Architectural Analysis of Rumah Kancingan in Merauke

Abstract

Rumah kancingan is a distinctive house used by residents of Merauke, Papua. The house is unique because it combines walls made of both orthotropic and isotropic materials, which is a combination of brick walls and wooden frames, built from isotropic and orthotropic materials, respectively. As a result, this study aimed to provide a better understanding of Rumah kancingan in Merauke and explore new information about its architectural design. A typology method was used through an interpretive method to analyze 100 samples. The objective was to describe and categorize them based on architectural aspects, encircling house type (floor plan), and visual features such as roof shape, entrance, ornaments, and building materials. Despite wood being the main structural and framing material, the results showed that the varied size of the houses did not necessarily limit the spaciousness of the rooms, considering the dimensional constraints of wood. The roof shape was an indicator of the construction era and the terrace served as additional space for adding aesthetic value to the house. Additionally, the presence of a terrace allowed for more diverse roof designs, contributing to a modern appearance. Ornaments were not commonly found in the place. It should be acknowledged that older houses tended to emphasize their kancingan construction, while newer ones concealed the structure for a more modern and sturdy look. Finally, the type of wood and its dimensions used in construction could help identify the era of Rumah kancingan development.