Typology of domestic spatial organization among the Toraja community of Seriti, South Sulawesi

Abstrak

During the past 73 years, the houses of the Toraja community in Seriti, South Sulawesi, have experienced continuous physical transformation while retaining essential characteristics of traditional Torajan spatial organization. This study investigates the organization of domestic space and explores the persistence of the spatial concepts embedded within successive phases of housing transformation. A qualitative descriptive methodology was adopted by integrating spatial typology and morphological analyses. Empirical data were obtained through field observation, photographic documentation, reconstruction of historical floor plans, and in-depth interviews with six purposively selected households. The analysis identifies four distinct spatial typologies according to the number of spatial zones, namely one-zone, two-zone, three-zone, and four-zone houses. Although these houses exhibit considerable variation in architectural form, every typology consistently demonstrates a front–middle–rear spatial sequence comparable to that of the traditional Tongkonan house. The enduring presence of Kale Banua as the principal domestic space indicates that the core spatial structure has remained remarkably stable despite successive architectural transformations. Although contemporary residents no longer consciously apply customary principles when arranging domestic space, the recurring spatial configurations reveal the continued transmission of tacit spatial knowledge across generations. Furthermore, changes in settlement conditions and religious beliefs have not displaced the underlying spatial logic; instead, they have reshaped the functions and meanings of domestic spaces within contemporary living environments.