Vernacular Answers to Spatial Needs of Human Activities: Indonesian Houses

Abstract

The process of building traditional houses requires sizes of activities to determine dimensions of spaces. This study seeks to reveal how the activities of occupants relate to the dimensions of space in the vernacular society in Indonesia. It uses a literature study approach by reviewing various studies on vernacular housing in Indonesia. A total of 18 vernacular houses were reviewed and compared to find common relations between the activities and dimensions of the vernacular space. It was found that there were high variations in various placements, uses, and relations between activities and human living spaces, influenced by anthropometric factors, location, and socio-cultural factors. There are a very flexible space utilization and very rigid space utilization and between the two. This finding is expected to be a material for the development of simple, mass-built houses considering the habits of local residents in their activities.

The Affordances for Dining Activities: Young Generations' Experience in Dwelling Environment

“…In Gadang houses, dining as a part of the series of traditional ceremonies is usually conducted on ruang lepas, which serves as the center for all activities while also used to receive guests, with a specific seating arrangement based on the family structure hierarchy and kinship as well as sitting positions that are based on genders (Surya and Adhitama, 2021). Another example is how the vernacular architecture of the Toraja and Sumba houses prioritize communal dining in the living space, which means the wider the living space area, the bigger the number of people can gather to eat together (Wazir and Indriani, 2020).…”

“…From the architectural perspective, the way in which dining activities occur in the housing environment is also closely related to the architectural form of the dwelling. In Indonesian vernacular architecture, for example, the dining culture influences how dining areas and kitchens are designed, as well as the hierarchy in the use of space (Wazir and Indriani, 2020;Surya and Adhitama, 2021). Another example is how the culture of eating while sitting on the floor in Indonesia contributes to the existence of the norm of not wearing shoes inside the house to keep them clean (Wazir and Indriani, 2020).…”

“…In Indonesian vernacular architecture, for example, the dining culture influences how dining areas and kitchens are designed, as well as the hierarchy in the use of space (Wazir and Indriani, 2020;Surya and Adhitama, 2021). Another example is how the culture of eating while sitting on the floor in Indonesia contributes to the existence of the norm of not wearing shoes inside the house to keep them clean (Wazir and Indriani, 2020). Moreover, dining activities are continuously transforming with the times.…”

Dulang Module in Determining the Proportion of Bengkilas in Palembang Limas House

“…There is a special ceremony in the Malay society to move houses from one village to another. The practical reason could be due to house sales, birth, or death [21] but this can be rooted in maritime culture which generally views boats as homes and can be moved around. The view that even houses can be moved can come from the maritime thinking like this.…”

Is Mass Housing Increase or Decrease Symbolic Cultural Diversity? An Emperical Investigation

“…Housing invites new people with new life style and dynamic in community [1]. Standard houses are built in different ways from collectivity ways Indonesian vernacular house built [8]. Despite the different, mass housing drives a new economy opportunity from the increased number of community.…”