A Theoretical Perspective on the Defensive Architecture of Melanau Tall Houses

Abstract

This study offers a theoretical perspective on the Melanau tall house as a form of defensive architecture, examined through physical, environmental, and sociocultural dimensions of the typology using a grounded theory approach. The inquiry initially began as a general investigation of architectural characteristics, hence academic discourses linking the typology to defensive architecture gradually emerged. This shift was prompted by the recurring and consistent reference to defensive architecture throughout the analysis, despite its underdeveloped treatment in academic literature and its largely fragmented documentation within collective memory. Building upon the established physical and environmental dimensions, the analysis further examined how the identified defensive architectural characteristics evolved in response to shifting sociocultural dimensions of the Melanau society. This progression provided an opportunity to identify plausible indicators, within the lifespan of the typology, that best articulate its defensive imperatives across chronological and temporal transformations. Consequently, this perspective reaffirms the heritage resilience of the Melanau tall house, which is best understood through the adaptive continuity of sociocultural practices shaped by technological, environmental, and social change.