Roots and Routes – reflections from a recent visit back home in Southeast Asia

Please note that this article was published prior to the new brand name of PREACH Inclusion® on 25 April 2024, so you will notice references to BAME in Property.

September is East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) Heritage Month, which was established in the UK to honour and celebrate the culture, diversity, history and contributions of East and South East Asian communities across the UK and raise awareness for those who are not East and/or South East Asian.

The theme for 2023, "Roots and Routes", was an opportunity for one of our members, Haziq Ariffin, Account Manager at ING Media, to reflect on his recent travels back home in Malaysia and Singapore.

For some, Southeast Asia is a gap year destination. But as one of the most culturally diverse regions of the world, it has a lot to offer, especially as we continue moving towards a more globalised society.

Made up of eleven countries, Southeast Asia has always been an important global trading hub, forming a bridge between the West and the East. Centuries of intercontinental trade and migration is one of the reasons the region boasts a rich tapestry of ethnicities, languages, food, and traditions. Today, partly due to political and economic conditions, there is also a large contingent of Southeast Asian diaspora across the world, including in the UK. So, what can the built environment industry learn from a Southeast Asian perspective on "Roots and Routes"?

“The connection to nature is inherently important to Southeast Asian communities. For Malaysians, the homeland is referred to as "Tanah Air", an amalgamation of two words: "Tanah" which means Land" and "Air" is "Water"."

To take the theme quite literally, the connection to nature is inherently important to Southeast Asian communities. For Malaysians, the homeland is referred to as "Tanah Air", an amalgamation of two words: "Tanah" which means Land" and "Air" is "Water". Southeast Asia as a whole is home to nearly 15% of the world's tropical rainforest and the Coral Triangle, one of eight major coral reef zones in the world. But it is also one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change. Heat waves, floods, and droughts are becoming increasingly common. In light of this, in recent years there has been more attention given to alternative construction materials, such as bamboo, and building on indigenous knowledge to develop more sustainable ways of living.

“Originally constructed by Indian Muslim Traders in the 18th century, the mosque is an iconic symbol of the region's cultural and religious diversity."

Reflecting on "Routes", during my recent trip, I also visited Masjid Kampung Kling, a timber mosque in Malacca, Malaysia. The port city, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a historically significant centre of trade and cultural exchange. Originally constructed by Indian Muslim Traders in the 18th century, the mosque is an iconic symbol of the region's cultural and religious diversity. The main hall is a Malay-style wooden structure with intricate tile work and carvings, featuring a blend of various cultural influences, including Javanese, Sumatran, Indian and Chinese. European influences can be seen by the colonnade of Corinthian columns which hold up the tiered roof. And strikingly, its minaret resembles a pagoda, built entirely of masonry. The mosque is truly an architectural smorgasbord reflecting the cultural diversity that has shaped the region over the centuries.

Masjid Kampung Kling, Malacca, Malaysia.

This is just the third year that the UK is celebrating East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month, but I hope we continue to celebrate the rich and colourful cultures that the East and Southeast Asian diaspora brings to the world.