LivaS: International Journal on Livable Space Vol. 02, No. 1, February 2017 : 15-24 ISSN : 2548-7515 (online) Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.25105/livas.v2i1.3834 LOCAL WISDOM OF STRUCTURE AND BUILDING SYSTEM TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE IN RESPONDING TO NATURE Parmonangan Manurung Lecturer, Department of Architecture Faculty of Architecture and Design, Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana, Indonesia email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Indonesia which can be further divided Traditional architecture was built on a into several customs, which each of tradition inherited from one generation to them has its own house and bring the next. As a country which has hundreds of tribes, Indonesia has Indonesia as a country which has hundreds of traditional architecture hundreds of diverse customary houses. designed by the ancestors to fulfill the function as well as responding to natural On the other hand, Mangunwijaya (1992) context. The aim of this research is to said that the concept of architecture of find out how the structural and building system traditional architecture in this the archipelago is the adjustment and country respond its natural conditions as the tunings with nature. the context. The method used is qualitative descriptive with the analysis The diversity of geographic condition, of some traditional architecture which have been visited and conducted a culture and social backgrounds produces theory review. The results showed that diversity of architecture in Indonesia. the traditional architecture in Indonesia had been designed to respond to nature Natural and cultural richness brought as context. From the discussion, it can architectural diversity of this country. The be concluded that traditional architecture in each region has an approach in land that stretches from west to east has aligning themselves with nature as a variety of traditional architecture, with context. its diversity in shape and structure Keywords: Local wisdom, traditional system. Differences in geographical architecture, earthquake, climate, context. conditions produce different designs in response to site conditions. As the site INTRODUCTION conditions, climatic and environmental conditions play a role in providing a Indonesia is an archipelago which has a diversity of architecture in the very diverse geography. Geographic archipelago because of traditional conditions in Indonesia produces natural architecture has a role in responding the conditions which are different from one nature and the environment. another, including culture, and ethnicity. According to Ronald (2002:5) there are This study aims to find out how the traditional architecture in Indonesia more than three hundred tribes in [15] LivaS: International Journal on Livable Space Parmonangan Manurung responds its natural conditions as the areas will be different when compared to context through building structure the hot and humid regions. This affects structures and building systems design. the design of the roof and openings in In order to achieve these objectives, order to response natural light and qualitative research methods had been thermal comfort. Rudofsky (1965:1) used. Meanwhile, to enrich the data and describes vernacular architecture as the analysis, some previous field "architecture without architects". In other observations, brief interviews, and words Rudofsky want to show that literature review were also employed. In vernacular architecture is not influenced the field observations, visual condition by trends or particular style but oriented data were collected using a camera to to the needs and potential of nature as record the traditional architecture the context. It can be concluded that the conditions including its structure and local wisdom of our ancestors is wisdom building systems. The analysis is done in dealing with nature as context by comparing the data obtained in the resulting architectural design that can field with a literature study to get a address the needs of the building and in conclusion. harmony with nature. LITERATURE REVIEW DISCUSSION Traditional houses in Indonesia were There are four basic elements of a built by the ancestors of Indonesia, also building; building structure, building noticed the natural environment as a systems, building services, and building context. And behold how each of the management (So and Chan, 1999). building work is an attempt to bring the Building services and building Universe (Mangunwijaya, 1992). Management are two elements of Traditional architecture designed by the buildings that are more common in ancestors of Indonesia to respond to its modern buildings. Meanwhile, traditional context and resolved by utilizing local building has been considering the potential. This explains how humans try structure and building systems in its to establish a relationship with nature architectural design. Based on these and create harmony in presenting the considerations, the discussion in this building or architectural work. According paper will be limited to study of the to Lechner (2015), the reasons of structural and building systems that are differences in the architectural design of used by some of the traditional each region are a response to the architecture in Indonesia. The selection climate. Design buildings in hot and dry of cases is done by considering the [16] Vol. 02, No. 1, February 2017 : 15-24 Local Wisdom Of Structure And Building System Traditional Architecture In Responding To Nature geographical conditions where the traditional houses that are geographically traditional architecture is located. Some situated on the ring of fire. For instance, traditional architecture located in islands how is a traditional house solving the which are prone to earthquakes such as problems caused by earthquakes? Field Nias Island, Java Island and Sulawesi observations showed that Nias traditional Islands (as shown by Figure 1.) have house is located on the south side of the been chosen. Meanwhile, to analyze the island of Sumatra; it is also called as system of the building, some of Omo Hada. This house has some traditional architecture that consider diagonal column known (called as V- natural ventilation and natural lighting Shape) and play a role as a structure systems in its design have been selected system to resist lateral forces caused by as a case study. the earthquake. V-Shape structure system is able to withstand lateral forces 1.1. Responding to Earthquake during an earthquake occurs so that the Indonesia is a country which is prone to building can remain stable. The natural disasters because it is located connection between the columns and around of the ring of fire (Wijayanto, beams are not using nails, causing 2016).This condition makes Indonesia is buildings can be moved dynamically to prone to earthquakes, especially for the rhythm of the earthquake. islands located in the ring of fire. Figure Meanwhile, according to Pudjisuryadi, et. 1 shows the earthquake zone map al. (2007), Nias traditional houses (Omo indicating areas in Indonesia, which is Hada) were able to resist an earthquake prone to earthquakes. Sumatra measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale (especially Nias Island), Java Island and without any damage, while modern Sulawesi Island are vulnerable to buildings are located in the same area earthquakes. Therefore, traditional have collapsed. Results of research architecture that is located in these areas conducted by Pudjisuryadi, et. al. (2007) has been chosen as a case study. showed that Omo hada has a very stable Although they were situated in locations structure system. The foundation system that are vulnerable to earthquakes, the as a base isolation has ability to reduce traditional architecture of those areas the internal forces as well. has capability to respond the earthquake impact through their design approach. Our ancestors have responded to these conditions by the design approach of their traditional architecture, especially [17] LivaS: International Journal on Livable Space Parmonangan Manurung Figure 1. Indonesian Earthquake Zoning Map. (Source: http://www.pu.go.id) Besides the Nias Island, Java Island also shows that local knowledge of our has the risk of earthquake. Therefore, ancestors is a problem solving in the traditional architecture in Java Island responding to earthquakes. The design is one of the works of architecture that approach they have done has resulted in responds earthquake through its the design of buildings that can respond structural design. Prihatmaji (2007) in his to lateral forces are generated. research found that the structure of the On Sulawesi Island, one of the most Java traditional house (called Joglo) is famous and very unique traditional capable to withstand earthquake forces architecture on this island is Tongkonan. zone 3. The structural factors of this This traditional house of Toraja people traditional house has capability to has an interesting shape with its soaring withstand vibration earthquake forces roof. The main building material is wood, through a ductility of soko guru (main while the roof cover material used either vertical structure system) wood, bamboo or stone. Toraja is located in an construction quality of the connection, earthquake prone area so that the and the proportion of the length-width- shape, material and structural system of height rong-rongan. Prihatmaji also the Tongkonan is designed to respond to recommends that the use of traditional these conditions. The system structure Javanese house at present considered has similarities with other