Zakaria wants his house to reflect the richness of Sarawak’s cultures and nature.
Zakaria at his newly built coffee house.
Zakaria’s version of a ruai.
Some old stuff from his father. He used them as decorative items.
A cosy kampung house that Zakaria always dreamed of.
Zakaria and his family posing for a photo during Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
The living room below the house where visitors and guests can relax. The two rooms behind are guests rooms.
Some of the crafts made by Zakaria.
‘Perahu tambang’ that Zakaria built.
SIBU: Ever since Zakaria Ahmad was about 20 years old, he pictured a cozy kampung house built on stilt that reflects the beauty, uniqueness and richness of Sarawak’s cultures and nature.
When he began to build the house of his dream about 20 years ago, no one believed he could do it.
Not even his father.
Today, that house has become a model house for University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) architecture major students.
“It started three years ago. It was unbelievable because I never study these things. I know nothing about architecture.
“More than 50 students came and the lecturer asked them to do the drawing plan, and they studied the house. That shows that I made the right decision to build this house,” he enthused.
Zakaria used to draw that dream house on paper and wished he could relax in it when he grew old.
However, building a house was harder than dreaming about it because it took a lot of energy and money.
His piggy bank was empty on many occasions.
“My father did not believe I could do it because it was not easy. My neighbours laughed at me. They said nobody can build a house like this, but I carried on with the plan, anyway.”
Sometimes, to save money, he searched for used items, woods or planks that were still in good condition.
It took him 20 years to design and build the house.
“When I build this house, I had people in mind. I wanted this house to be a house that people would really like and admire. If they are impressed with the house, it means I am doing the right thing.”
As he decorated the house himself, his creativity burst forth, turning his house into a work of art.
“I dreamed of a unique but traditional kampung house. That is why when I planned, I planned it nicely, and I did it nicely and orderly instead of just doing it in one go, which people normally do.
“If I had done that, then I would not be able to do other decorations.”
His house featured a kampung hut, a small ruai, perahu tambang, a coffee house, and some artifacts passed down from his father.
Among the favourite features of the house is his garden.
Zakaria, who used to stay at Kampung Nangka, shared the same passion for flowers with his mother.
He learned his planting skills from her, too.
“I started planting since primary school. My mother loves flowers, and I learned a lot from her.”
However, he also hoped that he could have a garden of his own.
Today, he had hundreds of flowers in his collection, including more than 100 species of wild orchids and other unique plants, including rafflesia, different kind of fern species and hoya.
He said he had some of the rarest species of wild orchids that surprised even Sarawak Forestry Corporation officers.
“The officers came from time to time to check on the plants and to help to identify the species for me. They were impressed with the variety of my collection.”
Zakaria did not buy those plants from the market. He looked for them in the jungle himself.
He started collecting orchids about 20 years ago.
“Although I know how to plant and people told me I have green fingers, the environment here (his house) does not allow certain plants to bloom. Only leaves would grow, not the flowers.
“Then, I thought of orchids. I tried orchids and amazingly they grow well. That is how I started to plant wild orchids because they do not need a lot of sunshine.”
He started to go deep into the jungle to find unique flowers and orchids without any guide.
“I think I’ve been lost in the jungle for more than 10 times already, but I always find my way back. The sun is my direction,” he said, adding that he loved to be in the jungle because there was a sense of calmness and peacefulness there.
About three years ago, he had his house registered and is now officially doing homestay programme for tourists.
“I initially built this house for my own use, but I started to see there is a business opportunity here, so I tried.”
He named his house Borneo Home Nature.
He charged an entrance fee of RM3 per child and RM5 per adult. Borneo Home Nature has also become a favourite place for wedding photography.
However, maintaining the house is hard work.
Every day, he would start his day at 6.30am and ends some 12 hours later.
“Whenever I look at other people, the craft that they are doing, I always tell myself, if they can do, why can’t I?
“I do not know everything, but I trust myself that it will work if I put my creativity in place and experiment them.”
Zakaria is staying with his family and siblings at Borneo Home Nature.