Today, many buildings are designed and constructed without considering earthquake-resistant constructions. As a result, many buildings are damaged in the event of an earthquake. West Sumatra is an area that is often struck by the earthquake. Fakhri Zaki’s house is one of the many houses damaged by the earthquake in Padang.

Harian Seputar Indonesia from RCTI Group through Sindo Care program, together with P&G Indonesia and Urbane Community, made two earthquake-resistant housing units in West Sumatra. The houses were approximately ±46.52 sqm, and built in Korong Market Hall Kudu, Nagari Kudu Ganting, District V East Koto Padang Pariaman. The finished houses were then handed to Nazran, Assistant II of Padang Pariaman Regency Government, by the Director of P&G Indonesia, Mohammed Ismail, accompanied by Harian Seputar Indonesia General Manager, Sicily Hamzah, and Urbane Principal M. Ridwan Kamil. The house then handed over to its owner.

With the aim of making the earthquake-resistant house and ± Rp.65 millions fund limitation, this building uses a strong and elastic semi-permanent construction, and maximize utilization of local raw materials such as coconut wood, bamboo and bayur wood. Coconut logs and bayur wood were used for major structures such as columns, beams (including floor beams), and roof structures’. Meanwhile, bamboo is used as wall elements. In this house, the use of bamboo on the wall as architectural elements were explored with a variety of patterns or ways. Bamboo are cut transversely to produce round patterns which can also serves as ventilation on the walls. The gap between bamboo were filled with sawdust that were glued together, so the round bamboo will hold together and not fall from the wall. In addition, bamboo were split into bamboo planks, and then used as a sheet to cover the floor. In addition, woven bamboo were used as window and wall coverings.