Minangkabau Traditional House

Rumah Gadang or Rumah Godang is the name for Minangkabau traditional house which is a traditional house and many in meet in the province of West Sumatra, Indonesia. This house is also called by another name by the local community by the name of Rumah Bagonjong or there is also a mention with the name Rumah Baanjuang.

Rumah Gadang, in addition to being a residence, can also serve as a place of family deliberation, a place to hold ceremonies, inheritance of customary values, and is a representation of matrilineal culture. Rumah Gadang is very glorified and even viewed as a sacred place by Minangkabau society. The high status of Gadang homes also breeds a variety of manners. Everyone who wants to climb to Gadang's house must first wash his feet.

The shape of Gadang's own house can be likened to the shape of a ship. Small on the bottom and big on top. The shape of the roof has a curved up, about half a circle, and comes from the leaves of Rumbia (nipah). The shape resembles a buffalo horn with four or six arches, with one arch toward the front of the house.

However, not all areas in Minangkabau (darek) that may be established this traditional house, only in areas that already have the status as nagari alone Rumah Gadang can be established. Likewise in the area called the rantau, this traditional house was also formerly not established by the Minangkabau migrants.