Nurhayatu Nufut

Alimin

PhD project title: The Architecture of the Rumah Gadang of Minangkabau Indigenous culture: Continuity, Change, and Hybridities

Rumah Gadang, the traditional house of the Minangkabau people in West Sumatra, is an important Indonesian cultural heritage that embodies a unique matrilineal social system in which lineage and property are inherited through the maternal line. Despite its cultural significance, research on Rumah Gadang remains fragmented. Meanwhile, the adaptation of Rumah Gadang into contemporary architecture has been widely criticized, as many buildings seen as imitation or fake vernacular buildings, inauthentic replicas of the supposedly “real” (asli) traditional ones.

Moreover, Minangkabau culture is inherently dynamic and hybrid, shaped by the interaction of indigenous custom, Islamic values, colonial influences, and the tradition of “merantau” (migration). This hybridities is reflected in Rumah Gadang, where transformations in typology, spatial organization, materials, functions, privacy, and gender roles demonstrate continuous cultural negotiation. 

The research examines the historical continuity, changes and hybridities of the Rumah Gadang from the pre-Islamic period to the present. This study employs a multidimensional historiographical approach supported by critical heritage. Data will be collected through archival research and fieldwork in Indonesia and in the Netherlands. By reconstructing the historical development of Rumah Gadang, this study aims to provide a comprehensive reference for heritage conservation; to understand how and why the continuity and change happened during certain periods; and to help architects and designers in balancing preservation and adaptation within contemporary vernacular architecture.