Earthquake-Resistant Cubical Eco-house Design

Indonesia is located in one of the most geologically active regions in the world. Geographically, this archipelagic country is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area that stretches from East Asia to the Americas and is known as a center of global volcanic and seismic activity.

Indonesia is also located at the meeting point of several major tectonic plates. The movement of these plates is continuous and often triggers the release of energy in the form of earthquakes. This condition makes earthquakes one of the natural disasters that occur relatively frequently in various regions of the archipelago, both on land and at sea.

Vulnerability to earthquakes also has a direct impact on human safety. Earthquakes of moderate to strong magnitude often cause serious damage, especially to buildings that are not designed to withstand tremors. Casualties are often not solely due to the earthquake itself, but rather because of the collapse of building structures.

This situation underscores the importance of implementing earthquake-resistant building standards as part of disaster mitigation strategies. In countries with high seismic risk such as Indonesia, safe construction is no longer an option but a necessity.

Researcher at the Biomass and Bioproduct Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Sarah Augustina, stated that wooden or biomass-based structures such as bamboo have a lighter and more flexible structure, making them relatively more resistant to earthquakes.

Interestingly, the knowledge regarding wooden construction has actually been passed down by our ancestors. “As can be seen from the numerous traditional houses in Indonesia that use wood and bamboo materials,” said Sarah at the Research and Innovation for Advanced Indonesia Award ceremony in Jakarta, Thursday (18/12/2025).

Based on this background, Sarah and her research team developed the concept of a cubic eco-house using a modular system. This concept could also be a solution for developing earthquake-resistant housing.

The concept of this house is designed in a cubic shape, for example, measuring 3 x 3 meters, making it easier to construct, efficient in the construction process, and adaptable to various functions. This concept also allows the building to be easily disassembled and mobilized, making it highly suitable for application in disaster-affected areas.

According to Sarah, the advantage of this concept lies in the use of building materials developed from the research results of BRIN researchers. This research includes materials for floors, walls, columns, and roof sections. Researchers also utilize various composite products as well as engineered wood, both made from timber and bamboo.

“Going forward, we hope that the development of this eco-house cubicle concept will receive support from BRIN, university partners, and industry, both domestic and international. With this support, we hope this concept can be further developed, mass-produced, and become a viable housing alternative,” he said.

Various materials

Various primary materials, from wood to engineered biomass, are used in the cubic eco-house concept. One such material is cross-laminated timber bamboo (CLTB), a combination of jabon wood and bamboo. This material is used for walls and columns due to its structural strength, dimensional stability, and relatively light weight.

Then there’s oriented strand board (OSB), or engineered bamboo composite board. This component functions as both a structural panel and a cladding, providing additional rigidity and efficient use of raw materials.

From a pricing perspective, since this is a semi-permanent residence, the cost for a size of 3 x 3 meters is approximately Rp 20 million. The construction time is two to three weeks. If built through mutual cooperation, the process can be expedited.

The flooring material for the cubic eco-house concept uses laminated bamboo and laminated flattened bamboo. This material is composed of layers of bamboo engineered to produce a strong, flat, and load-bearing surface, making it suitable for flooring elements.

In addition, the primary function of this flooring material is not only to support the activities of the occupants but also to contribute to thermal comfort and the aesthetic appeal of the building’s interior.

Meanwhile, the roof elements of the eco-house utilize a biomass composite product specifically designed for its protective function. This material protects the home from the weather while also promoting energy efficiency through heat regulation.

All of these materials are arranged in a prefabricated modular system. With this system, each element of the roof, walls, columns, and floors is produced separately and assembled on-site, making construction faster, more efficient, and consistent in quality.

“From the price estimation perspective, since this is a semi-permanent residence, for a size of 3 x 3 meters, the cost is around Rp 20 million. The construction time is two to three weeks. If built through mutual cooperation, the process can be faster,” said Sarah.

Challenge

Sarah doesn’t deny that the wood used in this cubic eco-house concept poses challenges, such as being susceptible to fire. Therefore, the wood or bamboo used in this home concept could be treated with a fire retardant to increase the material’s fire resistance.

Another challenge is related to resistance to termites and the strength of the material. To address this issue, Sarah and her team applied a partial densification technique to the engineered wood used in building construction.

“The wood utilized is a type of fast-growing timber that can be harvested within three to four years. Although it naturally has a relatively low strength level, the application of partial densification techniques can enhance its strength by two to three times compared to its initial condition,” he stated.

In addition to technical aspects, another challenge is changing the mindset of the community that views wood materials as easily decayed, broken, and less durable. Demonstrating the functionality in the field becomes the main key because once the performance of these materials is proven, efforts for socialization and promotion to the community will be easier to carry out.

“We also need to inform the public that this house is more environmentally friendly. The manufacturing process does not produce significant waste or pollution because it uses modular principles, making it easy to assemble and disassemble while generating low emissions,” said Sarah.

The head of BRIN, Arif Satria, stated that the direction of research in Indonesia moving forward must be aligned with needs. Currently, BRIN is also detecting various community needs following the earthquake, both in emergency conditions and when returning to normalcy.

“Research must be based on real needs in the field. Once research produces good innovations, those results must be communicated effectively. Therefore, the role of the media and marketing communications, or innovation marketing, is crucial in ensuring the public is aware of the various solutions available and being developed,” he said.