INFOBUDAYA.NET — Indonesia is a nation woven from the threads of countless ethnicities and traditions, where even a single region can harbor diverse languages, unique culinary expressions, and a variety of traditional houses, each with its own purpose and cultural soul. Among these regions, Maluku stands out with its wide array of traditional houses—each more than just a shelter. It is a living embodiment of the people’s identity, philosophy, and connection to the spiritual world.

The traditional houses of Maluku are cultural legacies passed down through generations and are considered sacred by the local communities. Often constructed from natural materials such as wood, bamboo, and dried leaves, these homes prove that sustainability and strength can go hand in hand. Remarkably, many of these structures have stood for decades, even centuries, with their endurance owing not only to their materials but also to the sacred rituals performed during their construction. These rituals serve to bless the structure and protect its inhabitants, reinforcing the idea that a home is a space both physical and spiritual.

Maluku’s traditional architecture features three distinct types: Baileo, Sasadu, and Hibualamo. Each of these reflects a different facet of Maluku’s cultural mosaic. The Baileo house, widely considered the emblem of Maluku’s identity, is a stilt house traditionally built by the Huaulu people of Seram and Ambon. Lacking walls and windows, its open structure invites the presence of ancestral spirits, signifying an unbroken dialogue between the spiritual and earthly realms. The elevated floor is a symbolic pedestal for ancestral spirits, placing them above the ordinary lives of the living and reaffirming their continued influence.

Meanwhile, the Sasadu house, belonging to the Sahu people of Halmahera, also adopts an open design, with no internal partitions. Constructed using sago tree trunks and roofed with woven sago leaves, it is entirely free of nails—its integrity is preserved through wooden pegs and coconut fiber ties (ijuk). The house’s design reflects deep philosophical ideals: its open form symbolizes transparency, stability, and communal wisdom. The roof, shaped like an upturned boat, is a powerful homage to Maluku’s maritime roots. Even its name, sasadu, derived from local phrases meaning “large shelter,” points to its purpose as a refuge in both the literal and cultural sense.

The third type, Hibualamo, is a synthesis of tradition and adaptation. Despite its modern appearance, it is one of the oldest house types in Maluku, historically used by the Tobelo people. The name itself—hibua meaning house and lamo meaning large—expresses its grand purpose. This house type incorporates solid walls made from bricks and cement, yet the traditional influence is clear in its boat-shaped roof and symbolic use of color. Red signifies determination, yellow represents wealth and intelligence, black embodies solidarity, and white reflects purity. These colors, along with the house’s eight-sided structure and four directional entrances, speak to a cosmology rooted in balance, unity, and resilience.

Across all these forms, one theme resonates: Maluku’s traditional houses are not merely buildings—they are sanctuaries of heritage and places of community convergence. The Baileo house, for example, often functions as a balai, a communal hall for meetings, rituals, and the safeguarding of sacred artifacts. Its intricate carvings—roosters and dogs facing each other, surrounded by symbols of the sun, moon, and stars—express wishes for harmony, prosperity, and spiritual protection. These artistic flourishes are not decorative, but sacred, anchoring the structure within Maluku’s ancestral cosmology.

A striking feature of the Baileo is the presence of nine support pillars, each representing communal values. Five are placed on one side to symbolize inter-village alliances (locally known as Siwak Lima), while four pillars on the opposite side echo this symbolic balance. The presence of the batu pamali, sacred stones at the entrance used for ritual offerings, further affirms the spiritual dimension of these homes. These stones are not merely markers of tradition—they are reminders that the house is a living space of ancestral communion and cultural continuity.

Environmental harmony is another core element. Maluku’s traditional houses are constructed from locally sourced, biodegradable materials—bamboo, coconut wood, sago leaves—crafted with techniques that predate modern tools. No nails are used, only ancient joinery methods, ensuring the structures remain true to the land they rise from. This respect for nature reflects the broader Malukan ethos: that human life, culture, and nature must exist in symbiosis.

Today, as modern architecture spreads and cultural memory fades, Maluku’s traditional houses stand as solemn witnesses to an age when architecture was not only functional but also philosophical and ceremonial. They remind us that a home can be more than a place to live—it can be a vessel of heritage, a guardian of spirit, and a celebration of the unseen forces that shape a people’s soul.

Reference:

PDBI – Arsitektur Maluku