Driftwood House: A Growing Housing Solution in Aceh Tamiang
INFO TEMPO – Piles of driftwood scattered in Desa Bandar Maligai, Kecamatan Sekerak, Aceh Tamiang, have been cleared by the Sumatra Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force (Satgas PRR Pascabencana Sumatra). Some of the wood has been repurposed by residents to construct temporary housing or Huntara, known as a ‘rumah tumbuh’ (growing house). The structures are stilt houses. The materials used blend salvaged driftwood, plywood, and stone foundations. ‘There are five units. The design is a stilt house using wood,’ said Datok Penghulu Bandar Maligai, Zulfahmi, when Tempo met him on Thursday, 14 May 2026.
‘Kayu-kahu ini dikumpulkan langsung oleh warga dari sisa material yang terbawa banjir,’ he said. The wood was then reused to speed up construction of temporary housing for residents who lost their homes. The use of driftwood was chosen because the material is readily available at the disaster-affected location and also speeds up the construction process.
Construction of these houses was initiated by volunteers from West Java, Daarut Tauhiid Peduli. ‘If I am not mistaken, their domicile is in Bandung,’ added Zulfahmi. The philanthropic organisation developed the concept of flood-adaptive housing based on stilt houses that grow, or Rupatuh (Rumah Panggung Tumbuh). The model is designed to be more suitable for the flood-prone coastal area in Aceh Tamiang.
The approach also involves academic input. Daarut Tauhiid Peduli has partnered with the ITB School of Architecture, Planning and Policy Development and the Civil Engineering Faculty of Universitas Al-Muslim Bireuen in developing a recovery design rooted in local wisdom.
Utilisation of driftwood for housing has also gained government legitimacy. Satgas PRR head Tito Karnavian previously stated that driftwood from floods may be used by the public for recovery needs, including building homes and public facilities. Tito said the policy aligns with the Minister of Forestry Decree No. 191 of 2026 on utilising driftwood resulting from disasters to support emergency response, rehabilitation, and reconstruction. ‘People may use it to build their own housing as well,’ Tito said at a press conference in Jakarta, in March.
Based on Satgas PRR data, the utilisation of driftwood has been implemented in several affected areas in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. In Aceh Utara, for example, more than 2,100 cubic metres of wood have been used to build temporary housing. Meanwhile, in Aceh Tamiang, hundreds of cubic metres of wood are awaiting designation for utilisation by the local government.
The use of driftwood as Rupatuh housing in Aceh Tamiang has become a model. This housing serves as a solution so residents maintain a decent place to live and acts as a buffer before moving to permanent housing (Huntap).
Zulfahmi said residents have agreed to communal relocation to Desa Pantai Tinjau for long-term safety. An area of about five hectares has been prepared for Huntap development for those affected.
‘Residents have already agreed to relocate. The condition is that they want Huntap. For now, while awaiting central government instructions, residents are still occupying Huntara at the original site,’ he said.
Meanwhile, development of permanent housing in Aceh Tamiang is also moving forward. Aceh Tamiang Regent Armia Pahmi attended verification and the draw for the first phase of 200 Huntap units at Tanjung Seumantoh for flood victims. Armia said the draw was conducted openly to ensure all recipients are treated equally without favouritism. ‘The open draw is to ensure fairness; there is no preferential treatment. Everyone has the same rights; whoever receives which number is their fortune,’ he said.
Mujianto, head of the Buddha Tzu Chi Indonesia Foundation, said efforts to accelerate Huntap construction continue so residents can return to a decent life after months of disaster. ‘If we delay by a day, we are inconveniencing the people. Construction must be fast and precise,’ he said. (*)