Traditional Vernacular Architecture

RUMAH GADANG

(Minangkabau language : 'big house') are the traditional homes

(Indonesian : 'rumah adat') of the Minangkabau. A rumah gadang serves
as a residence, a hall for family meetings, and for ceremonial activities.
The rumah gadang is owned by the women of the family who live
there - ownership is passed from mother to daughter. The
term rumah gadang usually refers to the larger
communal homes, however, smaller single residences
share many of its architectural elements.
Most rumah adat are built on stilts Building
houses off the
ground on stilts serve a number of purposes:

It allows breezes

to moderate the hot

tropical temperatures

It elevates

stormwater

It allows
rivers

and wetland margins

It keeps people, goods and food from

dampness and moisture

Lifts living quarters above malaria-

carrying mosquitos, and reduces the

risk of dry rot and termites.

JOGLO

the dwelling above

runoff and mud
houses to be built on

Joglo is a traditional vernacular

house of Javanese people. It consist of two
parts; the pendopo and dalem.
The pendopo is the front section of Joglo
that have large roofed space with columns
and without wall or partition. The dalem is
the inner sections with walled enclosure
and rooms such as bedroom and kitchen.
Pendopo is used to receive guests,
reception hall and living room, while the
inner dalem are more private sections of
the house. The term "Joglo" is often used to
refer the distinctive type of Javanese roof
with rising central part of roof supported by
four or more main wooden columns (saka
guru).

The norm is for a post, beam and lintel structural system that take load
straight to the ground with either wooden or bamboo walls that are non-load
bearing. Traditionally, rather than nails, mortis and tenon joints and
wooden pegs are used.

Traditional dwellings have developed to respond to Indonesia's hot and wet

monsoon climate. As is common throughout South East Asia and the South
West Pacific, most rumah adat are built on stilts, with the exception of Java
and Bali.

Building houses off the ground allows breezes to moderate the hot tropical
temperatures.

The sharply inclined roof allows the heavy tropical rain to quickly sheet off,
and large overhanging eaves keep water out of the house and provide
shade in the heat.

In hot and humid low-lying coastal regions, homes can have many windows
providing good cross-ventilation.

stilts

overhanging eaves