end push the authorities to consider the design to be used in government buildings, as it also represent our architectural identity, energy sustainable, as well benefits the environment. In conclusion, the traditional architecture element of raised timber flooring could be redesigned and recommercialised to suit the future buildings. This design should be given a chance as it surely can benefit the building itself, the users, and the environment globally.