Indonesian Living
Although most Asian countries have adapted to a western type of living with apparent influences in the structure of their homes; the majority of people in Indonesia still live in traditional villages. Almost 60% have their dwellings set up as kampungs or smaller groups of houses in the village. A kampung is a constituent of a larger administration of villages which is called a desa.
The domestic set up involves extended families so the people living there truly embody the true meaning of community. Life is simple and hassle free since their main livelihoods are agricultural in nature such as farming and fishing.
The Kampung Houses
To begin with, these houses are naturally made from durable wood. The usual and ideal design of kampung houses are stilts and large windows. Since the seasonal floods are something that needs to be countered, the stilts are ingeniously incorporated into the design of the houses. The large windows are for the year round tropical weather. The thatched houses are also another trademark of the kampung house.
Making a kampung House is a methodical venture. The parts are first built on the ground before they are assembled to form the house itself. It is also ideal for people who can't afford more materials so they can gradually add improvements as time passes and they acquire the means to further build on their homes. The common aspects considered in building a kampung house is the financial capacity of the family, the number of family members, traditions, and growing needs of its members.
Although a kampung house is a seemingly daunting task to even conceptualize, it is compensated by the need for less furniture since most of the activities of the family take places on the floor. So as long as there is a spacious floor, it would surely provide for the productivity and happiness of everyone in the house.