Showing posts with label Vernacular. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vernacular. Show all posts

Friday, 29 December 2017

Tongkonan Indigenous Architecture

In today's post I'm sharing about a literature review done for a vernacular architecture in Indonesia. Here I've included a post presentation that compares the responsive and resilient features of the identified building.

Why Vernacular Architecture?
Vernacular Architecture is more challenging than any other field as it not only considers the technology associated with construction but also the local traditions and needs are answered in the most ingenuous and functional way.

An overview of Tongkonan
Tongkonan, is an indigenous house in the South Sulawesi island of Indonesia. The topography of Indonesia makes the place vulnerable to various hazardous situations such as flooding and earthquakes. The study area is in Indonesia, an archipelago, with a population of more than 230 million of which the majority of population depends on the local ecosystem's resources for survival. Tongkonan is a traditional house of Toraja District in Southern part of Sulawesi Island.

The climate of South Sulawesi is majorly classified as Af (Equatorial Climate - Rainforest) by the Köppen-Geiger system. The southern part of Sulawesi is characterised by humid tropical climate with constant temperature and the seasons are differentiated by the amount of rainfall received. The Tana Toroja regency covers an area of 3205km2 located in South Sulawesi, Indonesia and is located approximately 300-600m above sea level. The Torojan people are known for their culture and tradition. As their place was isolated for a long period of time by natural barriers they have practiced what they had inherent in them.




Resilient and responsive features in the case of Tongkonan

An architectural solution that facilitates the rational functioning of eco system is needed for the local people and built environment to be resilient and responsive during unexpected challenges and vulnerable scenarios. The characteristics of the built environment may be influenced by the environmental and cultural factors. Here an identification of the spatial and structural features is carried out to review their responsiveness to contextual climate and resilience during vulnerable scenarios. This helps in relative classification of resilience and responsiveness and also the to see the extend of its influence over the comfort parameters and structural stability.



Friday, 10 March 2017

Vernacular SEA (South East Asia) - Major Elements and Technology


This post will give you an overview of the major elements and component considered in the study of vernacular architecture. Some of the parameters are listed below and the same are considered for reviewing indigenous responsive and resilient architectural features in the upcoming posts; (Review 1 - Tongkonan). 

Technology



  • Materials - Use of locally available materials Well adapted to local environment
  • Joining, pegging, wedging/binding and mortising most significant in roof construction
  • The superstructure mainly consists of prefabricated screens attached to structural components.
  • Post/Columns are used as load bearing components.

  • Wall - Not a priority instead screens are used. Non load bearing walls
  • Wood - Hardwood (Teak, Cengal) is used. Bamboo is also used for temporary buildings
  • Roofing - Palm leaf and grass thatching
  • Foundation - Raised platform. Varies across region; Some are built directly on ground. Low pile foundations are used in west Java. Raised floor is effectively used in Thailand.

Components/Region; Example.



Region
Component
Description
Example
Toba Batak Village - Indonesia
Roof
Saddle backed roof

Extended ridge and
sloping gable

Toba House
North Sumatra - Indonesia
Roof
(Batak Architecture)
Saddle backed roof
Different variations
Karo batak
North Sumatra
 
Tana Toraja South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Foundation
Stand on high piles
Traditional Torajan ancestral houses.

Tongkonan
Roof
Layered split bamboo
Curved arc shape.
Tongkonan means ‘to sit’.
Tongkonan Layuk, Tongkonan pekamberan.



Proprofs; Vernacular Architecture Quiz

Proprofs; Vernacular Architecture Quiz
Lets try this quiz below


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