Model which is now a gallery . One of the most significant features of the NSTMH is that it can easily be enlarged and moved from place to place ( Hilton , 1956 ). The practice of lifting ( usung rumah ) through mutual co-operation ( community self-help ) or gotong-royong and moving the whole house to another site within the same or a different village demonstrates the flexibility of this type of dwelling ( Carsten and Hugh-Jones , 1995 ) and ( Sulaiman , 2014 ). Although a house may be physically resited , the context of the kampung will be lost especially when it is transferred to a different area . In the past , the house may be transferred either by river or land , the fact that it is taken down part by part means that the condition of the house is not guaranteed when it is reassembled . This results in a traditional impermanence of the structure of the house itself and the loss of its connection .
FINDINGS FROM CASE STUDIES
Two case studies of historic 19 th and 20 th century houses in the region of Negeri Sembilan were selected due to their unique characteristics and having similar issues regarding the conservation of the houses . Both case studies involved empty abandoned houses . The findings from these case studies clearly demonstrate the challenges faced during the process of dismantling and restoring traditional timber houses .
Case Study 1 : Rumah Tukang Kahar , Kuala Pilah , Negeri Sembilan
Rumah Tukang Kahar was built in the 1880s ( see Figure 3 ). Tukang Kahar was a well-known craftsman and he built the house all by himself . He possessed very fine craftsmanship skills and also built Istana Seri Menanti in 1902 ( Rasdi , 2012 ). The house was built for people of high status and wealth and its design was based on the Kitab Tajul Muluk ( full of symbolic meaning of the traditional rules of building a house ). The special characteristic of this house can be seen from the intricate carving techniques applied especially at the head of the staircase , the beams and rafters , wall panellings , columns , door etc . ( Sulaiman , 2014 ). The house was quite difficult to find as it had already been transferred . The chronological events related to the house are shown in Figure 1 .
Dates
Events 1880 ’ s House built 1910s
The house first moved to a new site . Taken down bit by bit ( not lifted up ). It is not known when the house was reassembled .
1969 The deterioration of Pangkal Serambi and Hujung Serambi because they were not reassembled during the transfer process . Some parts were kept underneath the house .
The kitchen was replaced with concrete blocks and timber planks . Replacement of the wall on the left elevation with additional small windows .
1970 Rumbia Attap was taken down and replaced by a zinc roof .
2010 Abandoned .
2013 End 2014
Early 2015 Sept 2019
Wall partition built ( Rumah Ibu ) due to the marriage of his adopted child .
Sold to the Negeri Sembilan Museum as a gallery and moved from the site . Reassembly delayed pending budget .
Rassemble completed without the original Pangkal Serambi and Hujung Serambi . Continuation of works to complete the house by the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Figure 1- The Chronological Events related to Rumah Tukang Kahar ( Source : Sulaiman , 2014 )
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