The Architecture of Indonesia

The architectural style of Indonesia reflects the diversity of historical, cultural, and geographic influences that have shaped Indonesia as one, great whole. Invaders, merchants, traders, missionaries, colonizers brought cultural changes that had a profound effect on the building styles and techniques.

A giant amount of Indonesian vernacular houses have been developed throughout the archipelago. The traditional houses of the several hundred ethnic groups of Indonesia are extremely varied and all have their wonderland, specific history. The houses hold social significance in the society and demonstrate local ingenuity in their relations to the environment and spatial organization.

Traditionally, the most significant foreign influence has been India’s influence, however, Chinese, European and Arab influences have also played big roles in shaping Indonesian architecture. Religious architecture varies from indigenous forms to mosques, churches and temples. The sultans and other rulers built palaces. There is a substantial legacy of colonial architecture in Indonesian cities. Independent Indonesia has seen the development of new paradigms for postmodern and contemporary architectural styles.

Istana (or can be called palace) architecture of the many kingdoms and realms of Indonesia, is more often than not based on the vernacular adat domestic styles of the area. Royal courts, however, were able to develop much grander and elaborate versions of this traditional architecture. In the Javanese Kraton, for example, large pendopos of the joglo roof form with tumpang sari ornamentation are elaborate but are based on common Javanese forms, while the omo sebua (cheif’s house) in Bawomataluo, Nias is an enlarged version of the houses in the village, the palaces of the Balinese like the Puri Agung in Gianyar use the traditional bale form, and the Pagaruyung Palace is a great three-storey version of the Minangkabu Rumah Gadang. Similar to trends in domestic architecture, the last 2 centuries have seen the use of European architectural elements in combination with traditional elements, albeit at a far more sophisticated and opulent level compared to domestic houses.

In the Javanese palaces, the pendopo is the tallest and largest hall within a complex. As the place where the ruler sits, it is the focus of ceremonial occasions, and often has prohibitions on access to this space.

The 1970s, 80s, 90s, saw foreign investment and economic growth: large construction booms brought great and big changes to Indonesian cities, including the replacement of the early 20th styles with late modern and postmodern styles. The urban construction changes have continued in the 21st century and are shaping skylines in the cities of Indonesia. Many new buildings are clad with lustrous glass surfaces to reflect the tropical sun. Architectural styles are influenced by developments in architecture internationally, including the intro of deconstructivism architecture.