The Perahu Tambang of Sarawak River : Establishing Architectural Identity

• Main Authors: Atta Idrawani, Zaini, Awang Hasim, Awang Sulong, Ruzanah, Abu Bakar, Mervyn Wong, Hsin Jyi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: TuEngr Group 2024
• Subjects: NA Architecture; NC Drawing Design Illustration
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45828/3/The%20Perahu%20Tambang.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/45828/; https://tuengr.com/A15/15A4/15A4E.html; http://doi.org/10.14456/ITJEMAST.2024.24
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

There is lack of information on the Sarawak’s perahu tambang recorded before the arrival of James Brooke. An architectural study is an apt approach to go about preliminary theorizations of the perahu tambang identity, as the boats are the only surviving primary source that can be understood physically. This paper explored the similarities of the boat with its possible influences and distinguish differences in establishing what can be accepted as Sarawak’s perahu tambang architectural identity. The hypothesis of the study considers the influence may come from the perahu kajang and sampan penambang in the Malay Archipelago. Ethnographic documentation was conducted through observation on 12 contemporary samples and a measured drawing documentation on one of the samples. The findings were partly analyzed based on pictorial techniques of repertory grid as a deductive approach towards establishing imageability of the boat, with support from secondary data. The identity of Sarawak’s perahu tambang is expressed through its influence, components, imageability and human-spatial operation. This study is preliminary and advocates further studies to be conducted on Sarawak’s perahu tambang