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Article | Industrial and Domestic Waste Management | Volume 6 - Issue 2 - 2026 | 407−419 | https://doi.org/10.53623/idwm.v6i2.1320
© 2026 by the author(s), and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License

Thermal Comfort of the Facade at Colonial House of Soekarno's Exile in Brastagi District

Author(s): Armelia Dafrina 1 ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4340-1747 , Irna Nurul Hidayah 1 , Nahrul Qadisah 1 , Yetty Sari Bangun 1 , Erna Muliana 1 , Diana Khairani Sofyan 2 ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5267-2579
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1 Study Program of Architecture, Universitas Malikussaleh, Lhokseumawe 24351, Indonesia
2 Department of Industrial, Universitas Malikussaleh, Lhokseumawe 24351, Indonesia

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Industrial and Domestic Waste Management

Volume 6 - Issue 2 - 2026

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The Exile House of Soekarno in Berastagi District was a colonial-era architectural asset notable for its distinctive structural features and strong adaptation to the local environment. This study examined the relationship between thermal comfort and the colonial architectural façade of Soekarno’s Exile House. A qualitative descriptive-interpretive approach was employed to analyze the visual elements of the façade and their relationship with indoor thermal conditions. Data were collected through photographic documentation, direct observation of building elements, and measurements of indoor air temperature, relative humidity, and air movement. The results showed that the façade of Soekarno’s Exile House was closely associated with the building’s thermal regulation. The building exhibited a distinctive and monumental visual character. The main characteristics of colonial architecture included the use of durable materials, such as specially blended cement and terrazzo flooring, as well as Geveltoppen, acroteria roof elements, a geometrically symmetrical façade, wooden-framed windows, and dormer elements. Classical European decorative features, including pillars and capitals, were combined with local decorative variations found in elements such as the crepidoma and tympanum. Regarding thermal comfort, the building orientation, large louvered (krepyak) windows, high ceilings, and thick walls functioned as passive thermal-control elements that promoted natural air circulation and helped stabilize indoor temperatures in response to Berastagi’s cool mountainous climate. Measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, and air movement were used to evaluate the contribution of these architectural elements to indoor thermal conditions. The findings indicated which building elements played important roles in maintaining indoor comfort and demonstrated how their architectural characteristics contributed to thermal performance. The study concluded that the colonial architecture of Soekarno’s Exile House incorporated façade and building elements that were closely integrated with thermal performance, demonstrating how historical architectural design responded to local climatic conditions while maintaining its distinctive colonial character.

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SUBMITTED: 29 July 2026
ACCEPTED: 18 September 2026
PUBLISHED: 25 September 2026
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 51 days
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53623/idwm.v6i2.1320

Cite this article
Dafrina, A., Hidayah, I. N. ., Qadisah, N. ., Bangun, Y. S. ., Muliana, E. ., & Diana Khairani Sofyan. (2026). Thermal Comfort of the Facade at Colonial House of Soekarno’s Exile in Brastagi District. Industrial and Domestic Waste Management, 6(2), 407−419. https://doi.org/10.53623/idwm.v6i2.1320
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