Abstract
This application allowed user to explore the Malacca Sultanate Palace when it used to be in 14th century, in Sultan Mansur Shah dynasty (1456 – 1477). The last Sultan to stay at the palace is Sultan Mahmud Shah before it was destroyed on fire by Portuguese in 1511.
Malacca Sultanate Palace is an exquisite piece of Malay architecture and is a replica of the original 15th century palace of Malacca’s extinct Sultanate. The palace is built based on the sketches found in the ancient Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals). According to Perbadanan Muzium Melaka (PERZIM) this replica matches 70% of the original palace. In fact, nobody knows every single detail of the palace.
User will have to explore the exterior part of the building in level 1 where user can see the uniqueness of the architecture. This palace was said to have no single nail used in the building. The architecture of the palace consists of 7 minarets where the central minaret is the entrance of the palace. The whole palace was built from wood. The exterior part of the palace will have gardens, trees, grass field and a pathway to the gate. There is fence surrounding the palace and guards guarding the gate. There is no interaction involve in level 1. The main point is to explore the architecture of the building.
When entering level 2, user can explore the interior part of the palace. The palace has wood carving in most walls, doors, posts and whatsoever. The palace occupied a Balairong Seri which acts like audience hall and balai beradu.
Balairong Seri is used for people who are granted to see the Sultan, for meeting delegations from other countries, for holding official ceremony, and sometimes for the Sultan to have meals. In the Balairong Seri, there is official seating arrangement. The Sultan sits atop the royal dias. 4 chief advisers were always seated close to the Sultan. The prime minister and the prince were seated at foot of the dias to the left of the sultan and the administrative machinery sat along with the prime minister. The chiefs responsibible for the security were seated to the right of the sultan. Two officials standing on both sides of the ruler. Bentara Kanan and Bentara Kiri, carrying the ruler’s insignias, had the power to kill anyone who approaches the sultan without permission. The audiences were not allowed to carry weapons unless granted by the sultan.
The Balairong Seri was also a place where the subjects who rendered, good faithful or chivalrous services to the state were honored. Sometimes even royal feasts were held in this hall. Thus the Balairong Seri of the Sultanate era functioned as a multi-purpose hall that reflected the grandier of the administrative system, which was later adopted by few states of this Peninsula.
In level 2, User will experience the royal ceremony which is the coronation of Raja Ahmad, His Majesty’s son first in line to inherit the Kingdom of Melaka as Raja Muda Melaka. User will experience the whole ceremony from the commencement to the end at the Balairong seri. In the royal ceremony, there are certain royal equipment to be used such as keris, gong, and royal costumes. The official royal costumes are yellow.
Target Audience
Students, Adult
Goal
The application main goal is to educate people about the Malay legacy in Malacca Sultanate Era. In this application, user will have the chance to experience virtually the ceremony of coronation Raja Ahmad and virtually explore the Sultanate Palace. Even for the people who lived in the past has never experience being in the palace. The only info about the palace was told by words of mouth and from Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals) written by Tun Sri Lanang. The application serves as time capsule to allow user experience the history back in 14th century with the traditional ceremony.
The similar project has been created before by MDEC. They have created the application on virtual Melaka in 14th century but not precise on the Sultanate Palace.
In this application, user will experience more precise on the Sultanate Palace as well as experience the coronation ceremony of Raja Ahmad which is rarely known.
Objectives
· to allow user to explore the whole Sultanate Palace in 14th century
· to allow user to immerse in the coronation ceremony
· to allow user to experience the history in interesting way
· to educate user about the traditional ceremony
· to educate user about the sultanate palace protocol
Description
When user starts the application, there will be a brief explanation about the whole application. User will be instructed about the navigation process as well as interaction with the context.
Entering the level 1, user will be in the exterior part of the palace. User can move around to explore the place. User can explore the architecture of the building and navigate around before entering the palace. There will be 2 guards guarding the entrance to the palace. User only can enter if allowed by the guard.
Once user enters the palace, user will be in level 2. User can move around to explore the whole palace. When the ceremony is about to commence, user will hear sound of a ‘gong’ being hit. User then navigates to the Balairong Seri to see the coronation ceremony.
The Sultan is sitting atop on the royal dias. The narrator will announce through the whole ceremony. Raja Ahmad will be brought into the hall to commence to coronation. The Sultan then pours some rose water and jasmine, grants the royal Kris of the Regent and Raja Ahmad thus is bestowed the title of Crown Prince, rightful heir to the Sultanate of Melaka. The five-petalled emblem adorned the young prince’s tengkolok (head dress) symbolizes the coronation as blessed with the Sultan’s consent.
User can interact in the palace by navigate around and point the cursor to the context. The cursor will change if the object is clickable. A pop-up description will display anywhere relevant.
Interaction Desciption
- User will be able to move around using arrow key on the keyboard
- User can interact with some of the traditional item in the building.
- Once user click on the item, info will appear and explain briefly about the specific item
