Study on Residential Yards in the Urban Areas of Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

In this study, we tried to find a cultural characteristic of residential yard, for the purpose of making out an ideal urban habitation in Indonesia where the rapid modernization is going on. We paid attention to residential yards in planned residential areas, and carried out a watching and hearing survey in the three residential areas of Medan, Sumatra Island. We considered interrelations among house plan and yard plan, and the usage of residential yard. The result is as follows,
1) there are two types of residential yard, i.e. front yard and back yard.
2) the space composition is different between front yard and back yard in response to usage of residential yard.
3) urban houses have ornamental aspects in front yard and practical aspects in back yard.