The 8-Building Structure of the Balinese House

A standard Balinese Karangkang (house compound) is not one building, but a cluster of 8 building types. Sanggah Kemulan, Bale Daja, Bale Dangin, Bale Dauh, Bale Delod, Pawaregan, Lumbung, Teba are arranged around one central courtyard (Natah). Each building has separate roof, pillars, and floor. A visual realization of Tri Mandala and Asta Kosala Kosali (6.5.1). The scene foreigners encounter when visiting a Balinese family home. Even modern villas partially adopt this. The spatial structure of Bali's extended, multi-generational family.

A. The 8 Buildings — Standard Layout

        [ Kaja / Mountain / Sacred — NE ]
                 ↑
       ★ Sanggah Kemulan (family temple)
              |
       ▢ Bale Daja (north) — grandparents
              |
   ▢ Bale Dauh   ▢ Natah   ▢ Bale Dangin
   (west · guests) (courtyard) (east · ritual / meals)
              |
       ▢ Bale Delod (south) — daily / living
              |
   ▢ Pawaregan  ▢ Lumbung  ▢ Teba
   (kitchen)    (grain)    (pigsty · SW)
                 ↓
        [ Kelod / Sea / Spirits — SW ]

Standard size of each building:

• Sanggah — cluster of small shrines (3–5 m²)
• Bale — 4–6 m × 4–6 m
• Pawaregan — 6–8 m × 4 m
• Lumbung — 3–4 m × 3–4 m
• Natah — central courtyard (8–15 m × 8–15 m)

Total area:

• Small household — about 200–500 m²
• Mid household — 500–1,000 m²
• Large lineage (Brahmana / Ksatria) — 1,000–5,000 m²+

Sources: Davison J. & Granquist B., Balinese Architecture (Periplus, 1999) · Balinese house

B. Functions of the 8 Buildings

1. Sanggah Kemulan / Merajan / Pemerajan (3.2.3)

• Location — NE corner (Kaja-Kangin)
• Function — family temple, permanent ancestor residence
• Composition — Padmasana, Kemulan Rong Tiga, Taksu, Tugu, Meru (large families)
• Rituals — daily canang, Otonan, Galungan, Memukur

2. Bale Daja (north pavilion)

• Location — north (Kaja side)
• Function — grandparents / elders bedroom
• Spiritual meaning — near the sacred, respect
• Composition — 1–2 bedrooms, small living*

3. Bale Dangin (east pavilion)

• Location — east (Kangin / sunrise)
• Function — ritual / wedding / tooth-filing (Mepandes) / meal pavilion
• Spiritual meaning — the sacred east
• Composition — large pavilion, usually flat floor
• Mepandes performed atop Bale Dangin

4. Bale Dauh (west pavilion)

• Location — west (Kauh)
• Function — guests / children bedrooms
• Spiritual meaning — middle sacredness
• Composition — 1–2 bedrooms

5. Bale Delod (south pavilion)

• Location — south (Kelod side, but inside kitchen / barn area)
• Function — daily living / meals / rest
• Spiritual meaning — Kelod direction but for everyday*
• Composition — large pavilion, flat floor*

6. Pawaregan (kitchen)

• Location — SW corner (Kelod-Kauh)
• Function — cooking, meal prep
• Spiritual meaning — Bhuta Kala realm · fire · smoke
• Composition — hearth, water, food storage

7. Lumbung (granary)

• Location — near Pawaregan
• Function — rice / grain storage
• Spiritual meaning — Dewi Sri (rice goddess)
• Composition — small multi-story, ventilation*
• Modern — only some households preserve

8. Teba (pigsty / barn)

• Location — SW exterior (deepest Kelod)
• Function — pigs / chickens / ducks
• Spiritual meaning — lowest zone · spirits
• Composition — simple enclosure

Additional (large households):

• Bale Saka Roras — 12-pillar large ritual pavilion
• Wantilan — cockfight / performance pavilion
• Pemedalan — main gate

Sources: Davison J. & Granquist B. (1999) · Bali Post — house series

C. Building Materials and Techniques

Pillars (Saka):

• Jati (teak), Suar (rain tree), Sawo
• Set on stone foundation
• Main pillars — 8–12
• Traditional pillar ritual (Memakuh)

Roof (Atap):

• Alang-Alang (grass — traditional)
• Sirap (wooden slate)
• Genteng (clay tile)
• Modern — concrete / metal in part

Walls (Dinding):

• Bata (brick), Tanah Liat (clay)
• Batu Padas (sandstone)
• Low walls — open style
• Modern — cement / glass

Floor (Bebataran):

• Batu Andesit / Batu Hijau (basalt)
• Cement + Balinese stone
• Marble (modern)

Carving (Pahatan):

• Pintu (door) intricate carving
• Pillars / walls / shrine decoration
• Mas wood-carving (5.3.1) suppliers

Nature integration:

• Natah (courtyard) — flowers, fruit trees
• Frangipani (Bunga Kamboja), Mangga, Pisang
• Small grass / stones — meditation spaces

Source: Bali Discovery — Bali architecture materials

D. Multi-Generational / Extended Family Spaces

Inhabitants per household:

• 3-generation co-residence — standard
• 4–10 in one Karangkang
• Large lineages — 20+

Bedroom division:

• Bale Daja — grandparents / parents-in-law
• Bale Dauh — guests / unmarried children
• Bale Delod or new construction — married children / grandchildren

Meals:

• Bale Delod or Natah
• Near Pawaregan
• Family meal after Banten Saiban

Ritual spaces:

• Sanggah — daily / small rites
• Bale Dangin — major rites (Otonan, Mepandes, wedding)
• Bale Daja — elders' daily + ritual counsel

Hosting guests:

• Natah or Bale Dauh
• Tikar (mat) laid out, seated
• Kopi Tubruk + snacks

Modern changes:

• Urbanization — nuclear families / apartments (small Sanggah)
• Foreigner villas — modern design + Balinese elements
• Sarbagita megacity (2.3.2) — land shortage → shrinking Karangkang

Sources: Geertz H. & Geertz C., Kinship in Bali (1975) · Tempo — Bali family spaces

E. The Foreigner's View — Meeting a Balinese House

1. Visiting a Balinese friend's home — etiquette

• Pass the door (Aling-Aling) → enter Natah
• Greet Sanggah NE corner
• Bale Dauh or Natah as guest seat
• Greet parents-in-law in Bale Daja first
• Kitchen (Pawaregan) — no photos / etiquette

2. Balinese-style layout in hotels / resorts

• Como Shambhala / Aman / Four Seasons — Asta Kosala Kosali applied
• Lobby = Natah
• Each villa = a Bale cluster
• Sanggah = hotel temple

3. Foreigner villas — modern + Balinese

• Modern villas — Tri Mandala partial
• Central Natah — pool / garden
• Small Sanggah (NE) — sign of respect to Balinese staff
• Carving / stone / wood Bali-style

4. Renting / living in a Balinese-style villa

• Penestanan (Ubud) / Sidemen / Munduk — traditional Bali style
• Some foreign residents — Karangkang rental
• Sanggah-maintenance obligation, ritual by Balinese staff

5. Learning Bali architecture

• Davison J. Balinese Architecture (book)
• Bali Discovery / Ubud museums
• Balinese architects (Habitat / Word of Mouth)

6. Recommended for foreigner-villa construction

• Balinese architect + Undagi cooperation
• Apply Tri Mandala
• Mecaru ritual obligation
• Banjar consent / donation

7. Photographing a Balinese home — etiquette

• Natah / exterior — free
• Sanggah — distance, after permission
• Bedrooms / kitchen — no photos
• Balinese family — ask

Quick Summary

Sources / References

• Wiki — Asta Kosala Kosali · Balinese architecture
• Official — Bali Provincial Government — architecture protection · PHDI Pusat
• News — Bali Post — house series · The Jakarta Post — Bali architecture · Tempo — Bali family spaces · Bali Discovery — foreigner guide
• Academic — Davison J. & Granquist B., Balinese Architecture (Periplus, 1999); Geertz H. & Geertz C., Kinship in Bali (Chicago, 1975); Eiseman F. B. Jr., Bali: Sekala and Niskala (Periplus, 1989-90); Hobart M. (ed.), The Art and Culture of Bali (1995)