The Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI), once again held the UI Architecture Excursion 2024: Iban to preserve Indonesia’s vernacular architecture. The results of this excursion were exhibited at Emiria Soenassa Gallery, Taman Ismail Marzuki, under the theme “Panjai Meruah, Rimpun Sejiwa.” The exhibition, from January 18 to 26, 2025, showcased various photos, video documentation, and models of traditional Iban houses.
Gregorius Arif Christopherson, a 2021 UI Architecture student and Chair of the Excursion Committee, emphasized the importance of documenting vernacular architecture. He recalled a tragedy after a previous excursion—a fire that destroyed a Panjai house in Tanah Karo. Fortunately, documentation from the excursion had been completed before the incident.
“As Indonesian architecture students, we should learn about our own culture, not just Western architecture,” said Greg.
The 2024 excursion was conducted in Dusun Sungai Pelaik, Melemba Village, and Dusun Sungai Utik, Batu Lintang Village, West Kalimantan, from July to August 2024. These villages are home to the Dayak Iban tribe, known for their strong adherence to ancestral culture and traditions, reflected in their traditional longhouses called Panjai Houses.
Greg and his team, consisting of 144 members from three cohorts, documented the architecture of Panjai houses, covering materials, construction techniques, and interior aspects of Iban community life. Beyond learning about traditional architecture, the students gained valuable life lessons about preserving nature and respecting ancestral traditions.
The Panjai House is the traditional stilt house of the Iban people. Panjai means “long” in the Iban language, referring to a longhouse known as Rumah Betang. Multiple families typically share a Panjai House. Structurally, it consists of several sections: Tanjuk (front yard), Kaki Lima (terrace), Ruai-Penyurai (a corridor running the length of the house), Bilik (rooms), Tanjuk Belakang (backyard), and Sadau, a storage area above the Ruai and Bilik. The Panjai House in Dusun Sungai Utik has 28 rooms and stretches 167 meters long, while the one in Dusun Sungai Pelaik has 10 rooms and is 50 meters long.
Prof. Dr. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., Dean of FTUI, said, “The UI Architecture Excursion 2024 is an extraordinary effort to preserve Indonesia’s vernacular architecture, particularly the Panjai House of the Dayak Iban tribe. This program not only offers students a rich learning experience but also significantly contributes to the documentation and preservation of our cultural heritage. We hope the results of this excursion will inspire younger generations to continue protecting and honouring Indonesia’s cultural legacy.”
“We hope this excursion can inspire people to learn about traditional architecture and collectively work to preserve Indonesia’s vernacular architecture,” Greg concluded.
The “Panjai Meruah, Rimpun Sejiwa” exhibition attracted architects and members of the Dayak Iban community and received praise from visitors for effectively introducing Indonesia’s cultural heritage.
The UI Architecture Excursions is an annual program by the Department of Architecture FTUI held since 1965. Its purpose is to document Indonesia’s vernacular architecture, which is later published in books, films, and other media.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia
