Building design techniques to withstand seismic shocks and deflect falling debris
Location
Place : West Sumatra
Country : Indonesia
Region : South East Asia
Hazard
Primary : Earthquake
Typology of Heritage
Vernacular Built Heritage
Aspect of Disaster Management
Mitigation
Summary
In Indonesia, the Minangkabau people have invented a vernacular house design called rumah gadang, which features a saddle-shaped roof and a wooden frame that rests on stone piles. The roof is designed to deflect falling debris, while the frame can sway and slide on the piles during an earthquake, reducing damage and allowing easy relocation.