Rumah Gadang Pavilion

From the start of the competition, I was interested in looking at pavilion and its use and development over time.  From the Japanese to Chinese pavilion, I then wondered about the possibility of having known elements in traditional houses applied and combined it using computational design.

I feel very grateful that I once visited Minangkabau Traditional house, Rumah Gadang or Rumah Begonjong, Padang, West Sumatra before the pandemic. The roof attracted me the most.  Rumah Gadang roof is repeated (primarily three pointed arches)shaped based on the horn of buffalo, tapering upwards representing a belief blessed towards victory. Rumah Gadang used to inhabit by family while some areas are shared for union, public gathering, expressing the positive culture from the community. This traditional house is composed of elements and materials, such as wood, bamboo, and palm fibre for the roof. 

From there, I started to sketch and form-finding in rhino and grasshopper. The shape of the roof was one of the significant elements of Rumah Gadang. Another is the way that the building increased its volume as it goes up. A docent from the Museum explained that all characteristic is purposely to increase positive energy and hopefully lead to victory. The roof is especially lifting it up high in search for sky or God. Also, the use of bamboo and timber on the wall are well crafted, painted. 

I started to combine all elements to the design. The use of paint on the exterior wall shows kinship and friendly. I was transforming that characteristic to weaving elements on the first structure. Then up to gradually created the form of the pavilion. 

Padang State University is a long-established university that has a great space for this pavilion because of how important this pavilion represent. 

The pavilion purposes in search for the union between traditional to modern technology. In search of that, an educational institution is a great place to explore. The site Lapangan Rectorate Universitas Negeri Padang is an empty space about aprox. 3000 sqm used occasionally and during festive seasons, packed with students sitting on the grass to have group meetings or chat over friends. 

The pavilion is preferably constructed as permanent but also works to be disassembled and move locations. Facing the main building and located in the middle of the site, this pavilion could be an attraction and space for students, families to share or activities aligned with the original purpose of the Minangkabau House.