A screenshot from Badan Warisan Malaysia's '360° Virtual Tour of Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman'.
Amid the high-rise buildings of Kuala Lumpur (1km walk from Bukit Bintang MRT station) is Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman, one of the oldest surviving traditional Malay houses built in stages between 1910 and the early 1930s.
Guided tours in person (around an hour in duration, RM10 donation) are still going on, but now there is also a virtual tour available.
The 360° Virtual Tour of Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman has two language options (English and Bahasa Malaysia) for the tour narration. Click on the white arrow to navigate around the house and move your cursor around to explore the 360° views.
For more information on selected display items, look for the "i" icon in red.
Presented by Badan Warisan Malaysia with funding from Yayasan Sime Darby, the virtual tour project began in early June this year and was completed early this month.
“We aim to engage with our potential future visitors - both local and international - by bringing part of the traditional Malay house’s vernacular architectural and cultural experience into the comfort of their home, digitally. The virtual tour will allow visitors to experience a self-guided tour of our Rumah Penghulu and access information on selected display items.
"With the official launch of this virtual tour, we hope to educate on items of architectural and cultural significance, the importance of a traditional Malay house as well as increase awareness and appreciation for Malaysian heritage,” Badan Warisan Malaysia says in a statement.
Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman was owned by the local headman of Mukim Bagan Samak in Bandar Baharu, Kedah. Originally located in Kampung Sungai Kechil, it was relocated and restored (1996-1997) by Badan Warisan Malaysia.
Today, the 100-year-old Rumah Penghulu is surrounded by a traditional herb and heritage garden which has over 50 species of trees and plants of environmental, cultural and historic interest.
