THE SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT OF TRANSFORMATION OF THE RUMOH ACEH Erna Meutia, ST.MT.1,a, Dr. Ir. Izziah Hasan, M.Sc1,b,* 1 Architecture Department, Engineering Faculty, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Indonesia E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] (Corresponding author) Abstract. The Traditional Acehnese house is one of the traditional dwellings with the wooden poles round that shaped stage called Rumoh Aceh. The dwelling can still be found in the outskirts of Banda Aceh and the villages in rural districts in the Aceh Province. Lubok Sukun Village, which is located on the outskirts of Banda Aceh, is a village that still retains a traditional settlement village, namely Rumoh Aceh. Nevertheless, the procedures for daily life, people prefer to a modern life, which has an impact on changes in Rumoh Aceh. The socio-cultural factor is one of the factors that have changed the pattern of rumoh Aceh in Lubuk Sukun Village so that formed the typology of rumoh Aceh on the current context. This condition makes Rumoh Aceh have an adaptive concept of housing in accordance with cultural development. This study was conducted to examine how socio- cultural impact affected the development of Rumoh Aceh at this time. This research method used descriptive qualitative method. The data collected in the form of observations and interviews were conducted to discuss the socio-cultural development that caused the transformation of the rumoh Aceh, and it can reveal how the formed patterns changing of the rumoh Aceh in the Lubuk Sukun village. Keywords: The Socio-Cultural, Transformation, Rumoh Aceh, Impact, shape 1. Introduction The formation of traditional architecture cannot be separated from society wisdom in responding the local geographical conditions and culture that flourished in the community. The local geographical and cultural conditions greatly influence the formation process and the building method. Rapopot (1969), The architectural formation is influenced by socio-cultural factors, such as climate factors, the availability of local materials, the technology used at that time. Roxana Waterson (1993) also studies that the influence of nature, location and geography as well as human behavior impact the traditional houses forms. The Traditional Acehnese house is one of the works of architecture that emerged from the cultural and local knowledge. This building has a function, shape, decoration, structure, and how to build it from generation to generation. Traditional House of Aceh is a house built on round wooden poles that shaped the stage. The building orientation extends to the East-West direction. The Roof coverings using sago palm leaves. Carvings decorate each part of the walls and gables. The building construction does not use the nails to connect each element that formed the structure of rumoh Aceh. SIMPORA X PROCEEDING ISSN NO: 978-967-5741-XXXX Page no SEPTEMBER 2019 The building form and construction methods that used in rumoh Aceh indicated the rules that apply in the formation of the traditional architecture. The Acehnese Houses which are in the Aceh settlement are able withstand to the earthquakes and floods that often occur in Aceh (Hugronje, 1985), especially in the Banda Aceh area (called Kutaradja) and Aceh Besar. Geographically, the location of Banda Aceh city was in the mouth of the Krueng Aceh River, which was frequently flooded, and swampy areas (lombard, 2006). The shape and the construction of rumoh Aceh are able to provide the geographical problem that the location and condition of the Banda Aceh city often occurs the floods and the earthquakes. Architecture development is inseparable of the influences of the Acehnese traditional cultural and traditions that live in the community. To find out how the development of the Acehnese Architecture Traditional, especially Rumoh Aceh, this study will refer to the history and cultural traditions of the Acehnese people that is an acculturation of the Malay, Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern regions. As explained by Hasan, I (2010) who examined how a dialogical frame of socio-cultural processes had affected the built environment of Aceh. a diversity of influences that has shaped Acehnese history, conditioned the Acehnese society, and created a unique urban environment. which is shown by showing the cross-cultural interactions between indigenous people and foreigners that also contribute to the shaping of the Acehnese identity. Similarly to the development of rumoh Aceh affected by the socio-cultural at the time that contribute the patterns changes of rumoh Aceh. The modernization has changed the people's choice of their occupancy from rumoh Aceh to modern houses. As explained by Peter J.M. on his script "Ethnic Identity in Urban Architecture: Generation of Architects in Banda Aceh," published in Indonesian Houses: Tradition and Transformation in Vernacular Architecture. This study reveals the reason of rumoh Aceh began to left out, the first, the timber of the construction materials required are too expensive, the second is related to daily activities in rumoh Aceh which are not practical, which should step up and down and to do the activities inside and outside (Nas, 2001). Furthermore Nas (2001) describes the modern house is considered more convenient for daily living. More over, people living in rumoh Aceh are associated with backwardness and poverty, especially in the context of the Big City. Lubuk Sukun Village, located in the outer part of Banda Aceh City, is a village that still maintains the traditional settlement. This village has a settlement and a residential pattern that contains the local cultural values. Most of the people in the lubuk sukun village was still occupied rumoh Aceh that they have as inheritance. Modernization has changed the traditional life of Aceh. The Timber price is very expensive and the thatched roof is increasingly difficult to find which has the impact on the changing use of these materials. Meanwhile, in terms of cultural change, local people in modern times tend to choose practical ways of life that have an impact on changes in the housing. In recent years, the economic development and social-cultural changes in society caused a shift towards traditional values that have an impact on the occupancy patterns of the local community. J. Nas in Hasan, I (2004) explains that the changes of social values among the Acehnese have stimulated them to move away from tradition yet to appeal for a modern built environment adorned with traditional forms. How to realize the Aceh Rumoh that is adaptive to the needs Acehnese people is a challenge that needs to be realized to preserve Rumoh Aceh as an identity and to enrich the of modern Acehnese architecture variety. Therefore it is necessary to do the study on how the socio-cultural impact that shaped Rumoh Aceh patterns that are developing at this time in Lubuk Sukun the village. The socio- cultural factors are among the factors that change the pattern of rumoh Aceh in Lubuk Sukun village, that shaped the typology rumoh Aceh in the present context. This condition makes rumoh Aceh have an adaptive residential concept in according to the cultural development. 2. The Acehnese Traditional Architecture: Rumoh Aceh Rumoh Aceh as one of the Acehnese traditional architecture has a simple shape. Several studies on Traditional Acehnese house as described by Hadjad (1982), Smith (1997), Dall (1982), Leigh (1989) hasan, I (2009), and Meutia (2015) which examines the concept, form, philosophy and the construction. SIMPORA X PROCEEDING ISSN NO: 978-967-5741-XXXX Page no SEPTEMBER 2019 Smith in "Aceh: Art and Culture" describes the shape of rumoh Aceh which is influenced by the natural conditions of the Aceh region. Rumoh Aceh was built from hardwood with a thatched roof. It raised on the poles to avoid flooding in the rainy season and provide air flow through the underneath. Fig. 1 Rumah Aceh: Building structure, three-dimensional form and Motif Carving on Gable The Airflow is also going through the carvings found on gable called tulak angen placed in the east and the west and also going through the underneath to the floor on the stage. Rumoh Aceh was built on columns whit the number of coloumn 12-16 main coloumn, each about up to 3 meters. The columns are placed freely to absorb storm-related landslides, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. hasan, I (2009), in "Architecture and the Politic of Indonesia: Astudy of Cultural History of Aceh" explains the shape of the Aceh House Based on the notes from Peter Mundy, a traveler from the west who described how the shape of the house Aceh people's homes in the 17th century. Mundy described the house as an enclosed wooden structure, with frames and posts built of wood, walls of mat or bamboo, and roof covering of thatch. The house was raised on a poles of about eight feet in height, with a free passage underneath it. Fig. 2 An Traditional Acehnese house, sketched by Peter Mundy in the seventeenth century Furthermore, Hasan, I (2007), explained Mundy's records related to the Acehnese Houses concepts which are in according to the climatic and the Aceh's poor geography conditions. The floor was made of bamboo or timber slats spaced at certain intervals. The floor construction allowed cooling breezes to pass underneath while it keeps the dwelling high enough to avoid flooding during the rainy season. Its position at the mouth of a river has resulted in a sequence of major and minor floods, which has been recorded in the notes of several travelers who came to Banda Aceh. Related to this, the shape of the house on stilts was built because the river water often overflowed when it was high tide or heavy SIMPORA X PROCEEDING ISSN NO: 978-967-5741-XXXX Page no SEPTEMBER 2019 rain.