Longhouse Architecture of the Austronesian Region in Global Context: Narrative Literature Review

Longhouse architecture is a vernacular residential typology found in a variety of cultural and climatic contexts around the world. Despite its wide distribution, existing studies often discuss longhouse traditions within a limited regional or disciplinary framework. This article presents a literature-based review of longhouse architecture in the Austronesian region in a global context, examining how spatial organization, construction systems, and climate adaptation shaped the social role of longhouses in Scandinavia and North America. The study uses a narrative literature review. The synthesis in the study focuses on building morphology, spatial continuity, material use, and environmental strategies. The study shows that Austronesian longhouses are characterized by flexible and continuous collective spaces, lightweight and renewable building materials, and passive design strategies that are closely integrated with communal social practices and rituals. In contrast, longhouses in temperate and cold regions tend to prioritize structural efficiency, enclosure, and functional segmentation. These findings suggest that the significance of Austronesian longhouse architecture lies in the integration of vernacular knowledge, social organization, and environmental responses as interconnected systems. By placing Austronesian longhouse architecture within a global framework, this literature review contributes to the broader discourse on vernacular architecture and offers insights relevant to contemporary discussions about socially informed and climate-responsive architectural design.

Literature Review, Longhouse architecture, Austronesian, Global

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