Vernacular Architecture of Buginese:

Abstract

Purpose: Several studies have been conducted on the concept of Bugis community house construction to understand its macro-and micro-cosmology. This study was, however, conducted to complement the multi-perception research on the relationship between architecture and local wisdom by disclosing the formation of residential space plans. This involved the use of the Bugis house as the subject and the application of the horizontal and vertical philosophies' perspectives based on the anatomical dimensions of a lying human body as its traditional architectural uniqueness. Research Design & Methodology: The study was conducted qualitatively in Talungeng Village, Bone Regency, Indonesia, for a period of one year, 2018-2019, using the case study approach, phenomenology, and ethnography model. Data were collected through several eligible informants and analyzed using the Discovering Cultural Themes method by associating studies with architecture. Results & Findings: This study showed the horizontal spatial organization and relations in the Bugis house plan derive from the philosophy and function of human body parts in a lying position, which is believed to be a means to provide protection and comfort for residents, while the vertical aspect involves the use of the house frame as the central pillar in proportion to the whole structure. The adoption of the human body as the framework is usually to provide mutual support for the building structure and to ensure it has enough strength to mitigate against earthquakes, floods, and strong winds.

The Design of Earthquake Evacuation Spaces Based on Local Wisdom: A Case Study of Traditional Houses in South Sulawesi

“…The house is rectangular with two entrances, a porch in front and behind, which is larger on the front [19]. Windows and doors are placed according to the placement column, or in the middle of the lontang [22].…”

“…Bugis-Makassar houses had a spatial pattern, both vertically and horizontally, that reflected the anatomy of the human body. As a result, the body (wall/ale-bola), head (roof attic/rakkeang), and foot (foundation/awa-bola) are sized in balance [19,20], while horizontally it is positioned as a lying position: the public area serves as the guest room (lontang ri saliweng), the private area serves as the family room and bedroom (lontang ri tengnga), and the semi-private area serves as the kitchen (lontang ri laleng) [19]. Three longtangs are connected by circulation spaces (tamping), which usually have lower floor levels [21].…”

“…In the Bugis-Makassar Tribe, these houses have a variety of meanings and values incorporated into and embodied as views of daily life that are inseparable from local wisdom. The choices of orientation, where to put the main door, the spatial planning, and the structure of the building are all part of local wisdom [19]. This means that the arrangement should resemble the parts of the human body as well as ensure harmony between other natural elements.…”

“…These houses have a main living area located on the second floor, known traditionally as "Ale bola" [17,18]. The basic shape of the house is rectangular, and rectangular in the same horizontal line is also known as a "lontang" [19,23]. Space in the house was organized based on owner privacy, from public to semi-private to private.…”

Continuity of Housing Expression based on the Elderly Bugis Culture

“…One of the tribes in Indonesia that has solid cultural value towards the process of living and building a house is the Bugis tribe from South Sulawesi. The Bugis community strongly believes in cultural values, especially the "Siri' na Pesse" values, which are the main values used as guidelines in designing a house (Naing & Hadi, 2020). However, implementing these values in housing attributes has changed due to a different understanding of the meaning of cultural values and unsupportive environmental conditions.…”