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FORMOSA NEWS - NTT- Maritime Tradition Shapes Unique Coastal Architecture in Eastern Indonesia's Whale-Hunting Village. A team of researchers from Universitas Nusa Cendana has uncovered how centuries of traditional whale-hunting culture and spiritual geography directly shape the physical design and layout of Levo Lamalera, a historic coastal village in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Led by I Gusti Ngurah Wiras Hardy alongside co-authors Aplimon Jerobisonif, Debri Andries Amabi, Thomas Kurniawan Dima, and Theodora Murni Cintya Tualaka, the comprehensive field study was published in the Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences in July 2026. The research reveals that rather than being an accidental cluster of homes, Levo Lamalera's built environment is a structured spatial system where social hierarchies, sacred ritual pathways, and maritime livelihoods intersect at a central banyan tree known as the Gudi tree.
Background and Context
As rapid urbanization and modernization sweep across Indonesia, traditional coastal villages face growing pressure to adapt. Vernacular architecture the practice of building using local materials, community knowledge, and cultural customs without formal architects plays a critical role in preserving community identity and ecological sustainability. While previous academic studies on the village of Lamalera focused heavily on the socio-cultural and economic aspects of its famous whale-hunting practices, little attention was given to how these maritime traditions physically organized the physical settlement. Understanding the architectural morphology of such historic settlements offers essential insights into preserving living cultural heritage while guiding sustainable, culturally sensitive tourism in fragile coastal environments.
Research Methodology
The researchers adopted a qualitative, phenomenological design to analyze the physical layout and socio-spatial structure of Levo Lamalera (administratively known as Lamalera B Village, Wulandoni District, Lembata Regency). Between 2023 and 2024, the team conducted extensive fieldwork involving:
The study revealed that Levo Lamalera operates as an integrated physical and social system organized into four primary zones and structured by two intersecting spatial axes:
The findings offer actionable strategies for heritage conservationists, urban planners, and local policymakers in East Nusa Tenggara. By mapping the exact spatial relationships between clan houses, boat sheds, and ritual corridors, the study provides a blueprint for managing tourism growth without degrading the authentic cultural landscape. Specifically, local authorities can use these spatial insights to design infrastructure projects such as paving roads or permitting new homestays that respect sacred paths like Mei Larang and preserve the architectural integrity of the coastal frontage.
Author Profil
I Gusti Ngurah Wiras Hardy, M.Ars. – Lead Author and Lecturer in Architecture, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Universitas Nusa Cendana, Kupang, Indonesia. Specialist in vernacular architecture, spatial morphology, and cultural landscapes.
Aplimon Jerobisonif, S.T., M.T. – Co-author and Academic Staff, Department of Architecture, Universitas Nusa Cendana. Specialist in coastal settlement design and spatial planning.
Debri Andries Amabi, S.T., M.T. – Co-author and Researcher, Department of Architecture, Universitas Nusa Cendana. Specialist in architectural heritage and structural topology.
Thomas Kurniawan Dima, S.T., M.T. – Co-author and Academic Researcher, Universitas Nusa Cendana. Specialist in environmental design and traditional built environments.
Theodora Murni Cintya Tualaka, S.T., M.T. – Co-author and Architectural Researcher, Universitas Nusa Cendana. Specialist in community settlement mapping and social architecture.
Background and Context
As rapid urbanization and modernization sweep across Indonesia, traditional coastal villages face growing pressure to adapt. Vernacular architecture the practice of building using local materials, community knowledge, and cultural customs without formal architects plays a critical role in preserving community identity and ecological sustainability. While previous academic studies on the village of Lamalera focused heavily on the socio-cultural and economic aspects of its famous whale-hunting practices, little attention was given to how these maritime traditions physically organized the physical settlement. Understanding the architectural morphology of such historic settlements offers essential insights into preserving living cultural heritage while guiding sustainable, culturally sensitive tourism in fragile coastal environments.
Research Methodology
The researchers adopted a qualitative, phenomenological design to analyze the physical layout and socio-spatial structure of Levo Lamalera (administratively known as Lamalera B Village, Wulandoni District, Lembata Regency). Between 2023 and 2024, the team conducted extensive fieldwork involving:
- In-depth interviews with 10 to 15 key informants, including customary leaders (akan tera), village elders, and long-term residents.
- Direct field observations and photographic mapping of physical infrastructure, circulation networks, and architectural features.
- Qualitative thematic analysis supported by NVivo 14 software to code spatial patterns, customary rules, and environmental adaptations.
- Data triangulation cross-referencing interviews, field notes, and literature to ensure analytical rigor.
The study revealed that Levo Lamalera operates as an integrated physical and social system organized into four primary zones and structured by two intersecting spatial axes:
- Dual-Axis Layout and the Gudi Tree Center: The village is anchored by an east-west village axis (the main public road, Laro Pelo) running parallel to the shoreline, and a north-south ritual axis (Mei Larang or Blood Road). The ritual axis connects the customary landowner's house on the hillside directly to the sacred beach. The physical point where these two axes intersect is marked by the Gudi Tree (Ficus benjamina), a central banyan tree serving as the village's primary public node and symbolic center for customary gatherings.
- The Big House Zone (Langu Bela): The researchers documented 19 clan houses (Rumah Besar) distributed across the settlement. Granted historically by customary landowners, these clan houses serve as core social landmarks that organize neighboring residential clusters based on lineage and customary authority.
- The Pledang House Zone (Naja): A distinct strip of 36 open-sided boat sheds (Rumah Peledang) lines the immediate beachfront. Built specifically to store traditional wooden whale-hunting boats (peledang), these structures create a protective, functional buffer between the ocean and the residential community.
- Fishermen's House Zone: Standard family dwellings sit directly behind the boat houses and around the clan houses. Houses near the shoreline feature distinct rear terraces facing the beach, allowing residents to maintain visual connection with maritime activities.
- Public and Sacred Facilities: The village spatial structure incorporates a coastal Catholic chapel (kapela) where hunters pray before seasonal sea expeditions, observation towers on elevated slopes used by lookouts to spot whales (baleo), and a traditional beach entrance gate constructed from whale bones.
The findings offer actionable strategies for heritage conservationists, urban planners, and local policymakers in East Nusa Tenggara. By mapping the exact spatial relationships between clan houses, boat sheds, and ritual corridors, the study provides a blueprint for managing tourism growth without degrading the authentic cultural landscape. Specifically, local authorities can use these spatial insights to design infrastructure projects such as paving roads or permitting new homestays that respect sacred paths like Mei Larang and preserve the architectural integrity of the coastal frontage.
Author Profil
I Gusti Ngurah Wiras Hardy, M.Ars. – Lead Author and Lecturer in Architecture, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Universitas Nusa Cendana, Kupang, Indonesia. Specialist in vernacular architecture, spatial morphology, and cultural landscapes.
Aplimon Jerobisonif, S.T., M.T. – Co-author and Academic Staff, Department of Architecture, Universitas Nusa Cendana. Specialist in coastal settlement design and spatial planning.
Debri Andries Amabi, S.T., M.T. – Co-author and Researcher, Department of Architecture, Universitas Nusa Cendana. Specialist in architectural heritage and structural topology.
Thomas Kurniawan Dima, S.T., M.T. – Co-author and Academic Researcher, Universitas Nusa Cendana. Specialist in environmental design and traditional built environments.
Theodora Murni Cintya Tualaka, S.T., M.T. – Co-author and Architectural Researcher, Universitas Nusa Cendana. Specialist in community settlement mapping and social architecture.
Source
I Gusti Ngurah Wiras Hardy, Aplimon Jerobisonif, Debri Andries Amabi, Thomas Kurniawan Dima, Theodora Murni Cintya Tualaka. Settlement Pattern of Levo Lamalera in Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences (FJAS). Vol. 5, No. 7 2026, Halaman 1585–1604
DOI :https://doi.org/10.55927/fjas.v5i7.86
URL:https://journalfjas.my.id/index.php/fjas
I Gusti Ngurah Wiras Hardy, Aplimon Jerobisonif, Debri Andries Amabi, Thomas Kurniawan Dima, Theodora Murni Cintya Tualaka. Settlement Pattern of Levo Lamalera in Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences (FJAS). Vol. 5, No. 7 2026, Halaman 1585–1604
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