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Genteng Tanah Liat
BUILDING MATERIALS & CONSTRUCTIONbeginner
Definition
Traditional terracotta clay roof tiles, hand-formed and kiln-fired, widely used across Java and Bali. Genteng tanah liat has excellent thermal performance in the tropics — its mass moderates heat gain and its interlocking profile allows air circulation beneath the tile. The characteristic terracotta-coloured pitched roof is one of the most recognisable elements of Javanese vernacular architecture.
Example
The traditional kampung houses of Yogyakarta use genteng tanah liat on steep atap pelana roofs, a form that maximises rain runoff and provides shading to the walls below while the tile mass absorbs solar heat during the day.