From a small workshop in Muar to becoming a respected builder of Rumah Limas, the journey of Elyas bin Robani, 51, is one shaped by time, patience, and craft.

His story began in 1984, as a young boy who spent his after-school hours helping his father with woodworking. Those early days slowly grew into a deepening passion. By 1992, Elyas stepped fully into the world of craftsmanship, learning through experience.

As the year passed, he refined his mastery in building Rumah Limas. Working closely with a childhood friend trained in architecture, he blended practical carpentry with thoughtful design, creating homes that balance function, beauty and tradition.

There are two common forms:

The Limas Bungkus, with its wide, sloping roof that wraps over the whole house, offering full protection from heavy rain.

And the Limas Tebar Layar, where the roof rises with a tunjuk langit.

Elias explains that a Rumah Limas is arranged with a flow that follows both tradition and daily life. Guests are first greeted at the serambi, where drinks are served as a gesture of welcome. From there, the house opens into different spaces: the ruang tamu for men, the ruang tengah for women, and the pelantar nearby where food is prepared before being brought to the family. The kitchen sits at the far end