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Characteristics and Philosophical Values ??of the
The traditional house that is a symbol of tradition in Central Sulawesi is designed from the traditional house of the Kaili tribe. Why is it taken from the Kaili tribe, because its shape and philosophy can represent the cultures in Central Sulawesi. The Traditional House of Central Sulawesi / Central Sulawesi Province is inhabited by people from various tribes, ranging from the Kaili tribe, Bugis tribe, Pamona tribe, Gorontalo tribe, and so on.
Traditional House of Central Sulawesi Actually, there are 2 house designs that can be found in the Kaili tribe culture in Central Sulawesi, namely the Tambi house and the Souraja house. The Souraja house is a house specifically used by nobles and royal families, while the Tambi house is used by the Kaili community in general.
1. House Structure
The structure of the Tambi house is a stilt house with short supporting pillars that are no more than 1 meter high. There are 9 pillars and they are attached to each other with wooden beams that are doweled. The pillars support the floor and frame of the house by supporting the foundation in the form of large square stones at the bottom. The pillars that support the uprightness of this Central Sulawesi traditional house are generally made of bonati wood, a type of forest wood that has a strong texture and is resistant to decay. The pillars support the floor frame made of planks. The floor of the house itself is made of planks that are arranged close together. The average floor area is 5 meters x 7 meters.
The most unique thing about the Tambi house design is the construction of the roof. The roof of the Tambi house is in the shape of a prism with a small angle at the top so that it looks high and is able to shade all parts of the house. The roof, which is made of ijuk or rumbia leaves, extends downwards and functions as an outer wall. For access in and out of the house, there is one staircase and one entrance door at the front. On the stairs and door there are carvings with ethnic motifs of the Kaili tribe as decoration. In addition, stairs generally have an odd number of steps if the homeowner is a commoner, and an even number if the homeowner is a traditional elder.
2. Function of Traditional Houses
The Tambi traditional house today only functions as a cultural symbol for the people of Central Sulawesi Province. However, in the past, this traditional house also functioned as a residence for most of the Kaili tribe. Although it functions as a residence, this Central Sulawesi traditional house is not like other Indonesian traditional houses which are divided into special rooms. The interior of the Tambi house is not separated but only consists of 1 large multi-functional room. From the explanation above, we can conclude several characteristics of the Tambi house that distinguish it from other traditional houses in Indonesia.
The characteristics of this Central Sulawesi traditional house include:
- In the form of a stilt house with short pillars measuring
- Has a prism-shaped roof with a narrow angle at the top. This roof not only functions as a shade but also functions as a wall of the house.
- On the stairs, doors and walls there are ornaments in the form of carvings of typical Kaili tribe motifs such as pebaula carvings (buffalo heads) as a symbol of wealth and bati carvings (carvings in the form of buffalo, chicken and pig heads) as a symbol of prosperity and fertility.
To be more precise, the traditional Sulawesi house designed by the Kaili tribe consists of three rooms:
- The first is the front room (Lonta Karawana). This room functions as a living room. Because in the past there were no chairs, so this room was only spread out with mats (onysa).
- Next is the middle room (Lonta Tata Ugana). This is usually used as a place to receive guests who are still related.
- The last is the back room (Lonta Rorana). This room is used as a place to eat. The back corner of the room is usually used as a girl's room.
For the kitchen (avu) and toilet (bathroom) they are located separately from the house. So, usually another building will be built at the back of the house for the kitchen and toilet. The house and kitchen are usually connected by a covered bridge. The bridge is usually called a hambate. In Bugis language, the bridge is also called jongke. Wow, it turns out that official residences for nobles have existed since ancient times. Have any of you ever seen this house in person?
Well, that's a glimpse of the architecture of traditional Central Sulawesi houses and their explanations. Hopefully it can be useful and increase our love for the cultural heritage of our ancestors.
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