Portal:Indonesia/POTW/36, 2006



The rumah gadang (Minangkabau, "big house") is the traditional house (Indonesian: "rumah adat") of the Minangkabau. A rumah gadang is a long house, and the roof of the building curves upwards at each end to form horn like shapes. With the Minangkabau society being matrilineal, the rumah gadang is owned by the women of the family who live there - ownership is passed from mother to daughter. One of the larger examples of the Rumah Gadang architectural style is the Pagaruyung Palace near Batusangkar.

Photo credit: Michael J. Lowe