Malaysia’s built environment reflects the country’s diverse ethnic groups, including the Malays, Chinese, Indians, and Indigenous people. Each group has contributed distinct cultural narratives that shape the country's interior environments. However, many of these stories are overlooked in contemporary spatial designs. As such, the preservation of these unseen elements of interior architecture becomes critical in maintaining the authenticity of Malaysian culture.

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For instance, traditional Malay houses, such as the Rumah Kutai in Perak, utilise spatial organisation to reflect cultural values and nuances. In this particular home, the doors are designed intentionally low, requiring visitors to bow when entering.

This physical gesture is a symbolic act of respect and humility, which reflects the deep-seated value Malays place on hospitality. Moreover, the traditional Malay house is often raised on stilts, a design influenced by both practicality and cultural symbolism. The space beneath it is often left open and used for various communal purposes, further reinforcing the value of openness and interaction with the community.

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Another example is the Blue Mansion in Penang, designed by Cheong Fatt Tze. Strategically built at an angle to the street, the mansion aligns with the feng shui belief that this positioning allows the flow of positive energy (qi) to be directed into the building. The slight slope of the property, resembling the elevation of a hill, is another feng shui element meant to enhance stability and elevate the mansion’s fortune.

To further attract wealth, gold coins were buried beneath the iron posts, a common feng shui practice believed to amplify prosperity. Additionally, the mansion features five open-air courtyards, which not only bring natural light and ventilation but also allow rain to enter, symbolising the flow of wealth and prosperity as water is a key element associated with abundance in feng shui.

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The Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Penang, an important Hindu site, provides another example of how cultural narratives are embedded in interior spaces. The intricate sculptures adorning the interiority of the temple narrate stories from Hindu epics, guiding worshippers through a visual exploration of spiritual practices.

Beyond the elements, the temple’s spatial layout reveals hidden cultural narratives. The temple's positioning and orientation follow traditional Hindu temple principles of Vasthu Shastra (the science of architecture), aligning with natural forces and cosmic directions to ensure the positive flow of energy and blessings. This reflects a deeper narrative of harmony between human creation and divine order.

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Finally, the Bidayuh Longhouses in Sarawak, an architectural form designed for communal living, offers yet another example of how intangible cultural values are embedded in space. These longhouses reflect the importance of community and familial ties, with each household enjoying privacy but sharing common spaces for social gatherings and ceremonies.

The design of the longhouse emphasises the collective rather than the individual. Built on stilts, its elevated floors create a physical and symbolic space between the living areas and the earth, reinforcing a connection to the spiritual world and the ancestral spirits that are believed to reside in the land below. The longhouse is thus an embodiment of the Bidayuh belief in harmony with nature and the divine, where every household is grounded in the earth but connected through shared experiences above.