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WALL
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The walls in both rumah gadang are unique in their own way. It reflects the understanding of material and the function of the wall to provide protection from the external elements while providing comfort to the people living in it. The construction of the walls differs depending o the type of wall and its location. The walls at both sides of the houses are made of woven bamboo or sasak 1
bugis which gives a very unique facade for the houses.
Dinding / bukaan
It consists of two layers, the internal layer and the external layer. The double walls prevent animals or
Papan Sakapiang
insects from getting into the house and at the same
Salangko
time act as a protection from the rain.
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2
There are two type of walls in the rumah gadang. The
3 1 Sasak Bugis (woven bamboo) located at dinding tapi. 2 Salangko 3 Papan sakapiang
front wall or dinding ari is the wall located at the front
The wall panels enclosing the lower part of the house
side of the house. It is made of timber. The carvings
or salangko are called papan sakapiang. This wall has
with different designs generated from the nature can
openings to allow ventilation of the kandang. the
be seen on this owner.
breezing passing through this area also helps to cool the floor and ventilate the house. 5
4 Elevation of dinding ari 5 Wood carving at dinding ari