Rumah Tuo Kampai Nan Panjang

The sustainable architecture movement is a current topic of discussion, as identified from housing design trends that carry the concept of an open floor plan without partitions and large open spaces. This movement arose out of the need to address the growth of the built environment, which was unaccompanied by wise planning, so it became one contributor to global climate change. Planning is getting away from local climate adjustments, relying on technology as climate engineering, which causes wasted energy and increases carbon emissions.

Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA), a non-profit association of architects representing more than one million architects in 124 countries, states that many buildings and construction industries impact climate change from the conversion of green open space into a built-up area, the development process, to the utilization of the building. So, do we realize that Indonesian vernacular buildings have used the concept of sustainable architecture for a long time?

Sustainable architecture is environmentally sound architecture with the principle of creating a built environment that is in harmony with its surrounding environment. Indonesia’s rich vernacular architecture can be a source of inspiration and teaching for ecological value application in developing the built environment. Local communities develop their vernacular constructions through a trial-and-error process. Everyday experience is a reference for every planning decision.

We can achieve the sustainable architecture principle through a passive design method, namely designing buildings according to local natural conditions, such as in building vernacular buildings. This method emphasizes the quality of space: thermal comfort, light, natural ventilation, and the health of building users. Passive design buildings will use the land wisely by integrating landscape into the design, per Building Base Coefficient.

Developed in the 1700s, rumah tuo kampai nan panjang, or a traditional Minangkabau house, is an example of sustainable architecture. It is the oldest traditional house in Nagari Balimbing, Batusangkar of West Sumatra, founded by Dt. Penghulu Basa from the Kampai clan. They registered this house as a cultural property protected by the State. The philosophy of “alam takambang jadi guru” (nature unfurled becomes a teacher) is a pearl of local wisdom that guides the construction of “Rumah Gadang” (the big house). Na- ture is a source of traditional knowledge, so the house blends perfectly into the landscape with a charming design that blends right in with its hilly backdrop.

Not only is it responsive to the climate, but rumah tuo also adapts to the needs of its owners without losing its beauty. A Rumah Gadang not only functions as a place to live but also as a place to teach children, nieces, and nephews, as well as to accommodate the clan activities of deliberation, batagak pengulu, and other customary activities. The proverb ”Tampek maniru manuladan, paaja baso jo basi, sarato budi jo malu, kok tumbuah dilantai tampek duduak, banamo data lantai papan, licin balantai kulik, kato munfakat nan tujuan, elok diambiak jo mufakat, buruak dibuang jo rundiangan“ becomes the foundation.

The layout of the main room of Rumah Gadang is designed without partition (an open floor plan) to accommodate many people. At the back are rooms for girls, following the matrilineal kinship system adopted by the Minang clan. Boys sleep in the main room, but once they reach puberty, they sleep in the surau (small mosque). The layout of rumah tuo divides the house into two: the front is the main room with no partitions to accommodate activities for families, clans and traditions, the living room, and the kitchen. The back is biliak (bedroom).

Rumah tuo kampai nan panjang applies a passive design that responds to the surrounding environment. We can see it from the selection of forms in all or parts of the building. The climate in Batusangkar is very humid with heavy rainfall, cold at night until morning, and hot during the day. A steep roof design overcomes high rainfall intensity, so rainwater quickly falls and dries up. The said affects the durability of the roofing material, bearing in mind that the original roofing material is palm fiber, which is prone to damage. To deal with the temperature, houses like this have many wide openings and use wood and bamboo materials which are warm when the weather is cold and cool when the weather is hot. The high roof plays a crucial function in controlling room temperature. This house maximizes using natural resources as energy sources, especially for lighting and ventilation.

Although made of wood and bamboo, rumah tuo kampai nan panjang still survives today, dating back over 300 years. No wonder the wood selected for the main structure and architectural elements is quality wood by following local wisdom regarding wood selection, logging, and preservation so that the wood can last for hundreds of years. The construction of rumah tuo leaves no waste because it uses natural materials.

Another important thing is that of the total land area of 1600 m2, only 147 m2 land is for the built area, about 10% of the land area, while 90% is for green open space. We can say that the carbon emissions produced in the rumah tuo environment are insignificant; space comfort exists when there is a balance between carbon emission and absorption from the atmosphere in carbon sinks. Trees, plants, and soil are the most effective natural carbon sinks, available in large quantities and readily available.

Based on data from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, alluvium deposits (silt, sand, and gravel, including swamp deposits) majorly composed the soils in Batusangkar. The andesite of Mount Merapi, which is of the Quaternary Period, experienced rapid weathering associated with the Semangko active fault zone, so Batusangkar is an earthquake-prone area. Aware that the region is prone to an earthquake, this rumah tuo uses traditional techniques that can reduce damage to buildings during an earthquake. We can see this technology from the selected materials for architectural elements, such as wood, bamboo for walls and floors, and palm fiber for roofs, which are flexible and lightweight but remain sturdy for structural components.

The main frame of the rumah tuo is made of straight wood without joints and must meet predetermined requirements. They designed structural elements to be flexible to absorb earthquakes by using non-rigid joints connecting each main frame. The connection between the frame uses a system of hooks, ties, and wooden pegs, which are still flexible in receiving shocks. According to research, bamboo can respond to forces generated by earthquakes better than concrete and steel.

The Minangkabau people seek the location to build a Rumah Gadang by following an adage from their customary tradition:

Nan lereng ditanam tabu, nan tunggang ditanam buluah, nan gurun buek ka parak, Nan bancah jadikan sawah, nan munggu ka pandam pakuburuan, nan gauang ka tabek ikan, nan lambah kubangan kabau, nan padek ka parumahan. The adage conveys a message to use nature accordingly; they believe in land doesn’t need a lot of intervention to change. In choosing the location for the house, for example, it must be on level and strong soils so that the ground is more stable for the building stone footings (sandi). Remember the adage, sandi aman tiang selamat (strong footings, safer houses)

Rumah tuo, the old vernacular houses, have been proven to last for hundreds of years. We can use them as a reference for sustainable architecture principles from Indonesia. We can adopt the philosophy used to build the house to today’s modern buildings, not in terms of mass and shape, but the way rumah tuo responds to the natural environment and the user community.

(Rohilfa Riza, S. Ars, Directorate of Cultural Development and Utilization, Directorate General of Culture, MoECRT)