Indonesia

• The Malay peninsula is bounded by southern Thailand in the North, and on the West and South by the straits of Malacca which separate it from Sumatra, which in turn is separated from Java on the SE by the Sunda Straits. Java is the first of a Chain of Islands extending eastward. Borneo is the largest island in this archipelago separated by the straits of Macassar on the East from Celebes, to the North of Borneo and Celebes lies the Philippines.
• Much of this vast region is mountainous, a long curving band of active and extinct volcanoes passes through Sumatra, Java and Bali, and Volcanic rock has been extensively used for construction work.
• Indonesia almost bestrides the equator, with a tropical climate and not great seasonal variation in temperature. The climate is also generally humid and under the influence of both monsoons.
• Architecture in Middle Java

  • Solid stone walls
  • Corbelled arches
  • No load-bearing columns
  • Culminating in Borobudur stupa and Prambanan temple complex

  
• Architecture in Middle Java

  Always associated with isolated religious communities, never with large centres of population
• Architecture in East Java from 11th century


  • Lessening of Indian influence
  • Increased evidence of native Indonesian tradition, especially in sculpture
• Traditional Indonesian dwelling


  Long house generally raised on stilts, sheltering an entire clan
• Minangkabau homes in South Central Sumatra

  • Carried on carved and decorated wooden pillars
  • Facades adorned with colour patterns of intertwined flowers in white, black and red
  • Inward-sloping ridge (saddle back) roof with high gables at each end ornamented with buffalo horns
• Borobudur


  • Theatrically sited on the Java plains against a background of smoking volcanoes
  • Symbolizes the world mountain "Meru" of Indian Cosmology and the Mahayana Buddhist cosmic system
  • Nine storeys or terraces leading to Nirvana
  • Basically square in plan, with a stone plinth-foundation each 150 m side having five slightly stepped faces, diminishing to three at the higher levels
  • Displays 1,300 panels of sculpture, depicting the life of the Buddha and legends from the sacred Buddhist texts

  
• Architecture in Vietnam and Laos

  • Kalam roofs (Keel shaped in the Chinese Pagoda Style) as at the shrines of Mi-son and Po Nagar
  • Lu Style of Tonkin province
  • Javanese influence in the South at Dong Duang and My-Duc from 12th century
  • Angkor Vat influence in Binh-dinh style towers at Nha-Trang
  • Dinh (Communal House) built by each village, continuing ancient tradition of houses built on stilts
  • Chinese and French styles apparent by 19th century