The traditional Malay attap house is usually found in rural villages known as ‘kampongs’. Such houses have thatched roofs made using attap leaves while the walls are constructed with horizontal overlapping hardwood planks. The main section of the house is referred to as the ‘rumah ibu’, which means ‘mother house’. Extensions to the main structure are often constructed to serve as a porch area for receiving guests or as the household kitchen. The house's post-and-lintel structure is supported by timber pillars buried in the ground without the aid of concrete or wooden bases. Modifications to the traditional dwelling involve the incorporation of modern construction techniques and materials. An example would be the use of zinc sheets, brick tiles or wooden shingles instead of attap leaves for constructing the roof.
