Architecture : Longhouse

Many people from the island of Borneo, live traditionally in buildings known as longhouse. It represents the earliest form of permanent structure in many cultures. Built raised off the ground on stilts and are divided into a more or less public area along one side and a row of private living quarters lined along the other side.

Built raised off the ground on stilts and are divided into a more or less public area along one side and a row of private living quarters lined along the other side.

Behind this wall lay the private units, bilik, each with a single door for each family. These are separated from each other by walls of their own and contain the living and sleeping spaces for each family. The kitchens, dapor, may be situated within this private space but are quite often situated in rooms of their own, added to the back of a bilik or even in a building standing a little away from the longhouse and accessed by a small bridge. This separation prevents cooking fires from spreading to the living spaces, should they spread out of control, as well as reducing smoke and insects attracted to cooking from gathering in living quarters.

A public corridor, a ruai, runs the length of the building in this open space. Right side of the photo shows an Iban woman coming out of her bilik. On the left side of the photo shows some Iban people relaxing at the ruai.

On this side a large veranda, a tanju, is built in front of the building where the rice (padi) is dried and other outdoor activities can take place. 

Shows the façade of the longhouse. (77doors long).