architecture of south east asia

ARCHITECTURE OFARCHITECTURE OFSOUTH EAST ASIASOUTH EAST ASIA

Norsham binti Lebai ItamNorsham binti Lebai Itam

South East AsiaSouth East AsiaIndonesiaIndonesia

Bali, Java (Jakarta,), Sumatra, Toraja - South Sulawesi, Papua, East Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara (Komodo, Flores, and Sumba).

GENERAL FUNCTION OF A HOUSEGENERAL FUNCTION OF A HOUSE

FUNCTIONS:FUNCTIONS: sheltershelter element of socialelement of social symbolic space- mirrors world view symbolic space- mirrors world view

of creators and inhabitantsof creators and inhabitants

ORIGINSORIGINS

population of S.E.A belongs to population of S.E.A belongs to 2 2 main main phenotypesphenotypes – i) – i) AustrliodsAustrliods (Australia, (Australia, Papua new guinea, Malay peninsula , Papua new guinea, Malay peninsula , Philippines) andPhilippines) and ii) ii) mongoloids mongoloids (southern china)(southern china)

reveal some reveal some startling similaritiesstartling similarities distant but distant but common origincommon origin Building shared similar physical features –Building shared similar physical features –

use of pile use of pile foundationfoundation

TECHNOLOGY AND SYMBOLISMTECHNOLOGY AND SYMBOLISM

materialsmaterials –architectural style well –architectural style well adapted to local environment – adapted to local environment – use of use of locally available materiallocally available material

technologytechnology – S.E.A. built form – – S.E.A. built form – one one characteristic feature-characteristic feature- held together held together without use of nails –joining, mortising, without use of nails –joining, mortising, pegging, wedging or binding especially pegging, wedging or binding especially important in roof constructionimportant in roof construction


wallwall not important building elementnot important building element where walls do not exist – rarely load where walls do not exist – rarely load

bearing, may consists pre-fabricated bearing, may consists pre-fabricated screens attached to main structure of screens attached to main structure of post and beamspost and beams

posts/columnposts/column – run right through – run right through the buildingthe building


woodwood - used are hardwood- Teak, - used are hardwood- Teak, Cengal-(dense wood contains oil Cengal-(dense wood contains oil which is resistant to termites)which is resistant to termites)

bamboobamboo- used for temporary - used for temporary buildingsbuildings

palms grassespalms grasses - used as thatching - used as thatching materialmaterial

FLOORSFLOORS

built on raised stone platformbuilt on raised stone platform In JavaIn Java-- built directly on the ground built directly on the ground Central and East JavaCentral and East Java-- pile construction pile construction West JavaWest Java low piles – an older style of low piles – an older style of

village architecturevillage architecture FLOORSFLOORS BaliBali – household structures built on – household structures built on

groundground ThailandThailand – raised floor structure – raised floor structure

ROOFROOF

IndonesiaIndonesia ––saddle –backed roofsaddle –backed roof with with extended ridge end and sloping gable end extended ridge end and sloping gable end the proportion of roof to wall in the the proportion of roof to wall in the Toba Toba house – 3:1house – 3:1

Karobatak of north SumatraKarobatak of north Sumatra –saddle-–saddle-backed roof developed with variationsbacked roof developed with variationsDecorative gable finialsDecorative gable finials – in form of – in form of crossed horns – formed from extension of crossed horns – formed from extension of raftersrafters

North Thailand and North East IndiaNorth Thailand and North East India-- naga (snake)naga (snake)

ROOFROOF

Island of Roti in MagmataIsland of Roti in Magmata - carved in - carved in the shape of the shape of birds or naga-birds or naga- mythical water mythical water snakesnake

Malay houseMalay house – – silang guntingsilang gunting (open (open scissors)scissors)

Hova of MadagascarHova of Madagascar – – horn of buffalohorn of buffalo (symbolically protective function – link (symbolically protective function – link between earth and heaven, the dead are between earth and heaven, the dead are also believed to ride to the upper world on also believed to ride to the upper world on the buffalothe buffalo

SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE OF SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE OF BUILDINGBUILDING ELEMENTSELEMENTS

The Atoni of TimorThe Atoni of Timor-- shows layout reflect the shows layout reflect the universe, universe, organized around the organized around the cardinal pointscardinal points and east-west way of the sun’and east-west way of the sun’

-house must -house must not face east-westnot face east-west - - Sun must not enter the houseSun must not enter the house; house is set in ; house is set in

opposition to the sun, windowless and dark. opposition to the sun, windowless and dark. House is segregated from external sources of House is segregated from external sources of light and heat and fire are kept lit at all time by light and heat and fire are kept lit at all time by the women. the women. Summit beamsSummit beams however are however are named named as (fire) and man as (sun).as (fire) and man as (sun). RidgeRidge are called are called crania (feet),crania (feet), reflects reflects conception of the conception of the house house as bodyas body

SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE OF SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE OF BUILDINGBUILDING ELEMENTSELEMENTS

Sa’dan Toroja SulawesiSa’dan Toroja Sulawesi-- the origin-house, the origin-house, political powerpolitical power over the respective communities, over the respective communities, symbolizes the statussymbolizes the status of the ruling house founded of the ruling house founded by a married couple. Choice of ‘male’ and by a married couple. Choice of ‘male’ and ‘female’ ‘female’ post symbolize paired relationshippost symbolize paired relationship. One . One will have ‘male’ post in the form of spear and will have ‘male’ post in the form of spear and ‘female’ post carved with projecting breast. ‘female’ post carved with projecting breast. Rituals involves entire year to performRituals involves entire year to perform. Groups of . Groups of noble girl are isolated in the house. Around noble girl are isolated in the house. Around central pillar is built figure in bamboo grasses and central pillar is built figure in bamboo grasses and palm leaves called ana’ dara or maiden. During palm leaves called ana’ dara or maiden. During this period the this period the house is consideredhouse is considered pregnant and pregnant and whole community benefit from the enhancing whole community benefit from the enhancing fertility and good fortunefertility and good fortune

TORAJATORAJA

Traditional Village,

Tana Toraja

Traditional HousePig Offering during funeral ceremony, Tana Toraja

COSMOLOGIESCOSMOLOGIES

Built formsBuilt forms are looked upon as a are looked upon as a sense of place which reflects the sense of place which reflects the world view of the creatorsworld view of the creators..

Most indigenous belief, have Most indigenous belief, have concept concept to to three-tiered cosmosthree-tiered cosmos, , middle middle worldworld inhabited by inhabited by humanhuman, , sandwiched between sandwiched between upper world upper world andand lower world. lower world.


AchehAcheh.. – The first to receive Islamic – The first to receive Islamic influence has fused with older cosmic influence has fused with older cosmic order. House to reflect division of the order. House to reflect division of the cosmos into three layerscosmos into three layers. .

The The sacred upper worldsacred upper world - abode of the - abode of the godsgods and and

The middleThe middle – abode of the – abode of the humanshumans The nether world - abode of animal and The nether world - abode of animal and

lower deitieslower deities (beneath the house most (beneath the house most unclean part). unclean part).

SumatraSumatra

Traditional house North Sumatra

Traditional house North Sumatra


House floor raised on pile (habited by House floor raised on pile (habited by human), human), attic spaceattic space – where – where heirlooms are stored, heirlooms are stored, the most the most sacredsacred. . The AcheneseThe Achenese –heavily –heavily decorated decorated skirting boardskirting board which which serves to accentuate the serves to accentuate the separationseparation of sacredof sacred human being space human being space form form the profanethe profane (irreligious) under part of (irreligious) under part of the house the house


House settlement follow House settlement follow variety of rulesvariety of rules of of orientation. In orientation. In BaliBali, geographical features , geographical features opposition between mountain and seaopposition between mountain and sea. . The The mountainsmountains (particularly the volcanoes) (particularly the volcanoes) are the are the home of the godshome of the gods. While the . While the seasea is is the the habitations of the demonshabitations of the demons. The sea is . The sea is not simply dangerous is also a source of not simply dangerous is also a source of power, life and knowledge and a place for power, life and knowledge and a place for purification (purified the ashes of the purification (purified the ashes of the dead). Both sea and mountains are part of dead). Both sea and mountains are part of the environment, home to both demons the environment, home to both demons and gods. and gods.

Balinese Hindu Family TempleBalinese Hindu Family Temple

..

Dry Food Store ...mpound

Balinese Hindu ...Temple

BALIBALI

Balinese HouseBalinese Family Compound

Balinese architectur

BALIBALI

Balinese Garden

Balinese House

Balinese Family Temple


KedangKedang – between – between upriver and downupriver and down, , NgajuNgaju – relation to the – relation to the cardinal pointscardinal points with common association of the rising sun with common association of the rising sun with life and the setting sun with death. with life and the setting sun with death. BugineseBuginese view of the universe includes view of the universe includes seven dimensionsseven dimensions: up,down, right, left, : up,down, right, left, front, back, and the Datu (ruler) in the front, back, and the Datu (ruler) in the ‘pusat’ or centre of the universe (the place ‘pusat’ or centre of the universe (the place of the Batara Guru a spirit from the upper of the Batara Guru a spirit from the upper world)world)

Rumah Adat Batak Toba"BolonRumah Adat Batak Toba"Bolon““

SUMATRASUMATRA

Rumah Adat Batak Karo"Siwaluh Jabu"

Batak house

BATAK HOUSEBATAK HOUSE

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Five (5) common architectural feature of SouthFive (5) common architectural feature of South East Asian indigenous architecture are:East Asian indigenous architecture are:

Post and beamsPost and beams method of construction method of construction RoofRoof is the dominant feature steep/saddle back is the dominant feature steep/saddle back

roofroof WallsWalls are rarely load bearing are rarely load bearing

Screen are prepared separatelyScreen are prepared separatelyElement of fabrication/assembly with little laborElement of fabrication/assembly with little labor

Buildings are Buildings are raised on stiltsraised on stilts Decorative gableDecorative gable finished/cross beam finished/cross beam

Very little openings Elaboration on social, Very little openings Elaboration on social, religious and culturereligious and culture

Elaboration on social, religious and Elaboration on social, religious and cultureculture

SOCIALSOCIAL RELIGIOUSRELIGIOUS CULTURECULTUREClustered housing Clustered housing Function of space, Function of space,

separation between male separation between male and female. and female.

Roof form, ceremonial, Roof form, ceremonial, symbolismsymbolism

Located near river/hill Located near river/hill Location of Location of neighborhood,-Qiblat, neighborhood,-Qiblat, trees, mountain, sea, trees, mountain, sea, sun pathsun path

Building ritual. , Tiang Building ritual. , Tiang Seri, male and female Seri, male and female postpost

Chief house (common Chief house (common living)living)

Segregation of male and Segregation of male and female domainfemale domain

Informal layoutInformal layout

Bounded by trees of Bounded by trees of objectobject

Entrance, different Entrance, different function of space function of space

architecture of south east asia

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