Introduction
Balinese ancient buildings are the harmonization of nature, spirit & culture Arguably, the hero of the story, bamboo is an eco-saver and multi-purpose plant but it does not have a solo line-up. This bamboo house is a forest of raw materials selected with respect for their structural, climatic and spiritual characteristics. The latter materials narrate the story of how these ancient buildings have held out in an earthquake-, moisture- and volcano-riddled tropical climate. In this article, we’ll discuss the forest of materials that Balinese have used to complement bamboo.
Traditional Roofing: Alang-Alang Thatch
The wild grass is found in the hills and is now the signature black roofs of the region. Together with bamboo, alang-alang is a light but water-tight roof that is rain-proof and ventilated. The grass’s oils also keep out insects and it’s renewable, like bamboo. Alang-alang in a traditional bamboo house in bali Indonesia is the rain and sun hat that protects the structure from rain and sun, and prolongs its life.
Coconut Wood: An Ally
Also very affordable bamboo is combined with “kayuke rupa” (also called coconut palm wood). Coconut wood offers solid wood that is ideal for door and window jambs, columns and other structural elements that require to be STRONG. Bali’s wood artisans know that coconut wood is resistant to termites because of the salt content, which can be found in any bamboo house in Bali. Get it from coconut farms, so coconut wood is sustainable. The bamboo stalk colour is more of a light greenish-brown and the dark colour of the coconut wood also adds to the.
Andesite: Volcanic Stone
Bali’s volcanoes produce a grey-blue volcanic stone, andesite, used as the permanent base of buildings. Bamboo, which will decay in contact with damp soil, is raised. Volcanic stone blocks, or “batu candi” also form temple gates, and offering tables, and courtyard floors. The stone’s heat store capacity cools the house during the day, and warms it up at night. All permanent bamboo houses in bali indonesia are built on this volcanic foundation, raising the walls to prevent them from being damaged by ground water, and creating a solid foundation, not easily moved by earthquakes.
Red Brick and Clay: Breathable Walls
Kitchen and bedroom walls are constructed with red bricks sun-dried or low-fired from nearby clayey soils. Brick walls are more private, protective and fire-resistant than the semi-permeable wall panels of the bamboo structure, critical in the kitchen. Using clay mortars with rice husks in Bali, the brick wall becomes ‘flexible’ during an earthquake. They are not fired (vitrified) so they absorb water.
Teak and Mahogany: For the Best
Balinese builders use teak and mahogany for prestige buildings, such as family temples or guesthouses (bale dangin)”. Secondary beams and wall panelling are made of bamboo, but teak is carved to produce beautiful door leaves and shutters, or long-lasting ceremonial furnishings. Hardwoods’ oils are water-resistant, even without preservatives. Hardwoods have more surface area to secure bamboos, and pegs and wedges can be driven deeper than in softwoods.
Coral Stone: Ocean Inspirations for Temple-Side Homes
Instead of volcanic stone in southern Bali, you get coral stone (batu karang). The fossilised reef is a porous limestone that is lightweight and can be carved into elaborate reliefs. The corrosive property of coral stone drives termites and fungi away, as a result, protecting neighboring bamboo members. However, it is soft enough that it could only be used as non-load bearing walls, shrines and pools.
Natural Ropes and Rattan: Gluing the Bamboo Joints
Previously, all Balinese bamboo joints used natural rope and rattan cane. Rattan is a climbing palm plant that twists into soft, but durable rope to bind bamboo joints. As it dries, rattan rope shrinks to create an almost invincible joint, superior to nails in quakes. And occasionally young bamboos are peeled for flexible ties for temporary scaffolding. These joints are the basis of the construction system of bali indonesia’s bamboo houses, which can be replaced while keeping the walls standing.
Mud and Plaster: Coatings for Comfort
Bamboo houses are sometimes filled in with a mud consisting of clay, straw and cow dung. Flat pack is cheap and easy to produce at home, fills hollows and gaps in the walls, prevents draughts filling those tiny holes often left open by bamboos light frame housing providing thermal mass. The cow dung is a glue and deters bugs; the straw will prevent cracks. And in cooler climates, the mud plaster makes a warm bed chamber in a lightweight frame.
Conclusion
The Balinese house demonstrates material harmonies, which uses not only bamboo, but also thatch, stone, wood, fibre and soil. The complementary material overcomes specific weaknesses of bamboo against humidity, fire, insects and ground contact, and provides solutions to the ecological and spiritual restrictions of the island. This integrated approach has allowed the bali indonesia bamboo house to stand for more than 1000 years, and can teach architects a thing or two about sustainable design. In search of new building materials for the future, architects can look to these traditional material combinations, more so than steel and concrete.
