The circulation in the Royal Museum is quite direct, with linear pathways into the spaces. The diagram below shows the pathway used by the visitors in the museum. Most of the doors are locked to increase the security of the museum. The only entrance allowed by the visitors is through the pelamin entrance.

Figure 4.63 Pathway for visitors(TRM Members, 2017)

The cluster organization is at the section A of the building. It acts as a private space for the royals which creates an absolute circulation mainly for them. The commoners are allowed access the surrounding of the building freely and the public space (Section C) to meet the Sultan when permission is granted. However, the semi-private spaces (Section B) can only be accessed by the royals, officers and the servants with a specific circulation.

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4.4.4 Circulation

Figure 4.65 Various pathways used(TRM Members, 2017)

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Spacious and more ornamented stairs are used by the princes, while the back stairs are used by the servants to enter the palace. When the sultan is sick, the ministers have to head to the healing room through the connecting stairs.

The diagram below shows the route used by the Sultan from the Sultan’s entrance. Before the extension of the building, the sultan’s entrance was frequently used by the Sultan to walk in and out of the palace.

Figure 4.64 Sultan’s pathway(TRM Members, 2017)

Pathway of the princeServants’ routePathway of ministers

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Design Principles

HierarchyAccording to the Malay traditional belief, the higher level of the space is for prince to live in, the normal level is for the princess or the sultan wife and the lower level is for servants.

Figure 4.69 Sultan Main Gate (TRM, 2017)

Figure 4.70 Prince Gate (TRM, 2017)

Figure 4.71 Royal Female Family Gate (TRM, 2017)

For the door, the widest and highest door is only allow for the sultan to access; a one person size but higher threshold is only allow for prince to access and the normal height of the door is for royal female family to access.

Figure 4.68 Section to show different floor level (TRM, 2017)

4.5

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Public vs Private

The spaces in the Royal Museum are also divided into public, semi-private and private spaces. The public spaces (Section C) are for commoners, the semi-private spaces (Section B) are for palace officials and servants and the private spaces (Section A) are for the royal family.

Figure 4.66 First Floor Plan of Royal Museum Kedah (TRM, 2017)

Public Space Private SpaceSemi-private Space

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Average Human Density

The Dais known as the Rumah Pelamin (Section C) have higher human density as it is a public space used by the commoners in the palace. The middle hall (Section B) was used by the palace officials hence it had lesser human density as compared to the dais. The Astaka Hall (Section A) had the lowest human density as it was only used by the royal family.

After it was restablished as the Royal Museum Kedah, The average human density was more equalizedthroughout the building however the Dais (Section C) still remained as the highest human density as the office and reception is located there. Human Density of the Royal Palace Human Density of the Royal Museum

Figure 4.67 First Floor Plan showing Average Human Density (TRM, 2017)

Symmetry and balance

Symmetry and balance can be seen from the gates, entrance facade and facade of the Astaka Hall. Both sides of the facade are identical to each other and is seen as balanced from the size, form and function of space.

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Figure 4.72 Sultan Main Gate (TRM, 2017)

Figure 4.74 Facade of Main Entrance (TRM, 2017)

Figure 4.73 Facade of Astaka Hall (TRM, 2017)

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repetition & Harmony

In the museum, the repeated elements are found in the design of the doors and windows. For example, the doors in the Astaka Hall are repetitons of the same design but differ in size. In addition, the windows are mostly louvered with different sizes as well. Despite the sizes, the similarity in design of the doors and windows create a sense of harmony which completes the building as a whole.

The repeated ornaments at the top part of the interior walls create a point of interest in the interior while allowing air ventilation between the rooms. These ornaments are repeated in sets a three in a criss cross manner that are perfectly in sync to create a harmonious sense in the interior spaces.

Figure 4.77 The repeating windows surrounding the Pelamin(Chin, 2017)

Figure 4.78 Repeating doors and ornaments throughout the interior(Lim Shen, 2017)

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Figure 4.76 The ornamented Sultan’s entrance(Chin, 2017)

EMphasis

The emphasis of the Royal Museum can be seen through the entrances, where the Pelamin entrance has a double volumn height and new elements such as the arches. The Pelamin entrance also protrudes out as compared to the fencing wall and the side entrances.

In contrast, the emphasis was found on the Sultan’s entrance in the past as it is highly ornamented and higher in height than the side entrances.

Figure 4.75 The scale of the Pelamin entrance and the side entrance(Chin, 2017)