Demang Abdul Ghani Gallery, Historical gallery in Merlimau, Malaysia
Demang Abdul Ghani Gallery is a wooden building in Merlimau made up of six connected sections: a porch, veranda, main house, living room, bedroom, and kitchen with traditional architectural details. The rooms flow together naturally and show how a house from this area was organized in the past.
The building was constructed in 1894 by Abdul Ghani bin Penghulu Abdul Majid and then served for decades as an administrative center for village leaders. It remained the seat of three generations of this influential family until 1978, when its role changed.
The building displays regional building traditions that become clear when you enter and look around. The craftsmanship visible in how the structure holds together without nails and the use of high-quality local woods show construction methods that were common in this area.
The building sits on Jalan Masjid Jamek and is easy to locate if you take time to look around. Visitors should know it is open on certain days and that it is customary to remove your shoes at the entrance before going inside.
Two decorative water tanks with pumpkin and pineapple designs sit at the entrance, and they once served a practical purpose when visitors washed their feet before coming inside. These tanks remain in place today and show the hospitality traditions that were important in this home.
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