ROOF
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The roof is the most significant of the rumah gadang. The big and curved roof with multiple gables and upsweeping ridge creates an interesting characteristic to the house. The roof was constructed before the
c
floor to protect it from rain. Both Rumah gadang
b
Dt. mangkudum
and Dt. kayo have similar roof
a
construction but differ in size and shape. Rumah Gadang Dt. Mangkudum uses sapik kalo type of Legend 1 Tonggak Tuo 2 Baliang-baliang 3 Rasuak atas 4 Rasuak bawah 5 Palanca 6 Paran
roof while Rumah Gadang Dt. Kayo uses rabuang mambasuik type of roof. The structural components of the roof are the beams or paran, truss or kuda-
c) Sapik Kalo
kuda, rafter or kasau, and purlin or turang. The roof structure are made of timber and is covered with zinc.
3
The traditional methods are used for the construction
b) Rabuang Mambasuik
of the roof such as tongue and grooves and mortise 3 Structural system of Rumah Gadang
Each of the columns is shaped with twelve or eight
and tenon method for jointing. Pegs are used to
faces symbolizing the Minangkabau Undang-undang
strengthen the connection between the roof beams
Dua belas (Law of Twelve) and Undang-undang Lapan
and columns. Basically the load of the roof is supported
(Law of Eight) depending on its usage and importance.
by the columns and beams. The roof is constructed
The law of twelve is more important as cmpare to the
once the skeleton of the house is completed.
Law of Eight. These columns are located at the balai, labuah, and bandua, the spaces where communal meetings and ceremonial celebration take place.
a) Bulan Sahari 4 4 Types of roof form of Rumah Gadang. Source: Junaidi (2006)