5.2 (2)

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
Originally, Kedah Royal Museum was primarily a timber structure
building. The building was built from the ground using the
post-and-beam method which was widely used in that period by
local carpenters. Numerous full-length windows line up on the
façade to provide both ventilation and viewing points. High-pitched
and gabled roof are the significant characteristic of the Kedah Royal
Museum.
Timber Flooring
The raised floor of Kedah Royal Museum is a key element of local
vernacular architecture. Using stilts or columns enable the building
to work better with the natural terrain. It also provides the occupants
with an increased level of privacy from direct visual connection from
the streets. The major factors of having a raised floor is to avoid
flood and intruding animals. The raised floor also improves the
ventilation across the building.
Brickwork was added after and placed around the timber stilts to
strengthen the durability.
Figure 5.62 Timber flooring plan of Kedah Royal
Museum
(Koh, 2017)
Figure 5.60 Timber flooring construction
details
(Koh, 2017)
Figure 5.61 Timber stilt
construction details
(Renovate, 2008)
BUILDINGDETAILS
136.
MEASURED DRAWING 2017 (ARC60305) | KEDAH ROYAL MUSEUM
5.2

BUILDINGDETAILS
137.
The column is arranged in a grid form according to the basic
structure of the building. Each bearer beam was placed on columns
at both sides. Beam is placed in the middle of the column to ensure
the stability of the building. The joint used for the connection of two
beams which meet up at the outer layer of the structure is a cross
halving lap joint.
Figure 5.65 Column functioned as stilt
(Wong, 2017)
Figure 5.66 Flooring bearing is laid on the column
(Wong, 2017)
Figure 5.63 The floor bearing
beam is placed on the middle top
of column
(Home Buidng Answer, 2008)
Figure 5.64 Section details of flooring
(Koh, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
138.
All the joints for the timber flooring uses the mortise and tenon
method whereby the beam is slotted into the column by putting a key
to a keyhole. The joists are slotted perpendicularly on the bearer
beam in rows where the timber floor planks rest on top of joists to
complete the flooring. The exposed joists and beams can be seen
clearly from the exterior.
Figure 5.67 Mortice and Tenon joint method
(Roy Beardmore, 2009)
Figure 5.68 Connection between floor joist and bearer
(Sii, 2017)
Figure 5.69 Connection between floor joist, bearer and column
(Sii, 2017)
Figure 5.70 The arrangement of floor joist
(Sii, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
139.
Staircase
Stairs provide means for moving from one level to another, therefore
they are the key element in linking the overall circulation scheme of
a building. There are two types of stairs in Kedah Royal Museum
which are timber staircase and concrete staircase. Both types of
staircases are straight staircases which extend from one level to
another without any winders or turns.
There are fourteen staircases in Kedah Royal Museum and only
three of them are made of concrete.
Timber Staircase
Timber staircases in Kedah Royal Museum are significant with
higher risers and narrow passage. Due to the circumstance of a
higher floor base, the staircase has been improvised to suit its
purpose.
Timber staircases are used in the interiors and exteriors of the royal
museum. The landings for the outdoor staircases are made of
concrete while the handrail and stairs are made of wood, except the
balusters are made up of cast iron. The interior staircases are built
directly on the timber floor without a landing as the flooring functions
as a stabilizer and holder to the staircase instead of the landing.
Figure 5.71 Interior timber staircase
(Wong, 2017)
Figure 5.72 Exterior timber staircase
(Tan, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
140.
Figure 5.74 Elevation view of timber staircase
(Koh, 2017)
Figure 5.73 Plan view of timber staircase
(Koh, 2017)
Figure 5.75 Cconstruction details of timber staircase
(Koh, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
141.
Shown from the photos, the structure of beam and flights are seen
clearly from the back of the staircase. The stringer was cut into an
array of perpendicular triangles according to the calculation of
treads and risers. After that, risers are installed and treads are
placed on the cutting edge of the stringer. In order to stabilize the
treads, balusters are embedded through the tread into the stringer
by using the mortice and tenon joint. Nails are added afterwards as
a conservative action to protect the original structure of the
staircase.
Figure 5.76 Construction details and method of timber staircase
(Ritchie)
Figure 5.77 Back view of timber
staircase
(Sii, 2017)
Figure 5.78 Details of timber
staircase
(Sii, 2017)
Figure 5.79 Details of timber staircase
(Sii, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
142.
Concrete staircase
There are three concrete staircases in Kedah Royal Museum which
are located at the museum entrance, the Sultan’s entrance and a
veranda next to the Sultan’s entrance respectively. Spacious
passage and grand ornamentations on the balustrade are the
characteristics of the concrete staircase in the Royal Museum. The
staircase was entirely made of reinforced concrete, except for the
staircase at the Sultan’s entrance. The staircase was built with
flights of timber steps with concrete railing built from the ground
supporting the original timber staircase structure.
Figure 5.80 Concrete staircase on the veranda
(Tan, 2017)
Figure 5.81 Concrete staircase
with marble tiles on the museum
entrance
(Sii, 2017)
Figure 5.82 Timber staircase
with concrete railing on the
Sultan entrance
(Sii, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
143.
As shown in the photos, the structure of concrete staircase was
covered up with ornamentation and paint. A small tunnel is
constructed underneath each concrete staircase. The tunnel was
believed to reduce the damage of the staircase from the movement
of the Earth’s crust as it supports heavy mass.
Figure 5.83 The side view of museum entrance concrete staircase
(Tan, 2017)
Figure 5.84 The side view of Sultan entrance concrete staircase
(Sii, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
144.
Construction details of concrete staircase of staircase on veranda
Figure 5.85 Plan view of concrete staircase on veranda
(Koh, 2017)
Figure 5.86 Elevation view of concrete staircase on veranda
(Koh, 2017)
Figure 5.87 Construction details of concrete staircase on veranda
(Koh, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
145.
Roof construction
Roof system is a group of roofs covering the uppermost part of a
building by providing protection to the building with several types of
roof. Cross gable roof and pyramid hip roof are mainly used for the
roof system of Kedah Royal Museum. They are also named as
bumbung lima and are believed to have been influenced by British
colonial house forms with a hipped roof. The characteristic of the
roof system with high-pitched roof and wide overhangs provide great
protection from heavy tropical downpours and sunlight shading.
High-pitched roof also provides good ventilation.
The photos at the right show the sagged wall to accommodate the
height of the roof while restoring the building.
Figure 5.89 The construction details of the roof in the exterior.
(Chong, 2017)
Figure 5.88 Roof overview
(How, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
146.
Overhanging eaves is one of the significant characteristic of the
Royal Museum. Overhanging eaves are the edges of the roof which
overhang the face of a wall and, normally, projected beyond the side
of a building. The function of the eaves is to keep rainwater off the
walls, protect the pathway around the building from rain and sun,
and also shelter openings to ventilate the roof space.
The clay roof tiles used in Kedah Royal Museum is considered as
the Spanish-S tiles.
Figure 5.91 The construction details of clay roof tiles
(InspectApedia)
Figure 5.90 Roof details
(Renovate, 2008)

BUILDINGDETAILS
147.
Figure 5.93 Roof system section view
(Koh, 2017)
Figure 5.92 Roof construction details
(Koh, 2017)
Figure 5.94 Roof construction details
(Koh, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
148.
Overhanging roof is one of the architectural features of Malay
architecture in the Kedah Royal Museum. The overhanging roof is a
roof that sticks out from the building’s wall or extends from the main
roof. The roof has a wide overhang, providing enough shade for the
architectural elements or spaces from direct sunlight. In the Royal
Museum, overhanging roofs are greatly used over outdoor
staircases and shading of verandas.
Figure 5.95 Hanging veranda with extended roof
(Lim, 2017)
Figure 5.96 Overhang roof above a timber staircase on outdoor of
Kedah Royal Museum
(Lim, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
149.
The roof system of the overhanging roof is supported by two
columns bearing a beam. The column and beam are joined by the
mortise and tenon method.
Figure 5.97 Connection method of column and roof bearer is Mortice and Tenoin
joint
(Sii, 2017)
Figure 5.98 Beam and post of overhang roof on timber staircase
(Lim, 2017)
Figure 5.99 The joint of roof bearer and column
(Sii, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
150.
Roof truss
There are two types of truss system used in Kedah Royal Museum
which are the raised tie kingpost truss and common truss. The
common truss can be seen clearly from the veranda while the
kingpost truss is covered with ceiling. Based on researches and
studies on the ceiling of the Royal Museum, the raised tie kingpost
truss is certain to be the main truss of the building. This is because
the mansard structure of the ceiling fits to the concept of the raised
truss and the architectural history of traditional Malay palace
explained that raised tie kingpost are greatly used during that
period. Both common truss and raised tie kingpost truss are
constructed using timber.
Figure 5.100 Common truss used in Kedah Royal Museum
(Chin, 2017)
Figure 5.101 Raised tie king post truss used in Kedah Royal Museum
(Chong, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
151.
A kingpost truss consists of a vertical kingpost that joins the center
of the beam to the ridge of the rafters. Angled struts are usually used
as additional members to join the kingpost and rafters. The kingpost
truss is strong and has bigger load bearing capacity than other
trusses. It is easily constructed and low in cost. Raised tie kingpost
trusses are greatly used when there is a need to support the weight
of a roof expansion or overhang eaves.
Both of the head raft of the common truss are embedded into the
roof beam by mortise and tenon joint and the end raft are placed
onto the tie beam.
Figure 5.102 Raised tie king post truss construction details
(Civil Engineers Forum, 2016)
Figure 5.104 Joint of
common truss with beam
(Chin, 2017)
Figure 5.103 Joint of
common truss with roof
(Chin, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
152.
Roof support
The method of joining the beam and column together. The joining
method of beam and rafter support beam is cross halving lap joint.
The column was penetrated by both the beam and roof rafter
support beam by using the mortice and tenon method.
Figure 5.105 Joint method of roof supporting system in veranda
(Sii, 2017)
Figure 5.107 Joint system of roof bearer and column in veranda
(Chin, 2017)
Figure 5.106 Details of rafter, roof bearer and column in veranda
(Chin, 2017)

BUILDINGDETAILS
153.
This type of roof support system is only applied indoors of the Royal
Museum. Both of the beams are embedded into the column by using
mortice and tenon method. As for the roof bearing beam, it uses the
lap joint and mortice-tenon method at the same time.
Figure 5.109 Joint method of roof supporting system on interior of museum
(Sii, 2017)
Figure 5.108 Joint system of roof bearer, beams and column inside of Kedah
Royal Museum
(Sii, 2017)

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