Tales of the subterranean tunnels under the historic town of Malacca has existed for over a century. There were stories of tunnels that served as the governor’s secret emergency exit from the fortress and a mile long tunnel that once connected the fortress of Malacca to the fort on St. John’s hill, strategically built for the defence of the town. There were also stories of a tunnel under St. Paul’s hill and how people had gone into these tunnels but were never to been seen again because they were eaten alive by a giant mythical serpent who guards the tunnels. What secrets do the tunnels contain and why were people willing to risk their life by descending into the the dark and unknown orifices below Malacca? Is there lost treasure still buried in Malacca? Did the last Sultan of Malacca stash his huge cache of gold after the Portuguese captured Malacca and the secret vault still remains undiscovered till today? Was Malacca Ptolemy’s Golden Chersonese and the Ophir the source of King Solomon’s gold? This book uncovers the layers of history that unfolds Malacca’s most bizarre and amazing legend.

In a continuously changing world, there has been a growing interest in the protection of vernacular heritage and earthen architecture. The need to protect and enhance this fragile heritage via intelligent responses to threats from nature and the environment has become evident.Historically, vernacular heritage research focussed on philosophical aspe

The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture is the most comprehensive reference work in this complex and diverse area of art history. Built on the acclaimed scholarship of the Grove Dictionary of Art, this work offers over 1,600 up-to-date entries on Islamic art and architecture ranging from the Middle East to Central and South Asia, Africa, and Europe and spans over a thousand years of history. Recent changes in Islamic art in areas such as Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq are elucidated here by distinguished scholars. Entries provide in-depth art historical and cultural information about dynasties, art forms, artists, architecture, rulers, monuments, archaeological sites and stylistic developments. In addition, over 500 illustrations of sculpture, mosaic, painting, ceramics, architecture, metalwork and calligraphy illuminate the rich artistic tradition of the Islamic world. With the fundamental understanding that Islamic art is not limited to a particular region, or to a defined period of time, The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture offers pathways into Islamic culture through its art.

Developing and maintaining a disciplined management system provides any organization with a blueprint for exceptional performance and success. Indeed, for larger multinational corporations, a management system is a critical component for sustainable growth and performance management. In this book, the authors discuss a series of fundamentals for creating an operationally excellent management system (OEMS). The book also examines the business performance impact of an OEMS across leading gas and oil organizations, such as Exxon Mobil, BP, Suncor, and Chevron. In 7 Fundamentals of an Operationally Excellent Management System, the authors discuss each fundamental in detail and provide the supporting training and workshop materials that are essential for integrating these fundamentals into the business processes of the organization. The seven fundamentals identified by the authors provide a sequential approach for developing and executing an OEMS across any organization. Integrating sound organizational and business practices with personnel and process safety management principles, the book is an invaluable resource for organizations seeking operational discipline and excellence. Well-supported with graphics and practical examples, the book provides a simple pathway for an organization to evolve its management system into an OEMS designed to reduce workplace incidents and improve business performance on a sustainable basis. The management system principles discussed in the book are intended for the business leader who is motivated to transition his or her organization from ordinary, through best in class, to an organization of world-class stature and performance.

Papers presented at the 2nd International Conference on Islamic Heritage Architecture and Art are contained in this volume. The conference attracted important research highlighting the significance of Islamic heritage architecture and art to the world and its influence across different regions. The papers deal with the design of many types of buildings in Islamic countries, including not only the better known public buildings like mosques, mausolea, citadels and forts, but also houses and gardens, engineering works such as bridges and dams, irrigation systems and many others which have also had a profound impact on society. Traditional architecture and urban environment in most Islamic countries is now being eroded by overemphasis on a global type of architecture and city planning. As a consequence, many regions are losing their identity. The included studies review these developments in the light of what classical Islamic urban design and architecture has to offer modern society. Research contained in this book provides an analysis of the materials employed and the types of structural elements used, particularly those unique to Islamic architecture. Associated topics covered include music, textiles and ceramics, which are essential parts of the architectural fabric. Also looked at are construction materials, including not only stone and brick but also more perishable materials like adobe, wood and reeds. The preservation of heritage features also requires the development of appropriate conservation techniques in response to the different materials used and the ways structural forms work, including under extreme conditions, such as earthquakes. Academics, researchers, practitioners and government employees actively involved in the topic of Islamic heritage architecture and art will find this publication of interest.

Traditional literature, or 'the deed of the reed pen' as it was called by its creators, is not only the most valuable part of the cultural heritage of the Malay people, but also a shared legacy of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei. Malay culture during its heyday saw the entire Universe as a piece of literature written by the Creator with the Sublime Pen on the Guarded Tablet. Literature was not just the creation of a scribe, but a scribe himself, imprinting words on the 'sheet of memory' and thus shaping human personality. This book, the first comprehensive survey of traditional Malay literature in English since 1939, embraces more than a millennium of Malay letters from the vague data of the seventh century up to the early beginnings of the modern literatures in the late nineteenth century. The long path trodden by traditional Malay literature is viewed in historical and theoretical perspectives as a development of integral system, caused by cultural and religious changes, primarily by gradual Islamization. This changing system considered in the entirety of its genres and works, is seen both externally and internally: from the point of view of modern scholarship and through the examination of indigenous concepts of literary creativity, poetics and aesthetics. The book not only repesents an original study based on a specific historico-theoretical approach, but it is also a complete reference-work and an indispensable manual for students.

Tropical Style showcases thirty-five contemporary Malaysian homes and resorts that feature the use of indigenous cultural forms and cross-cultural influences in new and exciting ways. The elegant and often breathtaking houses, apartments and resorts presented here evoke the essence of the modern tropical architecture, Malaysian style--a combination of indigenous cultural forms, organic building materials, exquisite local craftsmanship and adaptations to the sun-drenched tropical climate. Echoing trends in green architecture, Malaysian homes historically evolved to integrate environmental factors into traditional building techniques and designs that are harmonious with outdoor living. All the spaces included here have been selected for their stunning design, originality of concept and innovative fusion of age-old architectural patterns with a modern aesthetic sense. Minimalist homes in Kuala Lumpur, contemporary courtyard homes, wooden houses in lush garden settings, idyllic beach resorts and luxury homes modeled on traditional Chinese and Malay houses full of Asian decor are illuminated in this book celebrating the fascinating multicultural eclecticism of modern-day Malaysia. With over 350 stunning color photographs, Tropical Style: Contemporary Dream Houses in Malaysia will delight and inspire those who wish to apply these ideas to their own tropical homes, in any global setting.

More than ever before, interior design is a global affair. And more than ever, Westerners are eager to try out elements of Asian design. This book is the ultimate resource for professional and amateur designers seeking to recreate the mysterious elegance, balance, and beauty of Asian design. Through the magic of Masano Kawana's beautiful full-color photography, New Asian Style explores more than 30 stunning contemporary houses and homes from Singapore, all of which stand as examples of decorating and style that transcend their Eastern origins. In an effort to help designers pick up Asian ideas for their own settings, Jane Marsden's essays examine what elements make Asian style and how they might be captured in new settings anywhere in the world.