Rumah

Rumah is the Indonesian and Malay word for a dwelling or home. In Indonesia, a rumah denotes the building used for residence and the space in which a family lives, sheltering occupants from the weather and providing rooms for sleeping, cooking, and everyday activities. The form of a rumah is influenced by climate, available materials, economic means, and cultural tradition. In urban areas, modern rumah are typically constructed from brick or concrete with tiled roofs and may include multiple rooms arranged around a central corridor or courtyard. In rural areas, traditional building methods often use timber or bamboo and may be raised on stilts to cope with humidity and flooding.

Across Indonesia, rumah adat are the traditional houses of different ethnic groups. Notable examples include the Rumah Gadang of the Minangkabau (large multiroom house with a distinctive horn-shaped roof), the Joglo of the Javanese (timber-framed house with a tall, multi-tiered roof), the Tongkonan of the Toraja (long, boat-shaped roof and carved ornamentation), and the Honai of Papua (small, dome-like thatched hut). These structures express social organization, ritual practices, and regional identity.

In contemporary policy and planning, housing development emphasizes safety, durability, and access to utilities, while traditional forms remain important for cultural heritage. The concept of home also encompasses ownership, occupancy, and social norms surrounding family life.