Thursday, March 28, 2024 | 19:01 WIB

Getting to know Rumah Gadang, quake resistant house born of local wisdom

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Jakarta, IO – Minangkabau’s Rumag is proof that the ancestors had innovative thoughts when designing a house that suits the geography of West Sumatra.

The province has a number of active volcanoes and plates that can cause earthquakes at any time. Therefore, like a ship following the waves, the gadang is built to be earthquake resistant.

This is because the foundation is not embedded in the ground, but is on the surface. Quality wood is placed on a flat stone which makes it flexible, unlike houses built on concrete foundation.

In addition, Rumah Gadang does not use any nails. It uses pegs instead, reported Detik Travel, Thursday (6/4).

Read: Exploring Jakarta’s Old Town

These pegs make it strong and will not collapse when an earthquake strikes. Pegs and pillars will support each other and absorb the tremor during earthquake. The merit of this method can be seen in Gadang Balai Nan Duo House, which has been standing for hundreds of years and is still standing strong today. (bp)

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