Traditional NTT Traditional Houses are quite diverse, from Lopo to Ume, check out their history, appeal and function below!
NTT Traditional House – Turning to the Eastern region of Indonesia, it turns out that East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) traditional houses have unique characteristics that will amaze you!
The variety of shapes and appearances appears to be a result of the lifestyle and demands of each tribe. There are Ende, Rote, Dawan, Belu, Antoni, Lamaholot, and so on.
Foreign tourists usually pay great attention when visiting NTT traditional houses. Can be used to study ancient cultures, photograph artifacts, or just clean your eyes.
For those who want to visit NTT, maybe you can learn first about various historical residences, to make it even more interesting. Please see the details below, keep reading!
About NTT Traditional Houses
NTT has a high level of ethnic and cultural diversity. As a result, traditional houses have architecture that is both rich and unusual. However, there are three roof styles that are most popular in various traditional NTT houses.
The Sumba tribe first created a type of Joglo-shaped roof. Both are cone-shaped and come from the indigenous Timorese tribe. Third, the Rote tribe has created an upside-down boat model. Its functions are very broad, ranging from daily life to traditional ceremonies.
Types of Traditional Houses in East Nusa Tenggara
For those who are interested in the various forms of traditional NTT traditional houses, please read the following review completely. Because a brief explanation will be provided, especially for several popular NTT traditional houses.
1. Lopo Traditional House
If in the past traditional NTT houses functioned as residences, then this one does not. The Lopo traditional house functions as a room for reflection and storage of agricultural products.
This building stands out because of its cone-shaped roof made of bamboo and reeds, supported by four pillars. The roof has about three levels, each of which has a specific function.
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2. Ume Kbubu Traditional House
Travela, a traditional NTT traditional house, has a unique shape. It displays the Traditional Ume Kbubu house.
How come? The roof is round, and its main role is as a home for the Dawan tribe in Timor. Even though the roof is round, the inside is separated into several rooms.
3. Sumba Traditional House
This traditional house is rectangular, without windows, and supported by four pillars. Apart from that, its characteristic is, high ceilings so it looks quite attractive.
It serves as a residence and place of traditional celebrations. In general, there are two types of these houses, Uma Bokulu and Uma Mbatangu.
4. Mbaru Niang Traditional House
The roof is extraordinarily high, cone-shaped and can reach 15 meters in height. The interior of this traditional NTT traditional house is separated into several parts, each with a different purpose.
The size is quite spacious and functional. The location is in the interior of Manggarai and there are only seven in the world.
5. Musalaki Traditional House
Travela, Musalaki traditional houses are as popular as previous traditional houses in NTT. The design is rectangular, and the roof resembles a towering boat sail.
Turns out this is the Heritage house Ende Lio tribe who is skilled at using a boat. It primarily serves as the home of the tribe's Leader. Apart from that, it can be used as a place for discussions, traditional ceremonies and other events.
What's the Attraction?
The roof is undoubtedly one of the most attractive features of many traditional NTT houses. Because it is made from natural materials, the shape looks unique.
The materials used are dry thatch, palm leaves covered with palm fiber, thatch, and so on. Apart from the raw material for the roof, the architecture of a number of houses in NTT also has distinctive characteristics.
The conical shape resembles a triangle or an upside-down boat, which is visually attractive and impressive. The color is rather plain, comes from dry natural materials such as brown or black.
Traditional residences in the NTT region are in the form of a stage. The form of one type is different from other types, one of the similarities is that there is a special place where offerings are made at certain times. Made from natural materials such as walls, floors and roofs.
Specifically, each type has different properties. For example, the Mbaru Niang traditional house. The shape is distinctive, resembling an inverted cone that rises high. There are Various Tiers, each with different functions.
The NTT Traditional House consists of three parts, Foundation, Floor and Roof. This applies to various types of Traditional houses. However, in the Mbaru Niang traditional house, the cone has several levels which are used for different reasons. Starting from a place to live, a place to store food, seeds, to offerings.
What about the history?
NTT Traditional Houses are very diverse, discussing them one by one will certainly take a long time. This time we will only discuss one that is famous, even internationally.
Mbaru Niang is a traditional house located in Wae Rebo, Manggarai Regency, NTT. This area is in the Interior and Preserves Traditional Family history.
The Mbaru Niang traditional house cannot survive without the Waerebo ancestor, Empo Maro. He originally arrived in Minangkabau then sailed to Labuan Bajo in Flores. He wandered from one place to another before landing in Waerebo.
Since 1920, many generations of Manggarai residents have kept Mbaru Niang's house as original as possible. In 2008, several residences were damaged, but were rebuilt with household foundations.
However, those carrying out the renovation are Wae Rebo residents, so its authenticity is maintained. Waerebo only has seven Mbaru Niang houses which will remain guarded.
This NTT Traditional Traditional House even received the Unesco Asia Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2012. This is the most prestigious award given to parties who protect cultural heritage.
Read other interesting information:
NTT Traditional Residential Function
Because traditional NTT houses are very diverse, they have many functions. For example, women in NTT use traditional dwellings called Ume Kbubu to cook or weave when their husbands are away.
Another example is the Musalaki traditional house, which is intended for tribal heads or elders of the Ende Lio tribe. Several other houses function as residences, places for traditional ceremonies, weddings, and even to display social status. Some are even used to store the remains of previous generations.
Various traditional activities or ceremonies take place in the NTT Traditional House. One of them is the Reba Traditional Ceremony which is an expression of gratitude to the people of Ngada Flores Island, NTT. Usually it is done once a year and has become a tradition.
The We'e Mbaru tradition that takes place before moving to a new house in Manggarai Regency is still carried out on Flores Island. It could also be a harvest-based thanksgiving ceremony known as the Ala Baloe Traditional Ceremony or Eating New Rice in Kab. Alor, NTT.
Of course, it is used not only for various Traditional ceremonies and traditions, but for weddings. The NTT Traditional House is currently used as a tourist attraction, a place to welcome Agung's guests, a museum and a storage place for various historical relics.
