INDONESIA | Monday, 25 April 2011 | Views [890]
Rumah Gadang Datuak Temenggong
Though similar, the architecture is different from Rumah Gadang Datuak Perpatih. The two ends 'anjung' of Datuak Temenggong's house are slightly elevated whereas for Datuak Perpatih's (prominent architecture in N. Sembilan, Malaysia) is level.
The four little huts in front of the house are for paddy storage. The first two huts have 4 pillar each. The third hut has 6 pillars and the last hut has 9 pillars. Paddy in stored in each hut is for different usage. The first is for feast (or "kenduri"), the second is daily use, the third is for donation ("sedekah fakir miskin"). The last one is for development of the village - to be sold and the proceed are to be used for building amenities such as roads, etc.
The storage are purposely built away from the main house. In case of fire broke out and burn down the main house, the family wouldn't go hungry as the paddy is stored away. It could also be sold and capital could be raised to build new house. As a fellow traveler remarked, that's what modern society call 'good risk management'.
Padang Panjang, Indonesia
