North Nias Villages
Traditional villages in the northern part of Nias consist either of groups of 6 to 12 oval houses, which are being oriented longitudinal-side towards the street, or single cottages far away from each other, also in oval shape.
In former times the settlements where fortified with fences of bamboo or with an earth walls overgrown with trees. In front of the houses traditionally megaliths are placed. These stones symbolize the connection between the living and the dead. They reflect the social status of the house owner. Nias is famous for its megalith culture, culminating in the elaborate pieces of South Nias. The houses were entered from the village square, through a bottom flap underneath the house. A staircase has replaced this entrance or a front porch as this defensive preparation is not needed any longer.
The situation of the settlements was very well adapted to the environmental conditions. Some villages in Middle Nias are situated in valleys along rivers. The villages in South Nias are on high ground, mostly on top of a hill, with excellent views and easy to protect.
The orientation of the main axis depends on the main direction of the surrounding topography, as is clearly visible on the satellite image.
Fig. 1: North Nias settlement, Onolimbu
Central Nias Villages
Settlements in Central Nias are with scattered single buildings or combined houses. Although the settlement history of Nias has its roots in Central Nias nowadays the architecture of this region appears as a hybrid of northern and southern styles. Like in the villages of North Nias the settlements are a collective of single buildings. But different from the North the houses can be combined and are situated with their eaves facing the village square. This orientation and the rectangular floor plan are also found in the South Nias villages. The space in front of the houses is paved with stones and is used for drying agricultural products or laundry. Stairs and steps are used to define spatial relations. Interestingly the combination of two Middle Nias houses can happen in two variations: sharing a common entrance-space in between (South Nias variation), or standing closely together and thus having two separate entrances on the sides.
Fig. 2: Middle Nias house, Gomo area
Characteristic features of the architecture in Central Nias are decoration and ornamental art. At the fronts samples and animal representations serve as protection for the house and its inhabitants. Other symbols inform about the conditions of the family regarding fertility, for example the number of women living in the house.
South Nias Villages
South Nias is famous for the traditional rowhouse - settlements. Villages in South Nias are situated on hills and are named after their location. In the past, when warfare and headhunting raids were endemic, an outer palisade of sharpened bamboo stakes fortified the village with a deep ditch behind.
The settlements can consist of several hundred dwellings arranged on either side of paved street, which may be up to 100 meters long. The basic linear street pattern can be enlarged to Tor L shaped configuration.
Fig. 3: Village of Orahili, South Nias
The layout of these villages reflects the structure of the nias society. One village was the settlement of one clan. People lived together on a very narrow space, under constant social control.
Due to the elevated sites of the villages they have to be entered by grand stone staircases forming the beginnings of the streets. The entrance situation is always accentuated, impressive stair cases are flanked by symbolic protective animals, lizards.
The stability of the site is required for any earthquake proof building. On our field trip we found that all of the old village cores are built on exceptional good ground. The stability can vary locally to a high degree. Just in very few cases topographic situations were not considered thoughtfully like in the village of Siwalawa, where the earthquake has triggered a big landslide, breaking away the new village extension just beside the staircase of the old settlement entrance.
Fig. 4: Hiliamaeta, South Nias
The settlements can consist of several hundred dwellings arranged on either side of paved street, which may be up to 100 meters long. The basic linear street pattern can be enlarged to Tor L shaped configuration. The form of these villages reflects the structure of the Nias society. One village was the settlement of one clan. People lived together on a very narrow space, under constant control.
Between two coupled houses covered entrance terraces are shared by pairs of adjacent households. Neighbouring houses are also connected with doors to provide escape routes, which were needed in the past.
The houses have a public room in front and sleeping rooms in the back. The front room is lighted by an opening, which is stretching over the whole street facade and is secured by a wooden grid. Like in the north the furniture is sparse. Constructive elements of the cantilevered front façade create different floor levels in the interior space, being used as benches and for storage purposes.
The standard typology of the South Nias house is a rectangular shaped elevated row house construction oriented with the eaves towards the street. The substructure is made of 4 rows of strong pillars (Ehomo), reaching from ground to first level. Diagonal posts like in North-Nias houses support them. But on the contrary to this typology here the v-shaped columns are situated at the very front, acting as support and as representative element. Again, all house posts rest on foundation stones on one hand to prevent them from rotting and on the other hand to make the construction as a whole more flexible. The space created beneath the house is used for storage and as a stable.
In contrast to the "normal" houses the houses of the chief are entered from below over a staircase. The house of the chief was usually the largest structure and is located at the centre of the village. Beside it there used to be a meeting house, called bale. In some cases more than one Omo Sebua existed.
Due to the change in society only four Omo Sebua still exist in Nias. The loss of these structures is usually followed by a fast decline of the traditional architecture of the village. To keep the structures alive, a new function would have to be found.
Meeting places are still very important in the villages and are frequently used for village gatherings. The traditional building type of the meetinghouses (Osali) has not survived (Schröder 1917), but modern meetinghouses are common and situated in the centre of the village. The traditional stone benches in front of the Omo Sebua are still used for village meetings.
Fig. 5: Centre of Hilinawalo Fau, South Nias
All parts of the settlement spaces form a hierarchy that refers to the transition from private to public. The most private part is on the backside of the house. The living room is in front. Between two coupled houses covered entrance terraces are shared by pairs of adjacent households. Neighbouring houses are also connected with doors to provide escape routes, which were needed in the past. In the covered area in front of the houses along the street semi-public space is used for working, socialising and for transition. A drainage gutter defines the border. The following area towards the street is reserved for the megaliths as representation space. This zone is called “wall of stones” (oli batu) and indicates the rank of the householders.
The megaliths are a kind of petrified model of the social hierarchy and feasts of merit. The stones are classified by gender, and come in a variety of forms, which include menhirs, benches and circular seats.
The space between the öli batu and the public walkway in the middle belongs to the respective house and has to be maintained by the owner. It can be used for drying agricultural products or laundry. In the case of the catastrophe, which caused heavy damage to the houses, the space is used for temporary shelters. The only real public space is the narrow walkway.
The space between the öli batu and the public walkway in the middle belongs to the respective house and has to be maintained by the owner. It can be used for drying agricultural products or laundry. In the case of the catastrophe, which caused heavy damage to the houses, the space is used for temporary shelters. The only real public space is the narrow walkway.
Because of the remoteness of the villages in the south help has not yet reached most places. The lack of building material prolongates the situation. People don’t have the resources for the maintenance of the houses any longer. Bad maintenance is the main reason for damage of traditional houses.
Fig. 6: Hilinawalo Mazino, South Nias
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