Sunday, March 31, 2013

Of Serambi



I was inspired by this scene of a Korean drama "If In Love Like Them" a few weeks ago. I pointed this scene out to my husband and said I liked this architecture (well, it's not so much architecture - it's just how people create the space and use the space - it's architecture in some way). My husband said that I was fooled by the production team. The things I learnt from dramas or movies are not real.

"Mostly are make-ups. They do not depicts the real culture and lifestyle of the people." He used to live in Japan for 6 years and he saw them with his own eyes. Ookay... (-.-'). But they still might be doing what I thought they are doing. You didn't see everything (so do I!)  After all, culture and perceptions of culture are different for every person.

So, I'd like to keep the good interpretation of things I have with this scene.


Raised deck.. people congregate together.. one washing clothes.. one making kimchi.. one exercising.. sandals and shoes tucked under the deck.. woven mat spread on the deck.. sliding door opened for good ventilation..

If any Malays in Malaysia can recall, we also used to have serambi (deck) in our traditional Malay home. It's the place where people sit down in the afternoon, sipping coffee and munching kuih muih while chatting with the neighbours. I remember my father's grandparents' house where we used to live. The serambi was the forefront of the house, and anything forefront was considered formal so Boyot (or moyang - great grandparents) had a pangkin (big, elevated bench) constructed under the house. Everyday in the morning, after Zuhur or Asar, she would sit on the pangkin, doing stuff. Sometimes, we even ate lunch there. 

I couldn't remember much as I was only around 7 to 9 years old at the time.  

Serambi, or pangkin is considered a core point of a traditional home. The similarity I saw in traditional Malay house, Korean houses and Japanese houses depicts the culture of these locals. Visitors are sometimes entertained in this area, so it leaves the interior private to the family. Informally, it is used for doing house chores such as preparing meals.

In a scene of Ombak Rindu movie, the pangkin was made from old wooden bed frame. Such an old school, and a great way of recycling or redefining furniture.


I'll make myself more observant while watching movies after this and collect more scenes which reminds me of my culture.


No comments: