Indo-Malay Style in George Town

There are today very few Indo-Malay Style of Bungalows and Terrace Houses in George Town, Penang. The few that are left can be found scattered throughout the city in areas where there were former Malay or Indonesian settlements. More often than not, these houses stand in the shadow of looming high-rise apartments and condominiums. Places to go to view Malay-style bungalows include the compound of the Acheen Street Mosque, Hutton Lane and Aboo Sittee Lane.

Indo-Malay bungalows in the compound of the Acheen Street Mosque (6 September 2012)


Many of the Indo-Malay bungalows were homes of the Malay elites. These are the merchants and businessmen of the late 19th to early 20th century. Some of them may also serve as madrasahs or religious schools. They usually have hipped or semi-hipped roofs.

Unlike Malay kampong houses, which are often elevated on stilts, the Indo-Malay bungalows usually include living quarters on the ground floor. The ground floors are often built of bricks while the upper floor of timber, though a few have been rebuilt throughout in bricks. Reconstructions in the early 20th century incorporated Straits Eclectic elements to the design, creating what would be known as the Malay Straits Eclectic style. This may include the full-length windows with timber louvre jalousies.

138 Hutton Lane, an example of the Malay Straits Eclectic mansion (6 September 2012)


Indo-Malay bungalow on Aboo Sittee Lane (26 April 2009)


Malay-style village house on Pahang Road (15 December 2008)

Indo-Malay Terrace Houses

In addition to the bungalows and detached houses, there is also a small number of double-storey Indo-Malay style terrace houses in George Town. You can find these along Lumut Lane and Acheen Street. The neighbourhood was populated by Acheenese and various Malay groups from the founding of George Town until present day. While the thatched houses have long disappeared, the terrace houses from the 3rd quarter of the 19th century still remains.

Indo-Malay double-storey terrace houses (12 May 2013)

Malay Kampong Houses

It is today difficult to find kampong-style houses within George Town itself. Those that remain and are still inhabited have often been renovated extensively. Few, if any, are raised above ground, though this practise may remain in low-lying areas such as Caunter Hall, which is prone to flooding. Elsewhere, the ground level is also used up as additional living space. As modernization and urban development continue to envelope George Town, many of these houses will well make way for the construction of high-rise properties.

Malay kampong house (18 May 2013)

Related Topic

In the article Village Houses in George Town, we take a look at village houses that were built when George Town was still semi rural. These houses are still standing today in an urban setting, often next to modern housing.

Architectural Styles of Buildings in George Town