Thousand-Legged House (Mod Aki Aksa)

Design Philosophy and Architectural Principles

Visually, Mod Aki Aksa defines itself through an extraordinary density of supporting pillars. Unlike typical stilt houses that only have pillars at the main corners, the Thousand-Legged House places hundreds of small-diameter wooden pillars (around 10-15 cm) throughout the underfloor area with very close spacing, averaging only 30 to 50 centimeters between pillars.

This design is based on the principles of even load distribution and security. The dense pillar structure serves a dual purpose: first, to withstand the frequent earthquake tremors in Papua's tectonic region; second, as a physical barrier to prevent external threats, whether wild animals or past enemy attacks. Because these pillars are so close together, there is no room for intruders to crawl under the floor undetected.

Historical Context and Traditional Construction

The construction of Mod Aki Aksa is a collective effort involving generations of knowledge from the four main tribes in the Arfak region: the Hatam, Moile, Meyakh, and Sote tribes. There is no single architect in the construction of this house; the designers are the traditional elders who understand the wind direction, land contours, and wood characteristics in the surrounding forest.

Construction begins with the selection of durable wood, typically using ironwood or local wood types resistant to high humidity. What is unique is the use of lashing techniques without nails. The entire building frame is joined using strong ropes made from rattan or bark fibers. The flexibility of these lashings is precisely the structural advantage, as it allows the building to "sway" with the earth's vibrations without breaking or collapsing.

The roof of the house is a blunt cone or elongated shape made from very thick layers of straw or alang-alang grass. The thickness of this roof is crucial for withstanding the cold temperatures that can drop below 10 degrees Celsius at night in the Arfak Mountains.

Structural Innovations and Unique Elements

One of the most specific elements of Mod Aki Aksa is the absence of windows. From a modern architectural perspective, the lack of windows might be considered a circulation deficiency. However, for the Arfak people, this is an innovation to maintain thermoregulation. With only two doors (front and back), warm air from the hearth inside the house remains trapped, providing warmth for its inhabitants.

The house floor is made from flattened bark or split bamboo, providing a natural yet strong texture. In the center of the room, there is a Run, or hearth. This hearth is not just for cooking but serves as the heart of life and the room's heating system. The smoke from the hearth also acts as a natural preservative for the straw roof structure, preventing it from decaying easily and protecting it from wood-damaging insects.

Cultural and Social Significance

Mod Aki Aksa is a symbol of unity and egalitarian social strata. Although there are larger houses for the chief (Indung), the design of this house is fundamentally uniform for all members of the community. The division of space within is strictly customary: the left side is typically designated for women (Rum Ngwe), and the right side for men (Rum Nirig).

This house also functions as a space for traditional education. It is here that young men are taught about family lineage, customary law, and hunting techniques. The presence of hundreds of pillars beneath the house also symbolizes the philosophy of group strength; a single small pillar may be weak, but thousands of pillars standing together can support the heaviest load. This is a visual representation of the Arfak people's spirit of mutual cooperation.

Current Usage and Visitor Experience

Today, although many Arfak people are starting to build modern houses with concrete and tin materials, Mod Aki Aksa remains preserved as an irreplaceable cultural identity. In areas like Anggi District and Minyambouw District, the Thousand-Legged House can still be found and is actively inhabited.

For visitors or architectural researchers, entering Mod Aki Aksa provides an extraordinary sensory experience. The smell of smoke from the hearth permeating the wood, the dim light entering through the gaps in the doors, and the warmth contrasting with the biting mountain air, offer a deep understanding of how vernacular architecture works in harmony with nature.

The West Papua Provincial Government is now beginning to recognize the potential of Mod Aki Aksa as a cultural tourism icon. Conservation efforts are being made by continuously encouraging the younger generation of the Arfak people to learn these traditional construction techniques so that the skill of building the "Thousand-Legged House" is not lost to time.

Conclusion

The Thousand-Legged House (Mod Aki Aksa) is tangible proof that the limitations of modern technology in the past did not prevent the creation of building structures that are sophisticated in function and aesthetics. By utilizing organic materials and intelligent load distribution principles, the people of the Arfak Mountains have created an architectural icon capable of withstanding extreme weather and time. It stands tall on thousands of pillars, telling the story of human resilience in the land of Papua.