There are four types of Batak Toba buildings,they're two types of ruma and two types of sopo.Ruma is Toba word for house that is commonly used in oppotition to sopo.Whereas the ruma is a permanent traditional dwelling house with a characteristic structure,the sopo differs structurally,the older type functionally as well.The main structural characteristics that distinguish the sopo are the cantilevered attic floor,which is supported by posts positioned some distance inside from the edges and the position of the roof plates ehich rest on tops of that floor,instead of below it as in the ruma.
The main characteristics of that four types of Batak Toba dwelling houses are :
1.Open Sopo
Multi purpose building with a closed attic and no walls;differs in structure from the ruma;was formerly either only a granary or ,when equipped with a sitting floor,a multi functional structure ( village meeting and council hall, shrine, granary, protected outdoor living and working space, temporary dwellings for guests, dormitory for unmarried men).The picture below is an open sopo that is used as a granary.
2.Jabu Sopo
Functionally a permanent family dwelling, structurally a sopo that has been fully equipped with walls;has the stairs outside and the door in front of the walls.I got this image from Batak Museum.From the characteristics told above,I've opinion in my mind that its one of jabu sopo.
3.Ruma Sisampuran
Permanent dwelling;stairs outside,door in front of wall now usually with partial attic floors and some kind of gable balcony;differs in structure from the sopo.
4.Ruma Sitolumbea
Permanent dwellings; stairs inside, underneath the floor, between a double row of front posts, door inside(trap door or normal), partial attic floors, gable balcony; differs in structure from the sopo.This picture is a ruma sitolumbea I think from the character.
The characterization is still rough one but sufficient to serve our purpose.These are what I can share and for the next information about these houses,I'll write it in the next post.
