Shelter
Building the sidewalls of simple Jahai huts
Jahai huts, characteristic of the Semang Orang Asli people, exemplify the widespread use of bamboo as a material for floors and sidewalls. The Jahai people settle in and near the area of the Royal Belum State Park in Perak, Malaysia,…
Orang Rimba shelters in the forests of Sumatra
Orang Rimba (locally called Kubu) shelters and dwellings in the forests are designed in different styles rooted in their semi-nomadic lifestyle. These structures can be divided into two main groups: semi-permanent structures and shelters when they are on the move….
Mentawai forest huts
The Mentawai people at Siberut Island use forest huts (called Sapou by them) for various reasons and purposes. One is a permanent dwelling for single, old men who do not live with their family in the Uma (family home in…
How Mentawai people assemble roof thatching panels
Roof thatching is vital for shelter waterproofing in the Mentawai tribe, which has around 6,000 members, on Siberut Island, Indonesia. Siberut lies about 100 miles (160 km) west of Padang in West Sumatra. Of the 6,000 Mentawai people, roughly 1,000,…
Ant beds for building materials in Australia
Although they are commonly referred to as “Ant beds,” particularly in Australia, the structures are actually “Termite mound.” Despite their physical similarities to ants, termites are related to cockroaches rather than ants. However, like ants, they are small and numerous….