Interpreting living matrilineal landscapes: spatial and cultural traces of Adat Perpatih in Kampung Selemak, Rembau, Negeri Sembilan

Minangkabau traditions and adapted through local Biduanda interaction has historically structured suku-based settlement clusters, communal house orientation, and female custodianship of ancestral land. However, research has largely emphasized tangible architectural forms, with limited focus on the intangible cultural practices, rituals, and governance that underpin these spatial patterns. This gap has led to an incomplete understanding of how Adat Perpatih principles manifest in the built and social environment, particularly as modernization and formal land titling increasingly disrupt traditional spatial coherence. The aim of the study is to interpret the spatial traces of Adat Perpatih in Kampung Selemak by integrating cultural, historical, and spatial perspectives. Specifically, the objectives are to identify the cultural and spatial characteristics of Adat Perpatih, examine factors contributing to the weakening visibility of matrilineal landscape expressions, and propose strategies to enhance cultural continuity and guide heritage preservation. The study employs site observation, semi-structured interviews with experts and local residents, and GIS mapping to document suku and perut territories, house layouts, and communal spaces. Findings indicate that Kampung Selemak functions as a living matrilineal landscape, where spatial coherence is maintained through community custodianship, serambi hierarchy, lentik roof forms, and collective land stewardship, despite pressures from fragmentation and architectural misrepresentation. The study provides a framework for mapping tangible and intangible heritage, informs culturally grounded planning strategies, and underscores the importance of preserving matrilineal landscapes for social resilience, female land stewardship, and sustainable rural development.