Understanding genius loci to sustain Ume Bangka’s traditional architecture based on intangible material culture

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The vernacular architecture used natural materials for its construction, such as wood, clay, stones, leaves, and animal skins. In tropical countries such as Indonesia, most vernacular architecture is made out of wood; this material is versatile, highly accessible, and affordable. Ume Bangka—a plantation house from Bangka—uses wood for its main construction. However, due to deforestation mainly by private sectors, such as major palm oil industries and private tin mining, wood becomes a scarce commodity. These activities also reduce traditional landscape areas and settlements that belongs to local people for centuries. As wood becomes unaffordable and less area to inhabit, people begin to abandon Ume Bangka as their future home and opt for modern housing type. This is very unfortunate because Ume Bangka shares a close relationship with local culture and natural landscape. This paper investigates the issue of the relationship between natural landscape and cultural values around Ume Bangka as a traditional Bangkanese dwelling. The main methodology in this discussion used literature studies on vernacular housing typology, especially in Bangka Island. Finding the genius loci— the spirit of a place—from the construction of Ume Bangka is the expected result of this paper that will serve as a preliminary idea in sustaining Ume Bangka’s traditional house amidst globalization and proposing Ume Bangka as the cultural identity as well as the inspiration for built-environment sustainability in Bangka Island.