The document summarizes key aspects of architecture in Southeast Asia. Some common features include post-and-beam construction, steep saddleback roofs, walls that are rarely load-bearing, and buildings raised on stilts. Decorative elements often have symbolic meanings relating to local cultures and religions. Houses frequently reflect beliefs in layered cosmologies and are oriented based on geographical features and the sun's path.

1. ARCHITECTURE OFARCHITECTURE OF
SOUTH EAST ASIASOUTH EAST ASIA
Norshambinti LebaiItamNorshambinti LebaiItam

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

3. GENERAL FUNCTION OF A HOUSEGENERAL FUNCTION OF A HOUSE
 FUNCTIONS:FUNCTIONS:
 sheltershelter
 element of socialelement of social
 symbolic space- mirrors world viewsymbolic space- mirrors world view
of creators and inhabitantsof creators and inhabitants

4. ORIGINSORIGINS
 population of S.E.A belongs topopulation of S.E.A belongs to 22 mainmain
phenotypesphenotypes – i)– i) AustrliodsAustrliods (Australia,(Australia,
Papua new guinea, Malay peninsula ,Papua new guinea, Malay peninsula ,
Philippines) andPhilippines) and ii)ii) mongoloidsmongoloids
(southern china)(southern china)
 reveal somereveal some startling similaritiesstartling similarities
 distant butdistant but common origincommon origin
 Building shared similar physical features –Building shared similar physical features –
use of pileuse of pile
foundationfoundation

5. TECHNOLOGY AND SYMBOLISMTECHNOLOGY AND SYMBOLISM
 materialsmaterials –architectural style well–architectural style well
adapted to local environment –adapted to local environment – use ofuse of
locally available materiallocally available material
 technologytechnology – S.E.A. built form –– S.E.A. built form – oneone
characteristic feature-characteristic feature- held togetherheld together
without use of nails –joining, mortising,without use of nails –joining, mortising,
pegging, wedging or binding especiallypegging, wedging or binding especially
important in roof constructionimportant in roof construction

6. TECHNOLOGY AND SYMBOLISMTECHNOLOGY AND SYMBOLISM
 wallwall not important building elementnot important building element
 where walls do not exist – rarely loadwhere walls do not exist – rarely load
bearing, may consists pre-fabricatedbearing, may consists pre-fabricated
screens attached to main structure ofscreens attached to main structure of
post and beamspost and beams
 posts/columnposts/column – run right through– run right through
the buildingthe building

7. TECHNOLOGY AND SYMBOLISMTECHNOLOGY AND SYMBOLISM
 woodwood - used are hardwood- Teak,- used are hardwood- Teak,
Cengal-(dense wood contains oilCengal-(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

8. FLOORSFLOORS
 built on raised stone platformbuilt on raised stone platform
 In JavaIn Java-- built directly on the groundbuilt directly on the ground
 Central and East JavaCentral and East Java-- pile constructionpile construction
 West JavaWest Java low piles – an older style oflow 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

9. ROOFROOF
 IndonesiaIndonesia ––saddle –backed roofsaddle –backed roof withwith
extended ridge end and sloping gable endextended ridge end and sloping gable end
the proportion of roof to wall in thethe proportion of roof to wall in the TobaToba
house – 3:1house – 3:1
 Karobatak of north SumatraKarobatak of north Sumatra –saddle-–saddle-
backed roof developed with variationsbacked roof developed with variations
Decorative gable finialsDecorative gable finials – in form of– in form of
crossed horns – formed from extension ofcrossed horns – formed from extension of
raftersrafters
 North Thailand and North East IndiaNorth Thailand and North East India--
naga (snake)naga (snake)

10. ROOFROOF
 Island of Roti in MagmataIsland of Roti in Magmata - carved in- carved in
the shape ofthe shape of birds or naga-birds or naga- mythical watermythical 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 arebetween earth and heaven, the dead are
also believed to ride to the upper world onalso believed to ride to the upper world on
the buffalothe buffalo

11. SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE OFSYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE OF
BUILDINGBUILDING ELEMENTSELEMENTS
 The Atoni of TimorThe Atoni of Timor-- shows layout reflect theshows layout reflect the
universe,universe, organized around theorganized 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 ofHouse is segregated from external sources of
light and heat and fire are kept lit at all time bylight and heat and fire are kept lit at all time by
the women.the women. Summit beamsSummit beams however arehowever are namednamed
as (fire) and man as (sun).as (fire) and man as (sun). RidgeRidge are calledare called
crania (feet),crania (feet), reflectsreflects conception of theconception of the househouse
as bodyas body

12. SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE OFSYMBOLIC 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 foundedof the ruling house founded
by a married couple. Choice of ‘male’ andby 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 andwill 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. Groups
of noble girl are isolated in the house. Aroundof noble girl are isolated in the house. Around
central pillar is built figure in bamboo grasses andcentral pillar is built figure in bamboo grasses and
palm leaves called ana’ dara or maiden. Duringpalm leaves called ana’ dara or maiden. During
this period thethis period the house is consideredhouse is considered pregnant andpregnant and
whole community benefit from the enhancingwhole community benefit from the enhancing
fertility and good fortunefertility and good fortune

13. TORAJATORAJA
Traditional Village,
Tana Toraja
Traditional House
Pig Offering during funeral
ceremony, Tana Toraja

14. COSMOLOGIESCOSMOLOGIES
 Built formsBuilt forms are looked upon as aare looked upon as a
sense of place which reflects thesense of place which reflects the
world view of the creatorsworld view of the creators..
 Most indigenous belief, haveMost indigenous belief, have conceptconcept
toto three-tiered cosmosthree-tiered cosmos,, middlemiddle
worldworld inhabited byinhabited by humanhuman,,
sandwiched betweensandwiched between upper worldupper world
andand lower world.lower world.

15. COSMOLOGIESCOSMOLOGIES
 AchehAcheh.. – The first to receive Islamic– The first to receive Islamic
influence has fused with older cosmicinfluence has fused with older cosmic
order. House to reflect division of theorder. House to reflect division of the
cosmos into three layerscosmos into three layers..
 TheThe sacred upper worldsacred upper world - abode of the- abode of the
godsgods andand
 The middleThe middle – abode of the– abode of the humanshumans
 The nether world - abode of animal andThe nether world - abode of animal and
lower deitieslower deities (beneath the house most(beneath the house most
unclean part).unclean part).

16. SumatraSumatra
Traditional house
North Sumatra
Traditional house
North Sumatra

17. COSMOLOGIESCOSMOLOGIES
 House floor raised on pile (habited byHouse floor raised on pile (habited by
human),human), attic spaceattic space – where– where
heirlooms are stored,heirlooms are stored, the mostthe most
sacredsacred.. The AcheneseThe Achenese –heavily–heavily
decorateddecorated skirting boardskirting board whichwhich
serves to accentuate theserves to accentuate the separationseparation
of sacredof sacred human being spacehuman being space formform
the profanethe profane (irreligious) under part(irreligious) under part
of the houseof the house

18. COSMOLOGIESCOSMOLOGIES
 House settlement followHouse settlement follow variety of rulesvariety of rules ofof
orientation. Inorientation. In BaliBali, geographical features, geographical features
opposition between mountain and seaopposition between mountain and sea..
TheThe mountainsmountains (particularly the volcanoes)(particularly the volcanoes)
are theare the home of the godshome of the gods. While the. While the seasea isis
thethe habitations of the demonshabitations of the demons. The sea is. The sea is
not simply dangerous is also a source ofnot simply dangerous is also a source of
power, life and knowledge and a place forpower, life and knowledge and a place for
purification (purified the ashes of thepurification (purified the ashes of the
dead). Both sea and mountains are partdead). Both sea and mountains are part
of the environment, home to both demonsof the environment, home to both demons
and gods.and gods.

19. Balinese Hindu Family TempleBalinese Hindu Family Temple
..
Dry Food Store ...mpound
Balinese Hindu ...Temple

20. BALIBALI
Balinese House
Balinese Family
Compound
Balinese architectur

21. BALIBALI
Balinese Garden
Balinese House
Balinese Family Temple

22. COSMOLOGIESCOSMOLOGIES
 KedangKedang – between– between upriver and downupriver and down,,
NgajuNgaju – relation to the– relation to the cardinal pointscardinal points
with common association of the rising sunwith 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 includesview of the universe includes
seven dimensionsseven dimensions: up,down, right, left,: up,down, right, left,
front, back, and the Datu (ruler) in thefront, 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 upperof the Batara Guru a spirit from the upper
world)world)

23. 
Rumah Adat Batak Toba"BolonRumah Adat Batak Toba"Bolon““

24. SUMATRASUMATRA
Rumah Adat Batak Karo
"Siwaluh Jabu"
Batak house

25. BATAK HOUSEBATAK HOUSE

26. 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 constructionmethod of construction
 RoofRoof is the dominant feature steep/saddle backis the dominant feature steep/saddle back
roofroof
 WallsWalls are rarely load bearingare rarely load bearing
Screen are prepared separatelyScreen are prepared separately
Element of fabrication/assembly with little laborElement of fabrication/assembly with little labor
 Buildings areBuildings are raised on stiltsraised on stilts
 Decorative gableDecorative gable finished/cross beamfinished/cross beam
Very little openings Elaboration on social,Very little openings Elaboration on social,
religious and culturereligious and culture

27. Elaboration on social, religious andElaboration on social, religious and
cultureculture
SOCIALSOCIAL RELIGIOUSRELIGIOUS CULTURECULTURE
Clustered housingClustered housing Function of space,Function of space,
separation between maleseparation between male
and female.and female.
Roof form, ceremonial,Roof form, ceremonial,
symbolismsymbolism
Located near river/hillLocated near river/hill Location ofLocation of
neighborhood,-Qiblat,neighborhood,-Qiblat,
trees, mountain, sea, suntrees, mountain, sea, sun
pathpath
Building ritual. , TiangBuilding ritual. , Tiang
Seri, male and femaleSeri, male and female
postpost
Chief house (commonChief house (common
living)living)
Segregation of male andSegregation of male and
female domainfemale domain
Informal layoutInformal layout
Bounded by trees ofBounded by trees of
objectobject
Entrance, differentEntrance, different
function of spacefunction of space