Cultural Sustainability in Architecture: Case Study of Bung Bratak Heritage Centre

Abstract

Culture is an intangible aspect of humanity, often unique to its place of origin. The Bidayuh tribe, also known as Land Dayaks, is the second-largest indigenous group in Sarawak, East Malaysia. The tribe's traditional architectural feature of the baruk, accompanied by longhouses, is more of a cultural symbol today. Most traditional structures have given way to modern, individual village houses accessible by inland roads. With the worth of their rich heritage background and diverse dialect groups, efforts are made to preserve their culture for future generations. The purpose of this study is to look into the possibility of preserving tangible heritage by analyzing the built vernacular architecture of a heritage center. This study tends to explore the cultural sustainability representation by the Bidayuh traditional baruk and longhouses. A qualitative approach through case study research is used as a research method by choosing Bung Bratak Heritage Centre as the case study. The analysis is conducted based on literature review and on-site observation of the case study and concludes the attempt to preserve the culture of the Bidayuh tribe tangibly. The findings indicate that cultural heritage can be sustained in architecture and stir a much-needed sense of appreciation for the vernacular architecture of the Bidayuh tribe.