INFO TEMPO \u2013 Piles of driftwood scattered in Desa Bandar Maligai,\nKecamatan Sekerak, Aceh Tamiang, have been cleared by the Sumatra\nDisaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force\n(Satgas PRR Pascabencana Sumatra). Some of the wood has been repurposed\nby residents to construct temporary housing or Huntara, known as a\n\u2018rumah tumbuh\u2019 (growing house). The structures are stilt houses. The\nmaterials used blend salvaged driftwood, plywood, and stone foundations.\n\u2018There are five units. The design is a stilt house using wood,\u2019 said\nDatok Penghulu Bandar Maligai, Zulfahmi, when Tempo met him on Thursday,\n14 May 2026.<\/p>\n
\u2018Kayu-kahu ini dikumpulkan langsung oleh warga dari sisa material\nyang terbawa banjir,\u2019 he said. The wood was then reused to speed up\nconstruction of temporary housing for residents who lost their homes.\nThe use of driftwood was chosen because the material is readily\navailable at the disaster-affected location and also speeds up the\nconstruction process.<\/p>\n
Construction of these houses was initiated by volunteers from West\nJava, Daarut Tauhiid Peduli. \u2018If I am not mistaken, their domicile is in\nBandung,\u2019 added Zulfahmi. The philanthropic organisation developed the\nconcept of flood-adaptive housing based on stilt houses that grow, or\nRupatuh (Rumah Panggung Tumbuh). The model is designed to be more\nsuitable for the flood-prone coastal area in Aceh Tamiang.<\/p>\n
The approach also involves academic input. Daarut Tauhiid Peduli has\npartnered with the ITB School of Architecture, Planning and Policy\nDevelopment and the Civil Engineering Faculty of Universitas Al-Muslim\nBireuen in developing a recovery design rooted in local wisdom.<\/p>\n
Utilisation of driftwood for housing has also gained government\nlegitimacy. Satgas PRR head Tito Karnavian previously stated that\ndriftwood from floods may be used by the public for recovery needs,\nincluding building homes and public facilities. Tito said the policy\naligns with the Minister of Forestry Decree No.\u00a0191 of 2026 on utilising\ndriftwood resulting from disasters to support emergency response,\nrehabilitation, and reconstruction. \u2018People may use it to build their\nown housing as well,\u2019 Tito said at a press conference in Jakarta, in\nMarch.<\/p>\n
Based on Satgas PRR data, the utilisation of driftwood has been\nimplemented in several affected areas in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West\nSumatra. In Aceh Utara, for example, more than 2,100 cubic metres of\nwood have been used to build temporary housing. Meanwhile, in Aceh\nTamiang, hundreds of cubic metres of wood are awaiting designation for\nutilisation by the local government.<\/p>\n
The use of driftwood as Rupatuh housing in Aceh Tamiang has become a\nmodel. This housing serves as a solution so residents maintain a decent\nplace to live and acts as a buffer before moving to permanent housing\n(Huntap).<\/p>\n
Zulfahmi said residents have agreed to communal relocation to Desa\nPantai Tinjau for long-term safety. An area of about five hectares has\nbeen prepared for Huntap development for those affected.<\/p>\n
\u2018Residents have already agreed to relocate. The condition is that\nthey want Huntap. For now, while awaiting central government\ninstructions, residents are still occupying Huntara at the original\nsite,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, development of permanent housing in Aceh Tamiang is also\nmoving forward. Aceh Tamiang Regent Armia Pahmi attended verification\nand the draw for the first phase of 200 Huntap units at Tanjung\nSeumantoh for flood victims. Armia said the draw was conducted openly to\nensure all recipients are treated equally without favouritism. \u2018The open\ndraw is to ensure fairness; there is no preferential treatment. Everyone\nhas the same rights; whoever receives which number is their fortune,\u2019 he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Mujianto, head of the Buddha Tzu Chi Indonesia Foundation, said\nefforts to accelerate Huntap construction continue so residents can\nreturn to a decent life after months of disaster. \u2018If we delay by a day,\nwe are inconveniencing the people. Construction must be fast and\nprecise,\u2019 he said. (*)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/driftwood-house-a-growing-housing-solution-in-aceh-tamiang-1779542674", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }