Houses of the Dead | Habitats of the World: Indonesia

On the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the Toraja people live in striking houses known as tongkonan — traditional wooden dwellings with sweeping, boat-shaped roofs. More than just homes, tongkonan embody family heritage and serve as sacred spaces for rituals surrounding life and death. Deeply tied to their traditions, the Toraja reveal how architecture becomes a bridge between the living and the spiritual world, preserving identity across generations.