indonesia Batak architecture

Batak architecture refers to the related architectural traditions and designs of the various batak peoples of nort sumatra, indonesia. There are six groups of Batak who speak separate but related languages: the angkola, the mandaling to the south, the toba, t, and the karo. While the groups are now Muslim or Christian, elements of the ancient Batak religion remain, particularly amongst the Karo.
The bale ("meeting hall"), rumah ("house"), and sopo ("rice barn") are the three main building types common to the different Batak groups. The rumah has traditionally been a large house in which a group of families live communally. During the day, the interior is shared living space, and at night, cloth or matting drapes provide families with privacy. Most Batak now live in modern homes, and many traditional houses are abandoned or in a poor state of repair.
The architecture and village layouts of the six Batak groups also show significant differences. Toba Batak houses, for example, are boat-shaped with intricately carved and upsweeping roof ridges. Karo Batak houses rise up in tiers. Both are built on piles and are derived from an ancient model.