Well-known Types of Traditional Houses in Kalimantan

1. Longhouse (Betang):

• Ethnic Group: Dayak (various sub-ethnic groups)
• Characteristics: A very long communal house, which can reach tens to hundreds of meters in length. Inhabited by several families under one roof. It has a stilt form to avoid floods and wild animals. It has large pillars as support. There is a long main room and family compartments on its sides. Often decorated with distinctive Dayak carvings that have symbolic meanings.
• Philosophy: Reflects the communal life, unity, and strong kinship within the Dayak community.

2. Balai House:

• Ethnic Group: Dayak (especially in South Kalimantan)
• Characteristics: Similar to a longhouse but usually shorter and often functions as a place for traditional meetings, deliberations, or important ceremonies. It also has a stilt form and a distinctive architecture with carvings.

3. Lanting House:

• Ethnic Group: Banjar (South Kalimantan) and several other riverside communities
• Characteristics: A floating house built on bamboo or wooden rafts along the river. An adaptation to life on the riverbanks that often experience tides. The house structure is usually simple but functional.

4. Bubungan Tinggi House:

• Ethnic Group: Banjar (South Kalimantan)
• Characteristics: A stilt house with a very high and steep roof, which is a characteristic of traditional Banjar architecture. It has several room sections with different functions. The front part is usually more open and used for receiving guests. Decorated with beautiful carvings.
• Philosophy: The high roof shape is believed to symbolize social status and grandeur.

5. Lamin House:

• Ethnic Group: Dayak (especially in East Kalimantan)
• Characteristics: Similar to a longhouse, but usually larger and more magnificent. Often decorated with very detailed and symbolically rich carvings. It is the center of social and cultural life for the Dayak community in the region.

6. Traditional House of the Kutai Tribe:

• Ethnic Group: Kutai (East Kalimantan)
• Characteristics: Has distinctive Malay architecture with Islamic influences. Usually in the form of a stilt house with a roof that is not too high but has distinctive ornaments and carvings.

Materials and Construction:

Traditional Kalimantan houses are generally built using natural materials available in the surrounding area, such as wood (ulin wood, ironwood, meranti wood), bamboo, rattan, and leaves for the roof (nipa leaves, shingles). The construction techniques often use a joint system without iron nails, instead using wooden pegs or rattan ropes, which demonstrates a high level of traditional carpentry skills.

Changes and Preservation:

Along with the times and modernization, many traditional houses in Kalimantan have undergone changes or have even been replaced by modern buildings. However, efforts to preserve traditional houses continue to be carried out by various parties, both the government, indigenous communities, and individuals, as part of maintaining cultural heritage and local identity. Some traditional houses are now also used as cultural tourist attractions to introduce the architectural and cultural wealth of Kalimantan to the wider community.

The diversity of traditional houses in Kalimantan is evidence of human adaptation to the environment and a cultural richness that deserves to be preserved and appreciated.