garasi

Garasi is a term used in Indonesian and Malay to describe a building or part of a building designated for storing vehicles, especially automobiles. The word is borrowed from the English garage and has become the standard term in everyday use, often adapted to local pronunciation and spelling.

In practice, a garasi can be an enclosed room with a door or gate, or a covered but open-sided carport. It may be attached to a house or exist as a standalone structure near the residence. The size and configuration vary widely, from a single parking bay to a multi-vehicle facility. Common features include a vehicle access door (such as a roller or hinged door), a driveway or paved approach, lighting, drainage, and, in some cases, space for basic maintenance or storage.

Variations and related terms are used to distinguish function and privacy. Private garasi typically refers to a residence’s own parking space, while garasi umum or public garasi denotes a parking or maintenance facility open to others. The term bengkel refers to a workshop or repair shop, and gudang denotes a warehouse or storage space; these terms describe functions that may be adjacent to or separate from a garasi.

Culturally and practically, the presence of a garasi influences house design, urban planning, and traffic patterns, with considerations such as access, ventilation, fire safety, and drainage affecting construction and use. The concept parallels the broader idea of a private or commercial parking and vehicle storage space found in many regions. See also: garage, carport.