A Study on the Form and Culture of Traditional House in Southeast Asia

동남아시아 전통주거 형태와 문화에 관한 연구

Traditional pile-buildings in Southeast Asia has high utility. Their floors are lifted above the ground to stave off humidity in the house, increase the amenity and hygienic condition, fend off fierce animals or harmful animals like rat, and protect the house from being submerged in flood waters. Such traditional pile-buildings have Austronesian saddle-backed roof commonly, and are built through various techniques such as joining and mortising, without use of nails. The roof has a considerably large proportional appearance, and for this formal characteristics, the roof is symbolized as boat on occasions. The roof has dual structures or is lifted in some cases to facilitate the ventilation, and the wall is formed to maximize the ventilation. This housing types the hierarchy of foundation, housing space, and roof, which implies religious symbolism that human is above animal and God is above human. However, housing types in Southeast Asia have very different detailed form and culture, depending on the ethnic and religious characteristics. As explained above, this study examines the common aspects and diversity based on the form and culture of traditional housing of Southeast Asia and provides useful basic academic data.