It was an exciting experience to spend about 2 weeks time at Kampung Cina, Kelantan for the measured drawing mission during my study. Travelling all the way up from Johor for more than 18 hours in the bus finally brought us to our final destination, Kelantan. There were over 60 of us joining the measured drawing trip to Kelantan and we were divided into several groups which were spread all over the state: Pasir Parit, Pulau Raya, Pulau Gajah, Kampung Cina, Pasir Mas, Kampung Sungai Limbat, Kampung Sering, Kampung Joh and Tumpat.
-GAN'S (颜) FAMILY-
As for my team, we were given a house at Kampung Cina which was belonged to Gan's family. Gan's family was originated from Fu Jian, China which then set their root at Kampung Cina and engaged in business trade along Kelantan River. Gan's family was renowned by their wealth at the local for over a century. Yet, sad to say that the glories of yesteryears were half buried by the time which the great stories of the past will only be told by the old folks to the young generations when the history is valued and appreciated.
After the death of the house owner from 4th generation in Gan's family, the house was handed over to the owner's sister instead of his children. The house was left empty after since and the land was then put in the auction list. We were greeted by dust and loneliness when we first stepped into the house.
The house has undergone countless mending effort yet the timber house apparently still could not fight the termite attack over years.
It is believed that the zinc facade and the naco louvre windows were not the original apprearance to the house. According to the description of the old folks in the neighbourhood, we believed that the original material of the facade should be the timber plates instead of the zinc facade that we see today.
A breathtaking view of the roof from the top.
It is a simple gable roof design yet if you are attentive enough, you will notice that the ridges of the roofs were curved in the way that are similar to the typology of the traditional houses in China. Yet, the roofs of the house were not ornamented with the bombastical decorations at the end of the ridges like the traditonal houses in China. The design as well as the construction of the house had been simplified to adapt the humbleness portrayed by the local Malayese houses. In addition, the house adopted the local roof material - Singgora tile which was originated from Songkhla, Thailand. Skylights were inserted in between the tiles in order to bring the daylight into the dimmer central spaces which the position of the skylights can be changed from time to time according to the needs of the spaces.
This is used to be the main entrance of the house before the house underwent extension due to the increase of the family members. Now the extended part of the house had become the living area until today. In the olden days, visitors will first enter the altar of the house where the God statues are placed and worshipped by the family members.
This is used to be the door to the main entrance of the house which is typically can be found in a traditional house in China. When the house is extended with an additional living space at the front part of the house, the main access of the house was altered to the living area and this door was remained opened after since.
The open courtyard in the middle of the house.
This is a very common type of hosuing configuration that you can see in a traditional chinese house. Chinese believe in Feng Shui that water symbolizes the wealth. When the rain comes, the rainwater will aseemble in the central courtyard which simply means accumulating the money at one place in your house (聚财).
There is an another ancestral altar at the back of the house where the family members could perform their daily ritual and pay respects to their ancestors. The altar shares the same space with the kitchen and the dining area.
The antique pieces found in the house revealed the wealth of the family. The carefully crafted bedstead above was shipped directly from China and had been used for over a century, pass from one generation to another.
Abandoned antique bowls found at the backyard of the house.
She has the Nyonya bloodline as her late mother was a Nyonya from Singapore. She is 83 years old and she is still running her Batik business for over 60 years with her husband. She does not own the house but taking up the responsibility to look after her only home, home to her past memories. She is the younger sister to the owner of the house from 4th generation of Gan's family.
Sincere appreciation to the comrades for their undiminished passion throughout the studies and research.
