Examples of the Tower House, Traditional House Indonesia

Illustration of Gadang house, Tower House

Examples of the Tower House, Traditional House Indonesia - Home of Gadang is a traditional Minangkabau house which is now home to one of the Indonesian traditional. This house can be found in several areas in the province of West Sumatra, Indonesia. Form of his own home is certainly influenced by the culture and lifestyle of Minangkabau society. This house is one of the many traditional houses in Indonesia. Before we investigate influence on gadang Minangkabau culture, to be known beforehand that this house is a wealth of architecture vernakular Minangkabau in West Sumatra. Vernacular architecture is influenced by the social culture of the society. In Minangkabau itself, this house influenced by matrilineal kinship system Minang people.

As with the other vernacular architecture, the architecture of this house is a legacy handed down from ancestors, so it should not be modified. That's because in addition to functioning as a place to live, is the identity of the indigenous communities. As we already know, that the culture of Minangkabau matrilineal kinship system adheres. In the kinship system, the lives of its people bound by matrilineal descent. However, all decisions are determined by the uncle (ninik-mamak). Women here are recipients of customary rights and obligations.

Determination of the matrilineal system was not to strengthen the role of women, such as holders of power, but rather the protection of the treasures, such as house and land inheritance sieve. Well, from the description of this society, then made Gadang that can fulfill that role.

Tower House - Tower House Shape

Shape of the house itself is very unique sieve. His elongated shape and have some space that extends as well and is called linear. Gonjong roof peak shape with a pointed roof resembling buffalo horns. Formerly the roof is made of straw or palm fiber. However, with the modernization, the roof had a lot to put on a tin roof. Typically, this house is made with a rectangular shape, and is divided into two parts, the front and rear. To form in the home is usually under the influence of spatial therein. For homes that have two linear lipek also called pandan (pandanus fold). The house usually has two gonjong.

The house has three linear predicted that called Balah bubuang (split cam) and has four gonjong. If the house has four linear Maharam called elephant (elephant sunset) which has six gonjong. Uniquely, at the front of the house is usually filled with carved ornament, the motives roots, leaves, flowers, and a rectangular field and a parallelogram. In contrast to the outside in the back are lined with bamboo parts. This frame house made of long poles are sturdy. It impacts on building big houses though made up, but it is not easily shaken by the shock. Each element of this house has a meaning that is backed by a legend in the customs and culture of the local community.

Generally, at home there is a ladder that was in the front of the house. However, a separate part of the kitchen at the rear of the house and closed by walls. Parts of the walls of this house made of boards, yet the back of the bamboo material. This house has a carving on the walls. Placement motifs carved out of the house depends on the location and composition of the board house wall. This home has a carving on motifs from nature, such as leaves, roots, vines, flowering, and fruiting. At its roots in a circle pattern, where roots lined, coincide, intertwine and connect-connect. Another motif that is also found in the home usually are triangular geometric motifs, four, and parallelogram.

Tower House - Influence Function Materilineal in the Tower House

Aside from being a place to stay, the house was also used as a sieve deliberation and venue for traditional ceremonies. As a large family residence, this house was built on a parcel of land owned by parent families for generations. Later, this house will only be passed on to girls, and so on. In the front yard, two rangkiang building that serves as a place to store rice. On the right wing and the left side of the house there is space anjung. Anjung has many functions, such as the coronation of chiefs or place side by side to the bride. That is why, this house is also referred to as home Baanjuang.

There are two similar in Minangkabau, the koto Piliang and body Chaniago. Both build anjung differently because of philosophical differences. At similar Chaniago body, usually made anjung without crutches wearing underneath. This causes anjung as if floating in air. Unlike the koto similar Piliang who use crutches. It was in harmony koto Piliang due to the principle of government hierarchy. Anjung on the koto Piliang, usually serves as the traditional leaders when conducting traditional ceremonies. Here we see the strata of nobility on social similar koto Piliang.

As a place to stay with a large family, there are various provisions in the sieve. The number of rooms in the house, depending on the number of women living in the house. For women who have had a husband will get a room. In contrast to older women and their children who get a room near the kitchen. The girls will live in shared rooms at one end of the house. Meanwhile, the children of teenage boys who are not married will stay in surau with other youth. The central part of the house is referred to as Pangka. During a traditional ceremony, Pangka a place for important people. In addition, there is a barn as a place to store the rice separate from the house. There are three kinds of barns, which rangkiang Sitinjau lauik used as a place to store the rice for custom events, rangkiang sibayau-Bayau rice as the place to save the family's daily needs, as well as rangkiang sitangka lapa which serves to store the rice to be donated to the poor.

The married woman will have a growing family. Where will the new born child into the world. It will result in this house can not accommodate the whole family. To that end, it is time for the girls and their families set up home bru. Surely eldest daughter who will establish gadang first. Before the construction of this house, will be conducted prior deliberation by ninik mamak with tuo village. Deliberations conducted to determine the arrangement in building this house. These new homes will be built near the house mother. Be located on the left, right, or in front of him. Called home for so saparuik built following maternal kinship.

Gadang as traditional house system is influenced by the tradition of the Minangkabau matrilineal kinship. The influence can be seen from the architectural elements, such as the layout, shapes, spatial outside and ornaments. In fact, the shape of the roof gonjong at home is often not symmetrical. It was caused by a custom set if the newly married daughter should occupy the end of the house. To that end there will be room additions, roofing gonjong which will be adapted to the number of girls who had been married.

Although it entered the modern era of manufacture and materials have been adjusted, but the house is still preserved. Gadang is one of the nation's wealth Indonesia today. We should be proud of the many traditional houses in Indonesia.