1. The circulation in the Royal Museum is quite direct, with linear
pathways into the spaces. The diagram below shows the pathway
used by the visitors in the museum. Most of the doors are locked
to increase the security of the museum. The only entrance
allowed by the visitors is through the pelamin entrance.
Figure 4.63 Pathway for visitors
(TRM Members, 2017)
The cluster organization is at the section A of the building. It acts
as a private space for the royals which creates an absolute
circulation mainly for them. The commoners are allowed access
the surrounding of the building freely and the public space
(Section C) to meet the Sultan when permission is granted.
However, the semi-private spaces (Section B) can only be
accessed by the royals, officers and the servants with a specific
circulation.
architecture
85.
MEASURED DRAWING 2017 (ARC60305) | KEDAH ROYAL MUSEUM
4.4.4 Circulation
2. Figure 4.65 Various pathways used
(TRM Members, 2017)
architecture
86.
MEASURED DRAWING 2017 (ARC60305) | KEDAH ROYAL MUSEUM
Spacious and more ornamented stairs are used by the princes,
while the back stairs are used by the servants to enter the palace.
When the sultan is sick, the ministers have to head to the healing
room through the connecting stairs.
The diagram below shows the route used by the Sultan from the
Sultan’s entrance. Before the extension of the building, the
sultan’s entrance was frequently used by the Sultan to walk in and
out of the palace.
Figure 4.64 Sultan’s pathway
(TRM Members, 2017)
Pathway of the prince
Servants’ route
Pathway of ministers
3. architecture
89.
MEASURED DRAWING 2017 (ARC60305) | KEDAH ROYAL MUSEUM
Design Principles
Hierarchy
According to the Malay traditional belief, the higher level of the
space is for prince to live in, the normal level is for the princess
or the sultan wife and the lower level is for servants.
Figure 4.69 Sultan Main Gate
(TRM, 2017)
Figure 4.70 Prince Gate
(TRM, 2017)
Figure 4.71 Royal Female Family Gate
(TRM, 2017)
For the door, the widest and highest door is only allow for the sultan
to access; a one person size but higher threshold is only allow for
prince to access and the normal height of the door is for royal female
family to access.
Figure 4.68 Section to show different floor level (TRM, 2017)
4.5
4. architecture
87.
MEASURED DRAWING 2017 (ARC60305) | KEDAH ROYAL MUSEUM
Public vs Private
The spaces in the Royal Museum are also divided into public,
semi-private and private spaces. The public spaces (Section C)
are for commoners, the semi-private spaces (Section B) are for
palace officials and servants and the private spaces (Section A)
are for the royal family.
Figure 4.66 First Floor Plan of Royal Museum Kedah
(TRM, 2017)
Public Space Private SpaceSemi-private Space
5. architecture
88.
MEASURED DRAWING 2017 (ARC60305) | KEDAH ROYAL MUSEUM
Average Human Density
The Dais known as the Rumah Pelamin (Section C) have higher
human density as it is a public space used by the commoners in
the palace. The middle hall (Section B) was used by the palace
officials hence it had lesser human density as compared to the
dais. The Astaka Hall (Section A) had the lowest human density
as it was only used by the royal family.
After it was restablished as the Royal Museum Kedah, The
average human density was more equalizedthroughout the
building however the Dais (Section C) still remained as the
highest human density as the office and reception is located
there. Human Density of the Royal Palace Human Density of the Royal Museum
Figure 4.67 First Floor Plan showing Average Human Density
(TRM, 2017)
6. Symmetryand balance
Symmetry and balance can be seen from the gates, entrance
facade and facade of the Astaka Hall. Both sides of the facade
are identical to each other and is seen as balanced from the size,
form and function of space.
architecture
90.
MEASURED DRAWING 2017 (ARC60305) | KEDAH ROYAL MUSEUM
Figure 4.72 Sultan Main Gate
(TRM, 2017)
Figure 4.74 Facade of Main Entrance
(TRM, 2017)
Figure 4.73 Facade of Astaka Hall
(TRM, 2017)
7. architecture
92.
MEASURED DRAWING 2017 (ARC60305) | KEDAH ROYAL MUSEUM
repetition & Harmony
In the museum, the repeated elements are found in the design of
the doors and windows. For example, the doors in the Astaka Hall
are repetitons of the same design but differ in size. In addition, the
windows are mostly louvered with different sizes as well. Despite
the sizes, the similarity in design of the doors and windows create
a sense of harmony which completes the building as a whole.
The repeated ornaments at the top part of the interior walls create
a point of interest in the interior while allowing air ventilation
between the rooms. These ornaments are repeated in sets a
three in a criss cross manner that are perfectly in sync to create a
harmonious sense in the interior spaces.
Figure 4.77 The repeating windows surrounding the Pelamin
(Chin, 2017)
Figure 4.78 Repeating doors and ornaments throughout the interior
(Lim Shen, 2017)
8. architecture
91.
MEASURED DRAWING 2017 (ARC60305) | KEDAH ROYAL MUSEUM
Figure 4.76 The ornamented Sultan’s entrance
(Chin, 2017)
EMphasis
The emphasis of the Royal Museum can be seen through the
entrances, where the Pelamin entrance has a double volumn
height and new elements such as the arches. The Pelamin
entrance also protrudes out as compared to the fencing wall and
the side entrances.
In contrast, the emphasis was found on the Sultan’s entrance in
the past as it is highly ornamented and higher in height than the
side entrances.
Figure 4.75 The scale of the Pelamin entrance and the side entrance
(Chin, 2017)
