Myanmar Architecture

- The Architecture of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), in Southeast Asia, includes

architectural styles that reflect the influence of neighboring and Western nations and
modernization. The country ' s most prominent buildings include Buddhist pagodas, stupas and
temples, British colonial buildings, and modern renovations and structures. Myanmar ' s
traditional architecture is primarily used for worship, pilgrimage, storage of Buddhist relics,
political activism and tourism.

In terms of its traditional architecture

- It is prominently characterized by Buddhist pagodas, stupas, and temples. These structures are
not only places of worship but also serve as centers for pilgrimage, storage of Buddhist relics,
and symbols of cultural identity.
Thailand Architecture

- Thailand's architecture is a captivating blend of traditional Thai styles, influenced by Buddhism

and local craftsmanship, alongside modern designs that incorporate sustainable practices and
innovative concepts, creating a unique and vibrant architectural landscape across the country.

In terms of its traditional architecture

- Thailand's traditional architecture is deeply influenced by Buddhism, with temples (known as

"wats") serving as focal points of artistic expression and religious devotion. These structures
often feature intricate carvings, colorful murals, and distinctive roof lines adorned with ornate
details.
Religion

- The first principle of Indonesia's philosophical foundation, Pancasila, is "belief in the one and
only God".
- A number of different religions are practiced in the country, and their collective influence on the
country's political, economic and cultural life is significant.
- The Indonesian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
- The government only recognizes six official religions (Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism,
Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism).
- Indonesian law requires that every Indonesian citizen hold an identity card that identifies that
person with one of these six religions, although citizens may be able to leave that section blank.
agnosticism or atheism, and blasphemy is illegal.
 Traditiona
l Vernacular Architecture

- Rumah Adat
o Also called as “Custom House”
o The form of the traditional vernacular architecture of indonesia
o provides the main focus for the family and its community, and is the point of departure
of its residents

Rumah Adat serves as the "Custom House" and provides the main focus for the family and its
community. It is not only a place of residence but also a symbol of cultural identity and heritage, often
reflecting regional variations in architectural styles.

The design and layout of Rumah Adat are deeply rooted in local customs, beliefs, and social structures,
making it a point of departure for its residents' daily activities and interactions.

- Characteristics
o Timber construction - Rumah Adat is primarily constructed using timber, showcasing
traditional craftsmanship and sustainable building practices.
o Varies and elaborate roof structures - The roofs of Rumah Adat are notable for their
variety and complexity, featuring steep sloping roofs, heavy gables, and intricate details
that contribute to the overall aesthetic appeal and functionality of the architecture.
o longhouses on stilts - In many regions, Rumah Adat is built as longhouses elevated on
stilts, providing protection from floods, wild animals, and enhancing ventilation.
o steep sloping roofs and heavy gables - Rumah Adat is built as longhouses elevated on
stilts, providing protection from floods, wild animals, and enhancing ventilation.
 o built on stilts except for Java and Bali - While most Rumah Adat are elevated on stilts,
those in Java and Bali often have ground-level construction due to different
environmental and cultural considerations.

- Construction System
o post, beam and intel structural system with either wooden or bamboo walls that are
non-load bearing
o rather than nails, mortis and tenon joints and wooden pegs are used

Batak Architecture (North Sumatra)

- Includes Jabu - Boat-shaped homes of the Toba Bata people

o These homes are characterized by their elongated, curved roofs resembling traditional
boats.
- dominating carved gables
o Batak architecture is distinguished by dramatic oversized roofs, which are based on
ancient models and designed to provide ample protection from the tropical climate,
heavy rains, and sunlight.
- dramatic oversized roof that is based on an ancient model
- Batak architecture refers to the related architectural traditional traditions and designs of the
various Batak people of north Sumatra, Indonesia.
- the three main building types common to the different Batak group
o Bale - meeting hall
o rumah - house
o sopo - rice barn
- One of six Batak tribes that inhabit northen and central sumatra
- toba tribe are christian
 - the batak toba people are concentrated around lake toba, the world’s largest caldera lake. their
houses are among the most distinctive in indonesia, with their famous boat-shaped roofs and
finely-decorated carvings.
- Jabu - A boat-shapes homes of the Toba Batak people

Rumah Gadang

- build by Minangkabau of West Sumatra

- distinctive for their multiple gables with dramatically upsweeping ridge ends.
- (“big house”) or rumah bagonjong (“spired roof house”) are the tumah adat of the
minangkabau. A rumah gadang serves as a residence, a hall for family meetings, and for
ceremonial activities.
- The houses have dramatic curved roof structure with multi-tired, upswept gables. shuttered
windows are built into walls incised with profuse painted floral carvings.
- reflected the province’s minangkabau people, and has become the symbol of west sumatra and
minangkabau culture
- A communal ruah gadang is a long house, rectangular in plan, withmultiple gables and sweeping
ridges, forming buffalo horn-like ends. they normally have three-tired projections, each with
varying floor levels. they are broad and set on wooden piles that can reach as high as 3 meters
(10ft) off the ground; sometimes with a verandah running along the front face of the house
which is used as a reception and dining area, and as a sleeping place for guests.
Omo Sebua

- The homes of Nias peoples

o Omo Sebua represents the traditional homes of the Nias people, serving as important
cultural and communal structures within their villages.
- it is the chiefs’ houses built on massive ironwood pillars with towering roofs
o Omo Sebua are chiefly houses constructed on massive ironwood pillars, elevating them
above ground level and providing structural strength.
- they almost impregnable to attack in former tribal warfare
o The towering roofs of Omo Sebua are a distinctive feature, reaching impressive heights
that contribute to the grandeur and prominence of these structures.
- flexible nail-less construction provide proven earthquake durability
o
- a traditioanl house style of the nias people from nias island, indonesia they are built for the
house of village’s chiefs. situated in the centre of a village, omo sebua are built on massive
ironwood piles and have towering roofs. nias culture, with former frequent inter-village warfare,
has made the design of omo sebua impregnable to attack. the houses sole access is through a
narrow staircase with a small trap door above. the steepy pitched roofs can reach 16meters (50
feet) in height. apart from strong defense against enemies, omo sebua have proven earthquake
resistance.
Ruma Melayu

- Malay traditional house

- built on stilts of sumatra, borneo and malay peninsula
- the Riau region is characterized by villages built on stilts over waterways.
- are traditional dwellings, constructed by the indigenous etnic malay of malay peninsula, sumatra
borneo. using renewable natural materials including timber and bamboo, the dwellings are often
built without the use of metal materials including nails. instead pre-cut holes and grooves are
used to fit the timber elements into one another, effective making it a prefabricated house.
- traditional timber houses incorporated design principals relevant in contemporary architecture
such as shading and ventilation, qualities present in the basic house features although malay
houses have diversity if styles according to each states, provinces, and subethics, there are
common styles nd similarities shared among them:
o built on stilts
 In the Riau region, villages are often built on stilts over waterways, showcasing
the adaptability of Malay traditional architecture to local environments.
o vernacular roof
o have stairs
o adorned with decoration
o partitioned rooms
Javanede Joglo

- not built on piles

- become the indonesian vernacular style most influenced by european architectural elements.
- joglo is a type of traditional vernacular house of the javanese people (javanese omah). the word
joglo refers to the shape of the roof . in the highly hierarchical javanese culture, the type of the
roof of a house reflets the social and economic status of the owners of the house; joglo houses is
traditionally associated with javanese aristocrats. joglo roof be implemented to a dwelling
(omah) or a pavalion (pendopo).
- joglo roof does not use king posts
- joglo roof consists of columns that become higher as it go to the center. the four innermost
mainhouse columns are often the tallest, while the outer columns are the lowest. these four
innermost house columns support a roof that is the steepest of all type of javanese roof; almost
forming a pyramid, except that it comes to two points rather than a single one. these four
innermost main house columns is surmounted by a unique structural elemnt known as tumpang
sari.
Bubungan Tinggi

- with their steeply pitched roofs

- it is the large homes of banjarese royalty and aristocrats in south kalmantan
- an iconic type of house in south kalimantan. its name bubungan tinggi refers to the steep roof
(45 degrees). in the old kingdom time, this house was the core building within a palace complex,
where the king and his family resided. since 1850, there were various buildings added around it
with their own respective function. later this type of house became so popular that people
which were not part of the royalty also took interest in building it.
- the main construction elemnts of the rumah bubungad tinggi are:
o the main building in the middle.
o anjung, the constructions on the right (anjung kanan) and the left side (anjung kiwa) of
the central part.
o the central part of the roof that is very steep, the bubungad tinggi.
o front roof is sindang langit, rear roof is called hambin awan.
Traditional Balines Architecture

- in general, it is always filled with ornaments, carving, tools, and the color
o serve as expressions of symbols and communication, conveying stories, beliefs, and
cultural values.
- contain a certain sense of beauty as an expression of symbols and communication delivery
- decorative forms of fauna species also serve as ritual symbol are displayed in the sculpture
- the traditional vernacular house of balinese people in bali, indonesia. the balinese traditional
house follows a strict ancient architectural guide which is a product of a blend of hindu and
buddhist beliefs, fused with austronesian animism, resulting in a house that is “in harmony” with
the law of the cosmos of balinese hinduism.
 -

Lumbung

- built by the sasak people of Lombok

o Lumbung refers to the pile-built bonnet-roofed rice barns constructed by the Sasak
people of Lombok, showcasing their traditional architectural techniques and agricultural
heritage.
- pile-built bonnet-roofed rice barns, that are often more distinctive and elaborate than their
houses.
o Lumbung rice barns are often more distinctive and elaborate than the houses of the
Sasak people, highlighting their importance in agricultural practices and food storage.

- Pile-built, bonnet-rice barnsthe pride of Sasak vernacular architecture. They are built in rows
along the easier lower paths of a village. The structures have only one opening, which is a high
window into which rice is loaded twice a year. Four 1.5 metres hardwood posts are mounted on
a level, sundried mud and buffalo-dung platform, and discs known as jelepreng are set towards
the top to prevent rodent ingress. Two lateral beams are carried by the posts on which sits a
cantilevered frame which in turn supports the bamboo rafters. Several lumbung owned by
separate families are built end to end a few metres apart.
Tongkonan

- Which the toraha of the sulawesi highlands are renowned for built on piles and dwarfed by
massive exaggerated-pitched saddle roofs.
- the traditional ancestral house, or rumah adat of the Torajan people, in South Sulawesi,
Indonesia.Tongkonan have a distinguishing boat-shaped and oversized saddleback roof. Like most
of Indonesia's Austronesian-based traditional architecture tongkonan are built on piles. The
construction of tongkonan is laborious work and it is usually built with the help of all family
members. In the original Toraja society, only nobles had the right to build
tongkonan.Commoners live in smaller and less decorated homes called Banua
- are customarily built facing north-south. Dominating the entire structure is the saddleback roof
with gables that are dramatically upswept. The internal space is small in comparison with the
overwhelming roof structure that covers it. Interiors are typically cramped and dark with few
windows, however, most of daily life is lived outside the homes, with interiors simply intended
for sleeping, storage, meetings and occasionally protection.
The sumbanese traditional house

- (Sumbanese uma mbatangu, "peaked house") refers to the traditional vernacular house of the
Sumba people from the island of Sumba, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia. Sumbanese house is
characterized with its high-pitched central peak in its roof and strong connection with the spirits
or marapu.
- Architectural Characteristics:
o The Sumbanese Traditional House is characterized by its unique roof structure with a
high central peak, creating a striking visual appearance.
o The roof design is not merely aesthetic but also holds deep symbolic and cultural
significance, representing a strong connection with the spirits or Marapu, central to
Sumbanese beliefs.
Honai

- has long been known as a traditional house in Jayawijaya Dani and the indigenous tribes who
inhabit the central highlands of Papua. Until now, people in the region still build honai hereditary
suit local conditions and cultural traditions. In general honai a custom home where deliberation
for the sake of having a party and the indigenous tribal war. Honai for women called "Ebeai,"
which consists of two words, namely "Ebe" or body in the sense of the presence of the body and
"Ai" which means home. Honai name in the language of men Lani called "ap inakunu" and honai
women called "kumi inawi." People have three honai Lani, namely honai for men, women and
honai honai devoted to feed or raising animals like pigs.