Bali Aga architecture

This separate history can be seen in the vernacular architecture of the Bali Aga, which shows more similarity with the Austronesian tradition shared with many Indonesian people across the archipelago.

[2] As the male children of a Bali Aga couple marry and form their own households, new houses are added at the downhill end of the row.

When older generations die, the houses they lived at the uphill end become vacant and are inherited by younger couples, rather like a game of musical chairs.

This ideal pattern of succession is not always adhered to but it is expected that the most senior member of the extended family should dwell in the house at the uphill end.

[3] Bali Aga house is a rectangular post-and-beam structure supporting a steeply pitcher roof made of bamboo shingles or of a thick grass thatch.

[2] The layout of room in the houses (umah) of Bali Aga is laid out in a concept of inside-outside (or left-right) and uphill (kaja)-downhill (kelod) (or male-female).

The head of the household would sit in the lubangan gede ("large cavity"), another raised platform situated to the uphill-side of the central entrance door.

His wife would go to the hearth (situated to the downhill-side of the central entrance door) to prepare drink for the guest or to fetch from the downhill larder (lubangan beten).

The placement of the guest in the central compartment on the inner side of the house reflect some of the positive values attached to outsiders and exotic goods or influences among the Bali Aga.