Landscape typology and design checklist of spatial organization and social interaction for the muslim-friendly cultural-based homestay

Abstract

With the emergence of the homestay programme, Malaysia as a multi-racial coutry offers a golden opportunity for tourist to experience different cultures from different races. Homestay concept can be defined as the owner of the house living together with the guests providing their needs in terms of accommodation and meals. However, the homestay programme offered does not according to the Shariah requirement as the concept of living together with the host leads to other complications especially for Muslim guest which does not portray the Islamic way of life as Muslim country. Therefore, this research aimed to develop a Muslim-Friendly homestay design checklist based on the interrelationship of spatial organization, social interaction (ikhtilat) and landscape setting/milieu of five different homestays towards Islamic Built Environment. In order to translate the results from the study of host and guest interrelationship into a spatial, social interaction (ikhtilat) and landscape setting/milieu of the selected homestays, landscape-based research by design method is used for the transformation plan of Muslim-friendly homestay. Research by design is an umbrella term for ways to link research and design. The process of design is an iterative process using mixed methods, in which, knowledge on host and guest behavior, specific homestay site characteristics and landscape setting are creatively integrated into a specific design. An inventory, analysis and synthesis of present and future spatial or space quality, spatial structure, context and visual perception of five different homestays will be mapped and combined. This layered approach will give insight into possible conflicts and relations, but also exposed hidden qualities and potentials for the development of Muslim friendly homestay design checklist. Our findings revealed that in term of spatial organization the location of the rooms in the house as well as space limitation for the guest and host in the house were the two main issues that need to be resolved. In term of social interaction between the guest and the host’s family members, our observation identified that the attire or preservation of awrah between guest and host in the house and separation between genders during activities either indoor or outdoor were the two problems that need to be solved. Lastly for Muslim friendly elements that need to be considered are basic facilities for the toilet, adequate space for praying, cleanliness and safety. All the findings were reflected in the design checklist notions and transformed into Muslim friendly rating tools assessment for future sustainable homestay programme.