The Batak Toba house is one of the most distinctive traditional buildings in Southeast Asia. No one knows when the creation of these houses started, but the Batak Toba Houses have been around as long as anyone can remember. These houses can be found around Lake Toba (hence its name) in the North Sumatra province of Indonesia, and one of the six Batak tribes construct and dwell in them.Batak Toba Houses are built close to each other due to the history of the fights between the tribes, and this feature gives them more advantage to defend themselves. They are constructed on top of rows and columns of pillars, a foundation that goes above the ground, in order to avoid damages caused by floods. Its roofs are "boat-shaped" and tend to be very tall and tilted, reaching down as far as the main living area.
