Architecture of Surau and Its Role in Minangkabau Society: the Case of Surau Lubuak Bauak Nagari Batipuah Baruah, West Sumatra

Abstract

Rumah gadang and surau are two important vernacularbuildings of Minangkabau society and their architecture reflect the cultureof Minangkabau society and harmony with nature. As part of thematrilineal culture of Minangkabau, women own the house and youngboys have to live and learn in surau owned by the clans. Surau is the centerof the activities of the Minangkabau boys and functions not only as a placeof worship, but also as a place of Islamic and informal education. As partof merantau culture in Minangkabau or leaving home for a certain amountof time to gain experience and make some fortune, activities in surau alsoprepare those boys to be independent. It is the aim of this paper is toanalyze sustainable cultural and architectural values of the Minangkabau surau and how surau has sustained to function as a place of worship and asa center of Islam teaching. Although the function of surau as the place foryoung boys’ activities and get education fade with the spread modernityand changes in Minangkabau society, the sustainability of surau means sustaining Minangkabau culture.