The Unique Rumah Adat from Flores Indonesia; Mbaru Niang

 Talking about art, Indonesia has various forms of art such as dance art and art in the form of objects such as traditional houses (Rumah Adat). Rumah adat are traditional houses built in any of the vernacular architecture styles of Indonesia. The traditional houses and settlements of some hundreds ethnic groups of Indonesia are extremely varied and have their own specific history. Each province in Indonesia has a different form of Rumah Adat and very unique one of which is Rumah Adat Mbaru Niang.

Mbaru Niang is a traditional house located on the island of Flores Indonesia. Mbaru Niang traditional house is very unique conical shape and has 5 floors with a height of about 15 meters. The roof of this house is made of palm leaves covered with fibers or weeds and roof frames made of bamboo while the pillars of the house using a large and strong wood. And unusually again, this house does not use nails like other houses, but uses a strong rattan rope to bind the construction of the building. Mbaru Niang is not very big, but can accommodate about 6-8 families. 

Each floor of this house has different names and functions. The first level is called lutur or tent, commonly used as a shelter and gathering with family. The second level is a lobo or attic that serves to put groceries and everyday items. The third level is called lentar to put the seeds of crops used for cultivation, such as corn seeds, rice, and nuts. The fourth level is called lempa rae, which is room for food stock in case of crop failure or the crop is less successful due to drought, and the fifth is called hekang kode to place the offering offerings to the ancestors.

However, the traditional house of Mbaru Niang has becomes a rarity, because there are only a few remaining and only reside in the remote village of Wae Rebo which is isolated on the mountains.