The Besi Domain: The Reflection of Female Mastery in Kaili Da’a Traditional Housing, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

This paper contains a study of traditional vernacular architecture. A gender perspective review has been carried out at the ethnic residence of Kaili Da’a in the village of Balane, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi Province. This study aims to formulate the spatial presence of women regarding Sapo (traditional houses) in their community. The research has been carried out using a phenomenological approach to uncover the phenomenon of the embodiment of women in Sapo, and their domain and power in the tradition of settling. The triangulation method has been carried out to analyse and validate the findings. Further disclosures are examined through the research subject’s pure consciousness of the field findings from the unit of information, which becomes an empirical theme and conceptual basis. The results show that mastery manifests constantly and continuously in the spatial setting of the Sapo. They also reveal that the Kaili Da’a is a female domain filled with spatial consciousness.