Title
‘Kampong’ (village)
Year/Period
1950s-1960s
Region
Singapore or Malaysia
Object Type
Material
Dimension
Image size: 30.5 x 38 cm
Accession No.
2005-00698
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Verena Tay
The basic form and structure of most ‘kampong’ houses are similar. Two distinctive features of a ‘kampong’ house are the high, sloping roof with gables at both ends and the raised floor. The roof is covered with ‘attap’, which is made from palm fronds. The raised floor facilitates ventilation, secures the house against attacks by wild animals, and helps the inhabitants to cope with flash floods as well as ground dampness caused by the hot and humid tropical climate with heavy rain. A village is usually self-sufficient, with its own water supply, place of worship, farm, school, shops and even a cemetery.This photograph was taken by David Tay, a local photographer.
